A Rock Solid Memory!
Reflective Reading: Joshua 4
It would be an understatement to say that I am excited to share the truths found in Joshua 4. I have been incredibly blessed and refreshed by my recent studies in the exciting book of Joshua, and this morning I invite you to join me in the blessing. You’ll want to pull out your Bible and turn to Joshua 4:1-11…
“When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, ‘Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, and command them, saying, “Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.”’ Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. And Joshua said to them, ‘Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, “What do those stones mean to you?” Then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.’ And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the LORD told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day. For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste. And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people” (Joshua 4:1-11).
Before we do a deep dive on this portion of Scripture, there are a few observations to consider. The geographical area of this section of the Jordan river is very steep, and on either side are medium to high banks. This is helpful to know because these cliffs gave 2 million Israelites a hillside view of the priests carrying the Ark into the river. Picture all these people lined up along the high banks with kids sitting atop their father’s shoulders, watching this very exciting and dramatic moment.
The Bible tells us that the river had overflowed its banks at this time. This is significant because the Jordan River prior to the spring season is usually one foot deep to ten to twenty feet wide. During the spring, with the melting snow from Mount Horeb, the Jordan River swells. The river surges to over 100 feet wide and 10 feet deep! In addition to this, the sea level a few miles from the north has dropped over 500 feet, making the rapids flow so swiftly that not even the most expert of swimmers could make it across. Now that’s quite a statement, but this was tested by an Olympic swimmer who was not even able to make it to the middle of the stream. He was so quickly washed downstream that it was deemed impossible for an expert swimmer to cross the Jordan. It’s certainly not an exaggeration to say that if the children of Israel had stepped into these rapids, they all would have perished. Yet the LORD is requiring the priests to carry the Ark down into the water!
Can you imagine being one of those priests? Picture the first two stepping their feet into the water, slowly descending; then the next two priests and then the remaining priests. As soon as they were all in, the river began to lower. I wish I could have seen their faces. Keep in mind that they didn’t see the waters part; they only saw the waters fall lower and lower until they were standing on dry ground. Also keep in mind that this Ark was not easy to carry! It was heavy—made of wood and covered in gold! I wonder how long they had to hold the Ark until two million travelers crossed to the other side?
As we keep reading, we learn that Joshua commands twelve men to find twelve large stones to carry upon their shoulders. They were to find these large river rocks in the midst of the Jordan. Once the men carried the stones to the other side of the Jordan, they would then carry them for approximately 15 more miles to their first camp site at Gilgal. There, they would erect these twelve stones vertically as memorial stones. In Joshua 4 we read that the stones were erected so that when their children (who were not yet born), would ask, “Mom and dad, what do these stones mean?” Then the parents would be able to tell them the story of this great, miraculous event.
I find it interesting that Joshua not only commanded that these 12 stones be erected in their camp, but that another set of 12 stones (v. 9) would also be erected on the spot where the priests held the Ark at the brim of the Jordan. According to Joshua, those 12 stones were still standing long after the event took place. Can you imagine the size of these stones and how high they must have been when they were erected together? I imagine something akin to the Stone Henge.
Now, let’s put everything we’ve learned together.
In the beginning we have two million people watching the miracle of the parting waters at the staggering distance of half a mile between them and the event taking place. The drama is unfolding before the people’s eyes. This must have been so exciting for the children (and adults) to see. As soon as the priests stepped their feet on the other side, the text says that the waters immediately rose—overflowing the banks.
Unlike the miracle of parting of waters at the Red Sea, God was going to make sure that this generation would not easily forget this miracle, thus the stones at the brim of the river and the stones in the camp. But there was an additional reason that God commanded Joshua to erect these stones. The last verse in Joshua 4 tells us it happened so that “all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God forever.”
I wish I could have been there to witness this great miracle. And I hope that my confidence in this great and awesome God would never slacken thereafter! Friends, it’s been 47 years since Jesus saved me and brought me to the “other side.” That’s a long time!!! I’m still in love with Him and still crazy in love with His Word. Oh, there have been some rough spots to be sure, but the blessing of the LORD has made me rich and has added no sorrow to it (Pro. 10:22). I think what has helped me the most is trusting in the goodness of God. He always has our best interest in mind, and we can trust in that. To slacken in our trust that God is good is a downhill ride on a slippery slope. I Peter 2:2-5 says:
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
Hmm…stones are appearing again in the New Testament! The stones that Peter is referring to are the same kind of stones that appear with Jacob in Genesis and the stones taken from the Jordan River. These stones represent memorial stones. In the Old Testament, when someone would come upon a site where large stones were standing erect, the traveler would know that a significant spiritual event took place between someone and their God. The site would then be reverenced and admired with wonder.
Just as Joshua raised up these large stones to remind the Israelites of God’s great deliverance and miracle, Peter tells us that WE are the New Testament standing stones—memorial stones. Today, when people see those of us who “have tasted that the Lord is gracious,” should see something significant; something that compels them to admire, wonder, and ask of the reason of the hope that is within us. We are living, walking, breathing, standing New Testament stones, “a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.”
Just as the priest carried the Ark of God with the Word of God, provision of God, and power of God, we are a holy priesthood carrying the same—within us! Do you remember the main reason God performed the miracle at the Jordan River?
“That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God forever” (Joshua 4:24).
It is the same reason God has saved us and brought us to the other side—“that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty!”
If you go to Gilgal today you can see what many believe are the 12 original stones from Joshua’s day. Once you see them, you will leave with a sense that you just saw (drum roll please) 12 large stones—nothing to write home about. However, when people see a living stone, walking and breathing, and testifying of the miraculous power of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, they will be left with lingering thoughts and emotions that something unexplainably significant indeed happened with that person. I pray that that person is me, you, or anyone else who has experienced an unexplainable spiritual event with their God—Jesus Christ! Children are watching, and if what they see is unexplainable in us, you can be sure that they will be asking what happened!
Sincerely,
Mark Hamby
M.S., M. Div., Th. M., D. Min.
