A Memorial Forever

-May 29, 2023-

Good morning, happy Monday,

“That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

(Joshua 4:6-7).

God delivered His people Israel from their bondage in Egypt, bringing them out by His mighty power and outstretched arm. He parted the Red Sea, killing Pharaoh and his army who had pursued them. It was a tremendous miracle that they would serve as the birth of their nation. The story did not stop there, God fulfilled His promise to give them the land of Canaan as the Promised Land, a land flowing with milk and honey.

Now in Joshua chapter 4 they are about to cross over the Jordan River at a time when it was at its height. God provided another miracle for them by cutting off the water of the Jordan so that the ark of the covenant and all the people could safely cross over to their new land. The Red Sea represented redemption and deliverance; the Jordan represented new life and hope.

God instructed Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each of the twelve tribes to gather twelve stones from the River Jordan, one for each of them and carry them on their shoulders to Gilgal. This would be a great memorial of what God did for them. It would be a testimony for generations to come, even forever. These stones were not some small rocks but large stones that a man had to carry on his shoulders.

Nothing was written on the stones, but the Israelites were to teach their children their meaning. It reminds us of another time in Israel’s history in the days of Samuel. He took a stone as a reminder of God’s victory over the mighty Philistines. 1 Samuel 7:12 says, “Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen, and called it Ebenezer, saying, ‘Thus far the Lord has helped us.’”

In Christianity we also have a memorial in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ who died for our sins and rose for our justification. We too have a story to tell not only to our children but to the whole world, the gospel, the sweet story of our salvation. The Lord has helped us thus far and will continue to be with us until we reach heaven, our promised land. Let us never forget how the Lord saved us forever and has done many great miracles in our lives and answered so many of our prayers. Today in America we pause to remember all the men and women who died protecting our freedom. We are so blessed by their sacrifice in paying the ultimate price.

Have a blessed remembering all our blessings. Stay safe and healthy.

Keeping our memories alive and passing them on to the next generation.

Dean