4/11/21

"And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their father in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?" (Joshua 4:5-6)
"MEMORIALS"
It is very important to leave things behind for the next generation to see, to remind them of things that can be easily forgotten.
Joshua has received the command to take Israel across the Jordan River, and into the Promised Land. They will cross the river at flood stage, but will cross on dry ground. Boy, when God does something, it is never in half measures!
The priests are instructed to take up the ark of the covenant, and carry it ahead of everyone else. The image is crystal clear. God is to be ahead of us, and we are to follow Him!
When the feet of the priests touch the water of the river, it will separate before them!
And they are to stand in the middle of the river bed, as every one crosses!
One man from each tribe has been chosen, and he is to pick up a stone from the middle of the river, and carry it to where they are to camp that night.
When all have crossed, the priests that are carrying the ark of the covenant walk out of the river bed, and the river closes back up!
Those men are to pile the stones up as a memorial to the river-crossing!
Why did God instruct Joshua to remove those stones form the bottom of the river bed?
"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?" (v. 6)
They were to be a memorial to help the next generation to remember that God was in the midst of His people!
Leave those memorials about your house to remind the generation to come that God is in the midst of His people,
1) Decorate your walls with crosses!
2) Display art that depicts events from God's Word!
3) Place certificates and awards that you have received for faithfulness!
4) Leave your Bible in plain sight, and read it in their presence!
5) Speak of these things often, and especially when they become curious about their meaning, and significance!
It has been said, "We are only one generation away from becoming a pagan nation."
God already knew that, and instructs us to leave those memorials for the next generation.
From my heart to your heart.