Remembering God’s Works

Series: Joshua, Judges, Ruth

Title – Remembering God’s Works

Verses – Joshua 3:14-4:9, 23-24

Subject – Remember

Central Theme – Remembering God’s Works

Objective Statement – We should establish memorials in our lives that consistently remind us God’s working in our lives.  Joshua 3 & 4 gives 3 reasons we should remembers God’s Works

Points –

Reason 1 — There are events worth remembering. (Josh. 3:14-17)

Reason 2 — There is a command worth obeying. (Josh. 4:1-7)

Reason 3 — There is a story worth sharing. (Josh. 4:8-9, 21-24)

Introduction

Connection

Memorials are important. We erect buildings and monuments to pay tribute to great people and events that have shaped our history. Memorials allow us to honor the past, share collective memories, and express grief. Monuments may be elaborate, permanent structures like the Lincoln Memorial or simple roadside memorials for a loved one who died in an automobile accident. Such visual reminders stimulate our memories of the past and challenge us to live better lives in the present. 

Archaeologists have discovered that ancient civilizations erected statues and built monumental structures to celebrate and memorialize significant people and events. These memorials helped following generations understand their identity and recognize how they became who they are. In the Bible, God often instructed His people to erect memorials. It was so that they would never forget who God is, never forget they belonged to Him, and always remember they could trust Him in the present and for the future.

What are some prominent memorials you can think of? Why are they significant, and what impact do they have on people today?  

Read: Affirm that the purpose of monuments is to remind us of what has happened in our past and to challenge us to look ahead to the future. Explain that today’s session focuses on how Israel memorialized God’s mighty works on their behalf as they finally set foot in the promised land.

Context: Summarize the miracle God provided for the people as they crossed the Jordan River

“At that time of year, the Jordan’s banks were overflowing. Nevertheless, when the priests stepped into the water, the waters receded, making a dry path for all of Israel to cross (3:6-17; 4:23). When every Israelite had completed crossing the Jordan, the Lord commanded Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each tribe, to each take a stone from the riverbed.”

We should establish memorials in our lives that consistently remind us God’s working in our lives.  Joshua 3 & 4 gives 3 reasons we should remembers God’s Works.

Reason 1 — There are events worth remembering. (Josh. 3:14-17)

Joshua 3:14–17 KJV 1900

14 And it came to pass, when the people removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, and the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people; 15 And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) 16 That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho. 17 And the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord stood firm on dry ground in the midst of Jordan, and all the Israelites passed over on dry ground, until all the people were passed clean over Jordan.

(v. 14) As Israel removed from their tents, to pass over Jordan, Joshua instructed the people to consecrate themselves. The officers also commanded them to follow the priests when they saw the ark of the covenant being moved (3:3-6). Meanwhile, God told Joshua personally that He would exalt him in the eyes of the people (3:7). The Israelites would know the Lord was with Joshua just as He had been with Moses.

Similarities exist between the previous generation’s crossing of the Red Sea and this generation’s crossing of the Jordan. Both times, God miraculously separated waters and allowed His people to cross on dry ground. In both cases, the waters “gathered together” (Ex. 15:8; “rose up upon an heap,” Josh. 3:16). And the primary purpose of each crossing was to bring glory to God and to affirm the man God had chosen to lead Israel (Ex. 14:31; Josh. 3:7-13).

The Hebrew phrase translated removed from their tents has also been rendered “broke camp.” After the people consecrated themselves (3:5), the priests bearing the ark of the covenantled the Israelites’ march across the river. The ark reminded God’s people of His presence with them. This gold-covered box contained the Ten Commandments, a jar of manna, and Aaron’s rod that budded. Each item emphasized God’s work among the Israelites through His provision of the law, His provision of nourishment, and His provision of leadership.

(v. 15) The comment that the Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest enhances the miracle that follows. The statement adds a measure of tension by implying that the upcoming event would defy the laws of nature.

According to Jewish calendars, the crossing took place in the month of Abib or Nisan, which roughly corresponds to March and April on our calendar. The Lord had designated Nisan as the first month of the Israelites’ spiritual year when He established Passover (Ex. 12:1-2). This was also harvest season, a time when the Jordan River normally exceeded its flood stage.

(v. 16) As soon as the priests carrying the ark of the covenant stepped into the Jordan, the waters which came down from above stood. These waters rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, a city located at least fifteen miles north of the Israelites’ crossing point. With the waters from upstream stymied, the water flowing downstream quickly emptied into the Dead Sea.

