In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.
Joshua 4:6-7
Memory is a powerful force in shaping our faith and identity. In the book of Joshua, we encounter a profound moment where God instructs His people to create a lasting memorial of His miraculous intervention.
The Israelites had just experienced an incredible miracle. The raging Jordan River had parted before them, allowing them to cross on dry ground into the Promised Land. It was a moment of triumph and divine intervention that marked a new chapter in their history.
But God knew the frailty of human memory. He understood that over time, the vividness of even the most extraordinary experiences can fade. So He commanded Joshua to create a memorial – twelve stones taken from the middle of the Jordan, one for each tribe of Israel.
The Hebrew word for “memorial” used here is זִכָּרוֹן (zikkaron), which comes from the root word meaning “to remember” or “to recall.” This memorial wasn’t just about preserving a historical fact; it was about keeping alive the memory of God’s faithfulness and power.
These stones served multiple purposes. They were a tangible reminder of God’s miraculous intervention, providing a physical touchpoint for the Israelites to recall the incredible event they had witnessed. Additionally, they created an opportunity for future generations to learn about God’s faithfulness, ensuring that the story would be passed down through the ages.
The stones also served as a conversation starter, naturally prompting questions and encouraging the retelling of the miraculous crossing. Finally, they stood as a public testament to God’s power, visible to all who passed by, silently proclaiming the mighty acts of the Lord to Israelites and foreigners alike.
In our own lives, we too need “stones of remembrance.” The great preacher Charles Spurgeon once said, “Memory is very treacherous, especially in good things.” How true this is! We often quickly forget God’s blessings and faithfulness, especially when faced with new challenges.
Creating our own memorials can take many forms. It might be keeping a journal of answered prayers, creating a photo album of significant spiritual moments, or even designating a physical object as a reminder of a particular experience with God. The key is to have something tangible that prompts us to recall and retell the stories of God’s faithfulness in our lives.
The power of these memorials lies not just in personal remembrance, but in sharing our stories with others. Note how God anticipates future generations asking about the meaning of the stones. Our testimonies of God’s work in our lives can become powerful tools for nurturing faith in others, especially in times of doubt or difficulty.
Godseekers, consider what “stones of remembrance” you might need to set up in your life. What significant moments of God’s faithfulness do you need to memorialize? How can you create tangible reminders that will prompt you to recall and share these stories with others? As the stones from the Jordan served as a lasting testament to God’s faithfulness for the Israelites, your memorials can become powerful reminders of God’s work in your life and tools for encouraging faith in others.
May your “stones of remembrance” stand as enduring witnesses to God’s goodness and power in your journey of faith.
Prayer
Lord, thank You for Your faithfulness throughout our lives. Help us to create meaningful memorials that will remind us of Your goodness and power. Give us opportunities to share these stories with others, that they too might be encouraged in their faith. May we never forget the great things You have done. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Personal Reflection
- What are some significant moments of God’s faithfulness in your life that you need to memorialize? How can you create tangible reminders of these experiences?
- Think of a time when hearing someone else’s testimony of God’s faithfulness encouraged your own faith. How might your stories impact others in a similar way?
Step of Faith
This week, create your own “stone of remembrance.” Choose a significant moment of God’s faithfulness in your life and find a way to memorialize it. This could be writing it down in a special journal, creating a piece of art, or choosing a physical object to serve as a reminder. Then, share this story and the meaning behind your “stone” with at least one other person. Pay attention to how the act of creating this memorial and sharing your story impacts both you and the person you share it with.
