What do these Stones Mean to You
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Chapter 4 of Joshua builds on the events of chapter 3. The first section of this chapter (4:1-14) speaks to the events outside of the promised land, and the second section (4:15-5:1) is from the vantage point of inside the promised land.
In this chapter, we are going to discover the importance of remembering. Remembering is something that we seemingly do naturally as human beings. We remember special dates such as birthdays, wedding anniversaries or other significant events in history. We set aside special days and observances for the purpose of remembering. In fact, remembering is also absolutely essential in the Christian life. Someone once said, “The greatest enemy of faith is forgetfulness”. In Joshua chapter 4, the importance of remembering can be seen in a question, “What do these stones mean to you?
Someone once said, “The greatest enemy of faith is forgetfulness”.
We need to understand what happened and why?
Someone once said, “The greatest enemy of faith is forgetfulness”.
I. The Instructions from the Lord
I. The Instructions from the Lord
v.2-3, “Choose twelve men from the people, one man for each tribe..”
There was to be a selection of men from each tribe.
Before we look at the specific task, we need to see who is being commanded. One man from each tribe was to symbolize:
One Sunday morning a pastor was informing his congregation that they were in need of more money and asked the people to prayerfully consider putting some extra in the offering plate. He tried to enhance the effort by stating that the person who gave
Before we look at the specific task, we need to see who is being commanded. One man from each tribe was to symbolize:
The Unity of the People
Everybody is on equal footing here. The people of Israel were to be together in this moment of memorial.
The Memorial Stones
Twelve Men - Twelve Stones
These twelve men were to specifically take twelve stones from the river and take them to the camp, which would be at a place called Gilgal.
II. The Importance of the Memorial
II. The Importance of the Memorial
vv.6-7, “so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 you should tell them, ‘The water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s water was cut off.’ Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.”
vv.6-7, “so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 you should tell them, ‘The water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s water was cut off.’ Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.”
An Always Present Reminder
6 so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 you should tell them, ‘The water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the ark of the Lord’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s water was cut off.’ Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.”
The stones were to point to the miracle God performed. This language is similar to the language used when the Passover was instituted by the Lord as he miraculously delivered the people from bondage in Egypt.
For Future Generations to Know
The question in verse 6 and the answer in verse 7 form the meat of what I believe the word of God wants to communicate to us tonight.
These stones would serve to testify to the character and promises of God to a future generation. The Psalmist wrote in Psalm 78:1-6
1 My people, hear my instruction; listen to the words from my mouth. 2 I will declare wise sayings; I will speak mysteries from the past—3 things we have heard and known and that our fathers have passed down to us.
listen to the words from my mouth. 2 I will declare wise sayings;
I will speak mysteries from the past—3 things we have heard and known and that our fathers have passed down to us. 4 We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children 6 so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children 7 so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep his commands.
3 things we have heard and known
and that our fathers have passed down to us.
4 We will not hide them from their children,
but will tell a future generation
the praiseworthy acts of the Lord,
his might, and the wondrous works
he has performed.
5 He established a testimony in Jacob
4 We will not hide them from their children, but will tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed. 5 He established a testimony in Jacob and set up a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children
and set up a law in Israel,
which he commanded our fathers
to teach to their children
6 so that a future generation—
children yet to be born—might know.
6 so that a future generation—children yet to be born—might know. They were to rise and tell their children 7 so that they might put their confidence in God and not forget God’s works, but keep his commands.
They were to rise and tell their children
7 so that they might put their confidence in God
The emphasis on teaching children here in is significant and hearkens back to the instructions the Lord gave to his people thru Moses in . Children in godly homes should constantly be reminded by traditions and celebrations that the word of God is revered in their home. This must not be outsourced to the church.
and not forget God’s works,
but keep his commands.
Specifically I believe they teach the children The mentioning of the ark in verse 7 is again significant, in that it indicated God’s presence and direct involvement.
Remembering in the Hebrew culture was more than just recall. It involved a focused concern and action. In light of this memorial, the people were to focus on God and evaluate their lives in light of his promises and character. It was not just a reminder, but a profound sign that reminded the people of several things:
1. The Power & Provision of God
God had mightily delivered them from Egypt thru the Red Sea and now had mightily pushed back the flood waters of Jordan for them to cross over. God had protected and sustained them even in the wilderness. He fed them, (manna from heaven: ) and sustained their clothing and footwear during their 40 years in the wilderness. () Imagine having clothes and shoes that lasted 40 years! Maybe some of you have some from that long ago but I bet you haven’t been wandering in the wilderness either. He was patient with them even when they complained. He was merciful.
Furthermore, verse 24 points to additional purposes of this memorial. “That all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord’s hand is mighty, and so that you may always fear the Lord your God.”
2. The Presence & Promises of God
The ark was representative of God’s covenant with his people. They traveled with this and set up the tabernacle to be reminded of God’s presence with his people. The stones would remind them of the God who was with them and went before them as they entered into the promised land.
What do these stones mean to you?
When present or future generations of children ask about our church buildings, what will we tell them? Will we be faithful and quick to tell them of God’s power, provision and promises. Will we speak of how we encountered him in worship - his presence? The monument of stones here in Joshua chapter 4 was to remind the people of their movement. Of how God had selected them and purposefully used them for his glory. The danger today is that many churches have ceased being movements and have become monuments - monuments that have forgotten their meaning. In his book, “The Autopsy of a Deceased Church”, Thom Ranier points out that a church is in danger when the past becomes the hero. Let me share with you a paragraph from the book:
“The most pervasive and common thread of our autopsies was that the deceased churches lived for a long time with the past as hero…Hear me clearly: these churches were not hanging on to biblical truths. They were fighting for the past. The good old days” (18).
“When a church ceases to have a heart and ministry for its community, it is on the path toward death…Vibrant and living churches look after the interests of others…But dying churches are concerned with self-preservation. They are concerned with a certain way of doing church” (29).
These stones, what do they mean to us today? The stone that we are founded upon is the Lord Jesus Christ, our firm foundation.
, “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer, my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.”
- The Lord Jesus is the chief cornerstone.
Conclusion:
This passage reminds us of the rock - the one whom we serve and the one that we rest all of our hope in. Reminders are good, essentially Christian discipleship is a ministry of reminder. Today we have been reminded of God’s grace and goodness. Have you thanked him today?