(v. 17) The wall of water upstream left nothing but dry groundfor God’s people. The priests with the ark stood on dry ground in the midst of Jordan where water had flowed moments earlier. In addition, all the Israelites could cross into the promised land on dry ground.

The crossing occurred on the tenth day of the first month (Josh. 4:19). The fact that the entire nation crossed on dry ground when the river was at flood stage stresses the miraculous nature of the event. We can be sure that God never fails to provide perfectly for His people during their time of need.

EXPLORE Joshua 3:14-17

Application Point: We can be sure that God never fails to provide perfectly for His people during their time of need. 

Compare the crossing of the Jordan in Joshua 3:14-17 to the crossing of the Red Sea in Exodus 14:15-31. What are the similarities? 

Group Activity Option

Compare and Contrast

Lead adults to compare and contrast the Jordan River here and the Red Sea in Exodus 14:15-31. Emphasize how God displayed His power in each miraculous crossing. Highlight that each miracle affirmed God’s power, authority, and glory—as well as validated the leader He had chosen for His people. 

We should establish memorials in our lives that consistently remind us God’s working in our lives.  Joshua 3 & 4 gives 3 reasons we should remembers God’s Works.

Reason 2 — There is a command worth obeying. (Josh. 4:1-7)

Joshua 4:1–7 KJV 1900

1 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night. 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: 5 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: 6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones? 7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.

(v. 1) Joshua 4 begins with a repetition of 3:17, providing a backward look at the miracle once Israel had passed over Jordan. Verse 1 also gives a look ahead by introducing the authoritative Speaker of the instructions in verses 2-3. Emphasis falls on the fact that Joshua acted in obedience to the Lord. Recall that God had previously stressed that obeying His commands would be the key to Joshua’s success (see Josh. 1:7-8).

(vv. 2-3) The Lord commanded Joshua to choose twelve men, one representing every tribe of Israelites. The account does not follow a strict chronological order at this point. It is not clear if the twelve men completely crossed the river first (as suggested in v. 1) or if they picked up the stones as they crossed (as suggested by carry them over with you in v. 3). Regardless, the writer’s emphasis was on the miracle God provided and the people’s obedience to His commands.

The writer also highlighted the purpose of the stones on the other side of the river. Stones taken from where the priests’ feet stood firm in the middle of the riverbed provided additional evidence that the river’s water had indeed stopped in its place. The Lord commanded that His people take the twelve stones and leave them in the lodging place. The Hebrew verb rendered leave them relates to the word “rest.” The concept of Israel’s “rest” after years of wandering in the wilderness is a key theme in Joshua.

(v. 4) The mention of twelve men—as God directed, out of every tribe—refers back to Joshua 3:12 and 4:2. The Hebrew verb translated prepared (v. 4) basically means “established.” It comes from the same root as the word rendered “firm” in 3:17. Just as the priests had stood firm in the dry riverbed, Joshua established the men he chose with a great responsibility.

(vv. 5-7) Joshua instructed the men to go to the ark of the Lord your God and to take a stone from that spot. The twelve found the stones close to where the priests were standing. Joshua’s reference to twelve stones that corresponded to Israel’s tribesechoes God’s words and calls attention to the nation’s unity. They were one nation, not twelve independent tribes. The Lord’s presence with His people, symbolized by the ark, is a repeated theme in chapters 3–4. 

The stones were a sign for the current generation and their descendants. Sign can signify an unusual event and would direct people back to God’s miraculous work in that spot. The Lord intended these stones to elicit questions about spiritual matters (see Deut. 6:4-9,20-25).

The stones were a memorial. The Hebrew term is derived from “to remember.” They functioned as a visual reminder of the dramatic way the Lord had helped His people and pointed future generations toward a deeper faith in Him.

EXPLORE Joshua 4:1-7

Application Point:

We should establish memorials in our lives that consistently remind us of God’s work on our behalf. 

Discuss: Encourage adults to share if they have run a marathon or half marathon. Lead a brief discussion on the significance of mile markers and way points, especially to help people keep going.

Read: Call for a volunteer to read aloud Joshua 4:1-7, directing the group to listen for the marker God established.

Examine:

The stones would be a memorial of what God had done that day, cutting off the waters of the Jordan in front of the Lord’s ark and allowing the people to cross the river on dry ground into the promised land. Certainly, this memorial was to serve as a reminder to the people who crossed the Jordan that day, but it also was to be a witness to generations to come. When their children would ask them what the meaning of the stacked stones was, the parents could tell them what God had done.

