Joshua 4:14

On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life. Joshua 4:14

Three points:

1. Lord magnified Joshua

Magnify has the idea of elevating someone or something to a position of honor, greater than another. God himself exalted Joshua. There are those who exalt themselves: Let them be ashamed and brought to confusion together that rejoice at my hurt: let them be clothed with shame and dishonor that magnify themselves against me. (Psalms 35:26, AKJV). Then those who exalt themselves over God: Make you him drunken: for he magnified himself against the LORD: Moab also shall wallow in his vomit, and he also shall be in derision. (Jeremiah 48:26, AKJV). We need to exalt God: Let all those that seek you rejoice and be glad in you: and let such as love your salvation say continually, Let God be magnified. (Psalms 70:4, AKJV). When God exalts us, there is a blessing; when we exalt ourselves, there is a curse.

2. Feared

Many define "fear" as respect; they don't fear God, they respect Him. They is much more though. Do we fear authority? Consider when you look in your rear view mirror and see flashing red, white, and blue lights; do you fear? You think, "Was I speeding? Did I go through a stop sign?" You fear the authority, not just respect him/her. Some day we have to give an account of ourselves before God. I fear Him. Here they feared Joshua because of the honor God gave to him. Let us fear God.

3. Days of his life

There are conditions to God's blessings. He doesn't just give if we are disobedient or deny Him. Joshua feared and obeyed God all the days of his life. What about us? Are we our own authority? There are rules in the New Testament that the Lord Jesus wants us to obey. We might as well start obeying here, because if our name is in the Lamb's Book of Life and when we are in heaven, we will have to obey His laws. We need to learn this today.