Focus: Stones Of Remembrance

Text: Josh.4:6

"What mean ye by these stones?"

On their way to the promise land Israel miraculously walked through the Jordan River on dry ground. That was another miracle after the Red Sea episode. The priests bearing the Ark stepped into the water and got to the middle of Jordan before the waters parted in two, standing in heaps on both sides, and making way for the people to walk on dry ground. It must have been a sight to see. Then after safely crossing Jordan, God said to Joshua, "Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night" (Josh.4:3). 

God asked Joshua to pick out twelve stones from Jordan, and keep them in their place of lodging, the twelve stones representing the twelve tribes. One person from each tribe was asked to go to the spot where the priests bearing the Ark of the covenant stood and carry a stone. The stones were to serve as remembrance stones. The stones would remind each tribe and every Israelite of the saving act and wonder of God at Jordan. Even the children were to be taught of the significance of the stones. 

God said to Joshua, "That this may be a SIGN among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, WHAT MEAN YE BY THESE STONES? Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and THESE STONES shall be for a MEMORIAL unto the children of Israel FOR EVER" (Josh.4:6-7). The words "cut off" is 'karath' in Hebrew, and it is translated as "made" in Gen.15:18. It reads, "In the same day the LORD MADE a covenant with Abram…" It refers to the cutting of covenant. It means that God had His covenant with Abraham in mind when He saved Israel at the Jordan River. God was standing by His word and keeping His covenant.

God means for His people to have an unforgettable experience of Him and with Him. God does mighty things that call for remembrance.

Apart from the stones being for memorial, they also served as lesson stones for their children. Their children would learn of what their God did for His people in times past. God had been gracious, generous and faithful to His people.

Do you have any stone in your life that reminds you of the greatness and faithfulness of your God in days past?

Stone of testimony. Stone of the miraculous interventions of God in your life. We live in a world where history is constantly and continuously repeating itself, which means, in the good sense of it, that God is able to do again and again in the present and in the future the things He had done in the past if or when the need arises. God repeated the miracle of the Red Sea at Jordan because there was need for it. The Scripture reveals Jesus Christ as being the same yesterday, today and forever. We know Him too as the One who is, who was, and who is to come. God gives every generation the opportunity to experience Him for itself. He ensures that He has a witness in every corner of the world. He leaves a footprint on the sand of time. In all of history God has been telling His own story.

Has God not helped you marvelously in the past? Have you been raising stones lately or keeping journals to help you remember the acts and wonders of God in your life? Whenever you face a new situation or challenge, do you quickly remember how good God has been to you previously? Do you draw strength from God's past dealing with you and then move in faith to overcome the odds and obstacles of today?

God does not want us to have any memory loss when it comes to remembering His miraculous acts in the past. We need to have things around us that will help remind us and teach our children of God's past deeds of wonder. We grow in spirituality as we learn to count our blessings and take stock of His many favors. We read in the Psalms that "when our fathers were in Egypt, they gave NO THOUGHT to your miracles; they did not REMEMBER your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea… Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. But they SOON FORGOT what he had done and did not wait for his counsel" (Ps.106:7,12,13). The psalmist also said, "I will remember the deeds of the LORD; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago. I will meditate on all your works and consider all your mighty deeds" (Ps.77:11-12). 

Let us form the habit of remembering the workings of God in our lives.

Remembering God's past demonstrations of might helps us to confidently advance into our future, knowing that God is forever with us and that He is able and willing to do much more for us than He had done in the past. 

Remembering God's past favors inspires faith and steers inside of us a courageous spirit. Our spiritual history with God forms the bedrock for our future encounters with Him.

As David faced Goliath the giant, he quickly remembered what God had done for him in the past, and then faith and courage was stirred up in him to face and defeat the giant in front of him. He said to king Saul, "The LORD that delivered me out of the paw of the lion, and out of the paw of the bear, he will deliver me out of the hand of this Philistine" (1Sam.17:37). David had in his head a stone of remembrance. Malachi reminds us of a "book of remembrance" (Mal.3:16). We are enabled to believe God afresh today when we are able to remember how marvelously God helped us yesterday. Raise a stone today. Keep records of God's miracles in your life.

by Bishop Moses E. Peter