Remember- Joshua 4:19-24

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching The Landmark

Years ago a tornado destroyed a little church on the coast of England. The congregation was too poor to replace it. One day a representative of the British Admiralty called on the local minister. The official inquired if his people planned to rebuild. The pastor explained their situation. Whereupon the caller said, “If you do not rebuild the church, we will. That spire is on all of our charts and maps. It is the landmark by which the ships of the seven seas steer their courses.”

I. A Monument to a Memory vv. 19-21

As we open this passage, Joshua and the children of Israel have just crossed into the Promised Land across the Jordan River

This comes at the end of a long journey, from slavery in Egypt to years of wandering in the wilderness; now they are seeing the plan of God unfold

In His wisdom, God held them until the spring when the Jordan was at flood stage and would be most difficult to cross

He dried up the waters of the Jordan and they were able to cross over on dry ground

An incredible miracle has taken place again and Joshua’s generation is going to be able to trust in God even as Moses’ generation did

In light of this, the Lord commands Joshua to set up a memorial; 12 stones for the 12 tribes of Israel from the place where the priests’ feet stood in the river. Why?

It is for personal reflection- “What does this mean to you?” an opportunity for reassurance and encouragement and challenge v. 6

It is for general instruction- It is our responsibility to share the goodness and the glory of God with the generation that follows us!

However, we must also remember that the stones are not sacred, the Lord is

There is a serious danger here, that the children of Israel will worship the object and not the Creator

In fact, Gilgal eventually became a symbol of idolatry in Amos and Hosea’s day

We must keep our focus where it belongs: we remember best when we remember rightly!

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Try to Remember

When Frederick C. Howe, lawyer and political scientist, finished the first draft of his autobiography, he submitted it to his wife for review. After reading it, she laughingly asked: “But Fred, weren’t you ever married?”

He stammered in embarrassment: “I am sorry. I guess I forgot that. I’ll put it in now.”

II. Reasons to Remember vv. 22-24

The Lord provides a way through the waters v. 22

Even though the waters are at flood stage God is able

He provides dry ground for them to cross on

It turns out that God is not in the least limited in His ability to work on our behalf

2. The Lord protects His people v. 23

All of this image of crossing the river ought to draw our attention back to the children of Israel and the Exodus from Egypt

They are delivered out of a land of captivity and from an army of enemies

Now, they are delivered into a land of promise to face an army of enemies

This is the same event, in reverse, and God will act to protect them again!

3. The Lord passes over our sin v. 23

All of the language of this verse is suggestive of a background event, the Passover

The events take place on a day of preparation, when the passover lamb was to be selected

They have just passed over the Jordan River

They are reminded of the events of passing over the Red Sea

The Lord has and will “passover” their sins

This is all pointing us to the ultimate recollection:

God has forgiven our sins through His passover lamb and we rest in His mighty work

All of our hope is founded as we look back to what He has done for us!

Every water that we pass over is a reminder that the Lord has passed over our sin

4. The Lord is praiseworthy v. 24

Finally, Joshua offers instruction

We must remember that our deliverance has a purpose:

That the peoples of the earthy may know the might of the hand of the Lord

That we may live in reverence of the holiness of God

Will you remember?

Do you have an experience of the goodness of God?

Are you living in light of the goodness of God?

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching Lest We Forget

Visitors to Honolulu usually see Pearl Harbor. Two hundred years ago Hawaiians called it Wae Momi, “Water of Pearl.” In 1861 the United States Navy constructed a fueling station in Honolulu. By 1916 it was the tenth most important naval base in the world. Eventually it became the Fourteenth Naval District, center of Pacific operations. However, we chiefly remember Pearl Harbor as scene of the surprise, dastardly air attack by the Japanese on Sunday morning, December 7, 1941, at six o’clock. On that infamous day, 2,335 American servicemen lost their lives; 1,143 were wounded.

Eighteen of the ninety-seven ships along “Battleship Row” were sunk. The Arizona sank in nine minutes with eleven-hundred men aboard. To this day this rusting hulk—now a memorial—continues to give off oil, even as memory of the attack alienates thoughtful citizens.