Click to read Joshua 4
Synopsis - With 40,000 soilders crossing the river in battle formation (v13), the Israelites were ready for battle and to take the land. However, instead of launching an attack immediately, God commanded Joshua to have the people build a memorial with 12 stones picked up from the River Jordan. As insignificant as it may seem in their mission to conquer the land, building the memorial was important as God wanted His people to focus on Him and His leadership and power. In addition, the memorial was to be a constant reminder of the days that God led the people to cross the river on dry grounds and that the children would be told of it (v21-24) and thus learn about God.
Major verses
V4-7 - Joshua obeyed God's instruction to build the memorial and added the reason for it in V6 "to serve as a sign among you. In th future, when the children ask you "What do these stones mean? Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenent ..."
What I learnt - While we can be busy doing the tasks that God gives to us, we must still set aside time and quiet moments to build our "memorial" to God's power and goodness. We must always remind ourselves and also our children of God's grace and mercy, power and love for us constantly.
V19 - 24 - Finally when the memorial was erected, Joshua gathered all the people together to proclaim the reason for it. This time, he specifically said that it was to tell their descendants that God helped them to cross the River Jordan in dry land, as He did with their fathers in the Red Sea. This was to let all the people of the world know of God's power and so that His people will always rever Him.
What I learnt - We also need to build a "memorial" for which we can be reminded of God; it may be special dates or special places to help our children learn about God's work in our life. Let us take time to tell them about God and His goodness. Retelling such stories will help keep memories of God's faithfulness alive.
Summary
To go forward successfully, we must constantly remind ourselves of God's power and leadership. Talking about these with our children will also keep them focused on God.
Next up
In Joshua 5, we will learn that it is very important to dedicated our life to God....coming up on 25 Dec.
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