The Memorial Stones

Memorial is a time to remember, remember those who have fallen in battle, those who fought for their freedom and freedom for others against those who want to take liberty and freedom away and replace with power and control over the people.

Memorials are important because it is easy to forget the sacrifices people have made in the past, the sacrifices that gave us the freedoms we hold dear today.

The Bible also speaks of the importance of memorials because it is also easy to forget God’s power and all He has done.

Today we will look at how the people of Israel remembered the miracle God performed.

Joshua 4

The Lord told Joshua to choose one man from each of the 12 tribes. Each man was to choose a stone from the middle of the Jordan and carry it to where they were going to camp that night. They were to set up the 12 stones, as a memorial for the miracle of crossing on dry ground. They were instructed to pass this mighty work of God onto the next generation.

In regards to these memorial stones we are going to ask three questions.

How these memorials were raised

Where these memorials were raised

What these memorials mean

The answer to these questions are found within today text lets read this passage together.

Joshua 4 (NKJV)

1 And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying:

2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe,

3 and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ”

4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe;

5 and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel,

6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’

7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day.

10 So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over.

11 Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people.

12 And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them.

13 About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho.

14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.

15 Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying,

16 “Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.”

17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.”

18 And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before.

19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.

20 And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal.

21 Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’

22 then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’;

23 for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over,

24 that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

I. How these Memorials were Raised.

1. BY PREPARED MEN.

“Joshua called the twelve men whom he had prepared” (v. 4).

Not every one can build a memorial for the glory of God’s grace. A work of personal preparation is needed by our heavenly Joshua. We must be called of God and believing.

2. BY REPRESENTATIVE MEN.

“Out of every tribe a man” (v. 2).

It is a blessed privilege to be chosen of God to represent Him before the people, and to raise a monument to His Name. These twelve men acted for the whole nation, each one having a “stone laid upon his shoulder.”

II. Where these Memorials Rested.

1. IN THE MIDST OF JORDAN.

“Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, where the feet of the priests stood” (v. 9).

On that very spot where the ark of the covenant rested were these memorial boulders piled.

So they came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month (the day on which the lamb chosen for the passover offering, Exod. 12:2, 3).

I personally believe at this same location where these memoral stones were placed by Joshua is perhaps that same place 2000? later Jesus of Nazerath would come to the shores of the Jordan to be identified at the Lamb of GodJesus Christ, the Ark of our Covenant, went down into the Jordan. An perhaps even on the 10th day of the 1st month, when the lambs where being selected for the passover sacrifice.

It tells us in John I:28-29 “These things were done in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing. The next day John saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

2. IN THE LODGING PLACE OF GILGAL.

“Those twelve stones which they took out of Jordan did Joshua pitch at Gilgal” (vv. 3–20).

Gilgal means the place of rolling.

Joshua 5:9 NKJV

Then the Lord said to Joshua, “This day I have rolled away the reproach of Egypt from you.” Therefore the name of the place is called Gilgal to this day.

This second testimonial has a different voice. It speaks of rest and possession as the first spoke of deliverance. These stones, taken out of the place of death, now become memorials of life and blessing.

III. What these Memorials Mean.

The pile of twelve stones reminded Israel of what God had done for them—that He cared for His people, kept His promises, and went before them in victory to conquer the land of their inheritance.

This is the message the stones declared to Israel, and this is what they say to us today. They speak of at least five meaniful remembers...

1. FAITHFULNESS OF GOD.

“Until everything was finished” (v. 10).

I can’t help be reminded of what Christ said while he hung of the cross between heaven and earth. “It is finished” (John 19:30) then bowed His head and gave up His spirit.

2. GRACE OF GOD.

As long as the priests stood in Jordan the way stood open, but when the priests came out the waters returned and overflowed (v. 18).

Then the day of grace was passed, and the door shut. The grace of God that brought salvation still appears. “Behold, now is the accepted time.” (2 Cor. 6:2) Now, is the day of salvation.

The way of salvation is prepared, just as the Ark of the Covenant opened the way for the Israelites to cross and uncrossable river to the promised land, Christ has opened the way across an uncrossable casum that was created because of sin, it is only through the cross of God’s saving grace can you be saved.

3. LOVE OF GOD.

“Let your children know” (v. 22).

It was important as it is today to pass on the testimony of God’s saving power in your own personal life as it was then so it is today.

The church since New Testament times has continued to erect “memorial stones” telling of God’s wonderful works on behalf of his people.

Works of art in architecture, sculpture, painting, music, and literature, and our own personal stories passed on to our children are only a few examples of what a “memorial stone” may look like today.

That is why songs from the Hymnal are so important to so many who experienced God during a time in history that this songs where to staple of expression of worship to the God they love.

With each generation new expressions of their faith whether it is through a new song, art or literature is just an example of memorials being established as a testimony about God’s faithfulness, grace and love.

When we show Christ in our lifestyle of change brought by His presents in our lives it often prompts peoples active inquiry into our faith and at the same time it helps lead our children to make the faith their own.

4. POWER OF GOD.

“That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty” (v. 24).

Joshua’s reference in 4:24 to “all the nations of the earth” is a timely reminder that teaching about God’s power is not just for the children of the faithful, but for everyone.

When the stories of God’s care for his people are told in ways they can relate to and understand, at least some persons in every people group respond to the God who cares for all. Joshua’s instructions include the mandate to tell this story as an invitation to everyone to trust in Israel’s God, who had shown himself all-powerful at the Jordan.

Conclusion

Every God-ordained memorial is a great mercy. We all are so ready to forget the great things He hath done for us. His memorials do not always appear in stones, in temples made with hands, or institutions. Every living stone built upon Christ, the living foundation, is a memorial of His redeeming power.

God is faithful. His promises never fail (1 Kings 8:56).

With the assurance of His presence and the reminder of His mighty power, the Lord bolsters our faith whenever He asks us to follow Him into new areas of battle and conquest.

We can let these stones remind us, too, that unless we step out in faith and get our feet wet as the priests did, we’ll never fully experience the new life of faith and freedom that Christ has opened up for us as our inheritance in Him (Galatians 5:1; 1 Peter 2:16).