Memorializing!

Reading:

Joshua 3:14-17 “So when the people set out from their tents to pass over the Jordan with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people, and as soon as those bearing the ark had come as far as the Jordan, and the feet of the priests bearing the ark were dipped in the brink of the water (now the Jordan overflows all its banks throughout the time of harvest), the waters coming down from above stood and rose up in a heap very far away, at Adam, the city that is beside Zarethan, and those flowing down toward the Sea of the Arabah, the Salt Sea, were completely cut off. And the people passed over opposite Jericho. Now the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firmly on dry ground in the midst of the Jordan, and all Israel was passing over on dry ground until all the nation finished passing over the Jordan.”

Introduction:

Memorial Day is the day we as United States Citizens honor the individuals and families who sacrificed their own dreams and desires for the purpose God called them to; for others good.

Many left wives, families, and friends to serve our greater good, many didn’t return.

They gave their all, to protect and or provide a better future to coming generations.

That is the focus for Memorial Day; to show our honor for those who gave all for others.

Memorializing and honoring their memories isn’t something that is new; the roots can be found all throughout history.

The Bible provides many examples of memorials, and one in particular we can see God’s leading for setting up a memorial.

Memorializing things provides pictures for reminders.

Joshua 4:1- provides the content for today’s memorial message.

Transition:

Israel was brought through the Jordan river on dry ground.

The Lord revealed Himself to all of Israel in a miraculous way!

The Lord gave instructions to make a proclamation by way of a memorial.

He instructed that there be 12 stones carried through the river and set up on the other side in a pillar.

Why would the Lord ask that of the people?

It was for:

A Memorial

Memorials promote curiosity.

Joshua 4:6 “that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’”

Joshua 4:6 “that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’”

Memorials may spark curiosity.

Illustration:

When you visit a national park what is there for you to understand what your looking at or why your visiting?

When I went to New York, I had the privilege of visiting Ellis Island.

Ellis Island is the location where nearly 12 million immigrants came into the United States.

It is a location that now is considered a poetic symbol for the American dream.

Come put in the hard work and be what you desire, have freedom to choose your life, and posses property.

This is Annie Moore:

First processed immigrant January 1st 1892, Unveiled by the president of Ireland Nary Robinson.

A gift to the people of the United States of America.

From the Irish American Cultural Institute, John P. Walsh Chairman May 18th 2001

Sculptor Jeanne Rynhart County Cork.

How would any of us have known or had the opportunity to remember the first immigrant brought into the U.S. through Ellis Island.

Joshua 4:1-2 “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,”

Joshua 4:6 “that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’”

That sign is 12 stones stacked upon one another.

There are no words inscribed on the stones.

How are future generations to know what the purpose of the 12 stones represent?

There would be a lot of curious people.

What are they to do with that curiosity - They are to ask the question.

Transition:

So they are to make a:

Request

What is the purpose of these stones to you?

“Hey Dad..Tell me the story of these stones”

People like knowing history.

They like knowing what their families have done and the impact it made by their relatives.

Guess what they are doing when they tell the stories of the Lord bringing all of Israel through the Jordan on dry ground.

They are glorifying the Lord.

They are praising His name for all to hear.

There is also a little detail you can find while reading the account:

Joshua 4:3 “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.’ ””

Where is the specific location they were to get the stones from?

From in the river.

I would think that the stones in the rive were different from those on the bank or near the river.

Joshua 4:4-5 “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,”

Each man that represents 1/12th of the tribe were to get in the water and bear a burden across to the other side.

There was much labor in what they did.

The effort would’ve been seared into the minds of everyone who witnessed their struggles, including their own.

Joshua 4:8-9 “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.”

These men carrying the stones across reveal obedience to whatever the task the Lord has for you.

Joshua 4:3 “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.’ ””

Joshua obeyed God’s leading, and in good leading so did those chosen from the 12 tribes.

Transition:

By the time the explaining is done all the listeners would have the full understanding for why there is a memorial.

That is exactly the purpose for a memorial.

A memorial demands:

A Proclamation

Joshua 4:7 “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.””

This passage is:

Truth Presented

God separated the waters.

Israel walked by faith on dry ground.

God’s protection and leading was through the river on dry ground.

Since God lead the way, His leading is permanent.

There was a statute in the memorial!

How long will the memorial remain?

Joshua 4:7 “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.””

How long will the story be remembered?

Forever!

Transition:

To this day there is a pillar that continues the memorial and promise!

It will remain forever and continue to be a pillar of truth to all who know the story and who provided the victory!

That brings us to the fact that a:

Memorial has meaning

It is meant to

Pass on hope

When someone sees the rock pillar and remember what God did:

They remember the power, authority, and control of YHWH and He is Real!

When someone sees the rock pillar, they know the Lord is real it provides something that we all need:

Hope!

How can one have hope from the Lord?

Through trust!

He will never leave you and He is always in control of what is happening.

We trust all that He is allowing, even though we don’t understand it all.

Do we need to understand everything?

No! Because we trust His sovereign will!

Transition:

The hope we have and our trust in the Lord will:

Pass on Faith

The pillar for all to see will pass on hope.

Hope: “That which gives hope; he or that which furnishes ground of expectation, or promises desired good.” - Noah Webster

Hope promotes faith.

Faith is: “an affectionate practical confidence in the testimony of God.” - Noah Webster

“is a firm, cordial belief in the veracity of God, in all the declarations of his word; or a full and affectionate confidence in the certainty of those things which God has declared, and because he has declared them.” - Noah Webster

We have faith in Christ, just as Joshua and the 12 men representing each tribe did.

It is described best as a shield to stand behind.

Psalm 3:3 “But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head.”

Our faith is this promise.

He is our strength, and our defender.

When people notice these attributes about us, it reveals something different.

We are able to make it through each storm and loss because He is carrying us through.

Connection:

That is the assurance that they yearn for and are missing.

Do we reveal our Hope and trust in Jesus?

They would like to have faith in a God that gives them promises and keeps them.

Conclusion:

This memorial day:

Remember all of those who gave so much for us to have liberties that God gave us in this country; but most of all remember Jesus Christ gave all for us.

The stones are a memorial for a sign, so when people see them it creates:

Curiosity

That allows you those moments to:

- Proclaim the truth

- With the Lord it is forever!

- They all carry:

- Meaning

When we have the opportunities to do so:

- We can pas on our hope to others.

- And we can pass our faith on to others.

Pray!