The Need to Remember
Opening Prayer
Lord, thank You for those who have had a significant role in my life. Bless them.
Read Joshua 4:1-9
[1] When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, [2] “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, [3] and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” [4] So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, [5] and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, [6] to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ [7] tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” [8] So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. [9] Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. Scripture taken from the THE HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION, NIV Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
Reflect
Why did God call them to put up stones?Joshua is determined that Israel will not miss the significance of what’s just happened. Just like Moses’ song of praise after crossing the Red Sea (Exodus 15), this event would be a permanent reminder that God has not changed, and is still mighty to save.To enable them to continue to remember, a member of each tribe is instructed to take up a large stone from the river bed. These stones, taken from near where the priests are holding up the ark of the covenant, are set upon the bank as a memorial to what the Lord had done, a memorial to his power, protection and provision.It’s also a sign that they are one people in twelve tribes: they enter Israel together, and the twelve tribes place their twelve stones together in a single memorial. They have been saved together, and that’s to be remembered as well – twelve tribes, but one nation.God’s deliverance is never to be taken for granted, and the stones are placed to provoke future generations to ask questions as to what happened here. We need to remember our pasts if we’re to obey God faithfully in the present.
Apply
Samuel set up a stone called “Ebenezer”, meaning “Thus far the Lord has helped us” (1 Sam 7:12). Create a stone of remembrance.
Closing prayer
God, help me never forget Your faithfulness. You are good and I trust in You always.
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