Stones from the Jordan

When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.” So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever” (Joshua. 4:1-7 NIV).

Joshua is one of my favorite books of the Bible and the stories never cease to thrill my little heart.

Moses has died and God spends almost the whole first chapter giving his successor Joshua the greatest pep talk of all time. Joshua steps up. He sends spies to scope out Jericho and the Promised Land. The plan is set. It’s time to move.

The entire nation of Israel has to cross the mighty Jordan River to get to Jericho. This was no small feat. The Jordan was at flood stage during this time as all the snow of Mount Herndon was melting. But that river was no match for the God of the universe; just another natural tool to show His power and provision for His people.

The Levite priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stepped into the Jordan and immediately the waters cut off. It built up behind them like a wall and there it stayed. The people of Israel hurried across as the very presence of God stood between them and disaster. And as soon as everyone was safely across and the priests’ feet hit the other side, the water rushed on.

But before God let the waters go, He gave a command. “Somebody from each tribe, go get a stone from the middle of the river, from right where the priests were standing. They will be a memorial so you and your children will always remember what I did for you.” Amen!

The Lord teaches me incredibly wonderful, yet remarkably simple truths every day. I’ve learned to watch for His movement and write it down before I forget what He taught me.

These are my stones. These are the markers and the memorial for what the Lord has taught me in my life thus far. I’m happy to share them and what they represent: Almighty God lovingly teaching a mere mortal great lessons about Himself, and giving me a glimpse of my part in His magnificent plan.