Joshua: Kingdom Conquest (5)

Joshua 4:1–5 ESV

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,

The first thing we have to notice is the attention to details that Joshua is required in order to be obedient. his instructions are better than Ikea furniture and they don’t even have pictures.

These 12 men and Joshua were the only ones allowed nearest to the ark aside from the priests. Leaders are granted greater access to God because they are accountable for those they lead.

James 3:1 ESV

Not many of you should become teachers, my brothers, for you know that we who teach will be judged with greater strictness.

So Joshua tells them to get the stones. They go near the Priests-Now these are heavy stones Because they had to be placed upon their shoulders.

These are sacred stones. They are a souvenir declairing the miracle of God. Because before this moment the stones were in a place unreachable. No one even knew these stones existed and no one had ever set eyes on them before, but they were put there for such a times as this.

Joshua 4:6–8 ESV

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.

Here in lies the greatest question: What do those stones mean?

The Israelites believed firmly of telling the testimonies of the miracles they experienced. People need to know How God is working in your life and most of the time the only way for people to know is if they were told.

Israel was brought through an impossible situation, but it wasn’t just meant for them it was meant to help others through their impossible situations.

What I have found in counseling people is that everyone’s definition of impossible is different and Just because your impossible might be at a deeper depth doesn’t mean that their impossible is any less significant. It just means that you are overly qualified to help them through their impossible.

Joshua 4:9–10 ESV

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.

Now this is odd. Why put an alter on the river bed where no one will see it? There was already an alter set up as a reminder of the miracle so why on the river bed?

I believe: There are some parts of your journey that only you will appreciate and understand. God often aligns our past to help guide people through their troubles, but I have found that there are parts of my story that are strictly meant for me and God. Moments that increase my love for him that no one else will understand. And those alters in my life no one will ever see.

It’s widely known that I have a disdain for chewing with ones mouth open. The noises and visuals. Ew. But what I find annoying- also unmarriable- I know people who found it cute when they were in the dating phase. Some quirks in my wife I could sit back and enjoy, but other people may find annoying, but it’s because of my relationship with my wife and the depths to which I know her that makes those things enjoyable. It’s just between me and her.

Joshua 4:11–18 ESV

And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life. And the Lord said to Joshua, “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.

Joshua 4:19–20 ESV

The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.

If you go through biblical history you see the importance of Gilgal after the conquering of the promised land.

Israel crowned their first king at Gilgal 1 Sam 11

It’s where David was welcomed back after Absolom’s rebellion was subdued 2 Sam 19

Samuel had Gilgal in his ministry circle

There was a school of prophets 2 Kings 2:1-2

Sometimes you don’t understand that importance of a place and time until you look back years later. Israel thought those stones just represented their miracle, but those stones played an important part in many other people’s lives.

But you also have to be careful that those important places don’t become a stumbling block of comfort.

Israel attempted to worship at Gilgal instead of Jerusalem and Hosea had ot bring down the hammer of correction Hosea 4:15

One of the biggest lessons we need to learn from Israel is to not make the alter the God.

It’s ok to learn and rejoice of the past, but if we stare at the past long enough we will miss our future.