Ask: What are some milestones that could remind people of God’s work in their lives?

Say: The establishment of this memorial should be a challenge to all of us to remember what God has done in our lives. Beyond that, we have to be willing to share His work with others, including younger generations. 

Transition: After the people had crossed over the river on dry ground and collected the stones, it was time to build the monument.

Group Activity Option

Bible Skill

Joshua and the Israelites erected a memorial of twelve stones to help them remember and testify to what the Lord had done for them in the past. What specific memorials help you recall spiritual mountaintops in your experience with the Lord? What do you want to remember from those events? What tangible object can you use to help you remember God’s work in your life at that time?

We should establish memorials in our lives that consistently remind us God’s working in our lives.  Joshua 3 & 4 gives 3 reasons we should remembers God’s Works.

EXPLORE THE TEXT

Reason 3 — There is a story worth sharing. (Josh. 4:8-9, 21-24)

Joshua 4:8–9 KJV 1900

8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.

Joshua 4:21–24 KJV 1900

21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? 22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: 24 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 for ever.

(v. 8) This verse affirms the Israelites’ obedience to the Lord’s command through Joshua. They acted in accord with what Joshua commandedthem. The Hebrew verb translated commanded appears in the Old Testament with both God and human beings as its subject. It reflects a solidly structured society in which leaders received the right to rule by God’s command (see 2 Sam. 7:7).

Under God’s authority, a leader then had the power to command the people and to expect their obedience (see Josh. 1:9,16). In essence, obedience to the leader reflected obedience to God. Likewise, disobedience to a leader established by God was tantamount to rebellion against the Lord.

When the Lord commands something to be done, He never fails to equip His people to do it. Also, He never forgets what He has commanded. God carefully fulfills every responsibility related to His instructions (1 Chron. 16:14-18). As God’s chosen leader, Joshua acted as a true biblical prophet, although he is never identified in that spiritual office. Still, like other biblical leaders, he served as the Lord’s messenger for Israel, sharing His words with His people.

The twelve stones were carried from the midst of Jordan to the place where they camped. As noted, each stone represented one of the tribes of the children of Israel. After the number seven, the number twelve stands out as the most significant number appearing in Scripture. Twelve tribes constituted the nation of Israel in the Old Testament. In the New Testament Jesus chose twelve disciples to be with Him and learn from Him.

The importance of the number twelve also becomes evident in God’s decision to maintain that number. While the priestly tribe of Levi was not numbered among the twelve for land distribution, the tribes descending from Joseph (Ephraim and Manasseh) were counted separately to maintain the number twelve. And, after Judas Iscariot committed suicide following his betrayal of Jesus, the other disciples quickly added another qualified Christ follower to replace him and maintain the number twelve (Acts 1:15-26).

Twelve also plays an important role in Revelation. The new Jerusalem included twelve gates  and stood on twelve foundations (Rev. 21:12-14). The tree of life produced twelve kinds of fruit (22:2). John used a multiple of twelve to identify 144,000 servants of God. That group included twelve thousand people drawn from each of Israel’s twelve tribes (Rev. 7:4-8).

The writer of Joshua again associated the people’s obedience to their leader with obedience to God. As they did what Joshua commanded, they also were doing things just as the Lord spake.

(v. 9) Some scholars believe that a second pile of twelve stones was placed in the Jordan’s dry riverbed. If so, they were placed where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood. God designed the ark of the covenant to be moved easily from place to place. This symbol of God’s presence was rectangular, approximately four feet long and two and one-half feet wide. About thirty inches deep, it was carried using poles. Only the Levites could carry it. 

Others believe the Hebrew wording in verse 9 simply points to the original memorial established on the west side of the Jordan. Regardless, the inspired writer’s emphasis was on the lasting nature of the memorial. Even though the Jordan returned to its normal flow, the stones remained there when the story was recorded.

The memorial would serve as a testimony of the awesome God who led His people across a flooded river into the land He had promised them. God still expects believers to remember Him and to testify to what He has done for them.  

EXPLORE Joshua 4:8-9

Application Point: God expects believers to remember and testify to what He has done for them. 

Read: Call for the group to read silently Joshua 4:8-9, looking for how many monuments were built and where.

CHALLENGE

We can be sure that God never fails to provide perfectly for His people during their time of need.

We should establish memorials in our lives that consistently remind us of God’s work on our behalf.

God expects believers to remember and testify to what He has done for them.