Joshua 4:1-24
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We Need Reminders to Remember!
We Need Reminders to Remember!
We are now in Chapter 4 of our series - The Israelites Crossing of the Jordan River and the Memorial Stones.
We see the grace of God in Chapter 3:
- God miraculously enabled them to cross the Jordan river on dry ground.
- We see God’s mighty work of deliverance for them to safely cross the river.
This significant event must not be forgotten, and so God gave the command so that this miraculous and wonderful display of God’s power and deliverance will be remembered and transferred to the memory of future generations.
I. The Command to Set-up Memorial Stones
I. The Command to Set-up Memorial Stones
Key verse: Joshua 4:4-5
4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel.
6 “Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”
God commanded Joshua to choose 12 men from every tribe, the 12 is to be the representative of each tribe. The twelve is to carry 1 stone each and set it up.
What is a memorial stone?
Memorial - remembrance, commemoration, reminder
Sign - mark, symbol, a signal that communicates
Memorials serve to “proclaim” the good news of what God has done.
Example:
The Rainbow - a sign or memorial of God’s promise not to flood the world again. It is the symbol of the Noahic Covenant. (Gen. 9:13-16)
13 I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth. 14 Whenever I bring clouds over the earth and the rainbow appears in the clouds, 15 I will remember my covenant between me and you and all living creatures of every kind. Never again will the waters become a flood to destroy all life. 16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.”
The Lord’s Supper - The sign or memorial with the purpose of leading believers to recall or remember the ultimate sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ to save those who believe in Him. (1 Cor. 11:24-25)
24 and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” 25 In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.”
The Lord’s Supper is observed as a remembrance of the suffering and death of Christ. It is much more, however, than simply recalling a historical fact; it is remembering in a way that fills the believer with thanksgiving and determines how he lives and acts in the present.
THE GOSPEL is a reminder of God’s love and faithfulness to fallen and undeserving sinners like you and me!
PREACH the Gospel everyday to yourself so you will not FORGET it.
II. The Purpose of the Memorial Stones
II. The Purpose of the Memorial Stones
- Joshua 4:6-7
6 “Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”
God wanted to make sure the future generations would hear the story of His deliverance of an entire nation and His faithfulness in fulfilling His promise to give the land to the descendants of Abraham.
III. The Repetition of the Purpose of the Memorial Stones
III. The Repetition of the Purpose of the Memorial Stones
- Joshua 4:21-24
21 He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ 22 then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 “For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
A. To inform the children of Israel and succeeding generation about God’s Might Work of Deliverance for them to remember and commemorate. (vv. 21-23)
A. To inform the children of Israel and succeeding generation about God’s Might Work of Deliverance for them to remember and commemorate. (vv. 21-23)
21 He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ 22 then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 “For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed;
B. To inform all the people of the earth that they may KNOW the might of God. (v.24a)
B. To inform all the people of the earth that they may KNOW the might of God. (v.24a)
24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
C. For the Hebrews to respond with reverent WORSHIP and FEAR to the LORD. (v.24b)
C. For the Hebrews to respond with reverent WORSHIP and FEAR to the LORD. (v.24b)
24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
HERE IS THE PROBLEM...
We easily forget the mighty works of God in our life. We have a memory lapse and memory gap.
We easily forget the mighty works of God in our life. We have a memory lapse and memory gap.
21 They forgot God their Savior, Who had done great things in Egypt, 22 Wonders in the land of Ham And awesome things by the Red Sea.
13 Leaving them, He again embarked and went away to the other side. 14 And they had forgotten to take bread, and did not have more than one loaf in the boat with them. 15 And He was giving orders to them, saying, “Watch out! Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.”
16 They began to discuss with one another the fact that they had no bread. 17 And Jesus, aware of this, said to them, “Why do you discuss the fact that you have no bread? Do you not yet see or understand? Do you have a hardened heart? 18 “Having eyes, do you not see? And having ears, do you not hear? And do you not remember,
19 when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many baskets full of broken pieces you picked up?” They said to Him, “Twelve.” 20 “When I broke the seven for the four thousand, how many large baskets full of broken pieces did you pick up?” And they said to Him, “Seven.” 21 And He was saying to them, “Do you not yet understand?”
Forgetfulness = failure to understand, Hardened heart,
The disciples experienced FAITH failures..
Have you experienced faith failures? How many times?
The Author of Hebrews wrote the list of HEROES of FAITH in Hebrews 11 for the purpose of IGNITING the FAIITH of the believers reading the letter, because they were about to experience faith failures - they were about to backslide...
Faith requires that we look forward, but it also requires that we look back.
Look back - Hebrews 11. They were men and women who failed God and yet have remained strong by God’s grace.
“The greatest enemy of faith may be forgetfulness.”
If we forget how God has worked and provided in the past, we may fail to trust him for the future.
FORGETTING empties the heart, creating void and indifference; while REMEMBERING fills the heart with joy and hope.
The mighty deeds of God in the past shall provide joy and hope in present circumstances
That is why God told Joshua to arrange for a VISIBLE memorial that could be an object lesson.
God often reminds us when we need the change, when we need to get back on the right track if we have gone astray.
Proper Response
I. Look for spiritual lessons in your historical experiences - victories and trials.
I. Look for spiritual lessons in your historical experiences - victories and trials.
II. Tell your children about God’s mighty work in your life. It is your utmost duty and priority to teach your children about God.
II. Tell your children about God’s mighty work in your life. It is your utmost duty and priority to teach your children about God.
III. Make a memorial of God’s work of wonders in your life.
III. Make a memorial of God’s work of wonders in your life.
(Spiritual Birthday, Deliverance from sickness or a certain sin, Success in business, career achievement, Marriage Anniversaries, Church anniversaries, etc...)
IV. Tell other people about the SAVING GRACE of God.
IV. Tell other people about the SAVING GRACE of God.
V. Remember to maintain a healthy fear of God.
V. Remember to maintain a healthy fear of God.
Illustration:
This coming August 14, 2022, we will be celebrating the 6th Anniversary of GCCC.
The Anniversary celebrations serves as a reminder for us and the next generation of the faithfulness of God in sustaining His local church - GCCC. Through the celebration we remember the goodness of God, we remember the trials and hardships that God allowed us to go through, we also remember to thank God because he sustained us through it all!
Amen?