How does Joshua 4:5 connect to other biblical instances of memorials or remembrance? Purpose of the Jordan Stones Joshua 4:5 records Joshua’s command: “Go across before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of Israel.” These twelve stones were to stand at Gilgal as a visible testimony that God cut off the Jordan’s waters and brought His people safely into the land (Joshua 4:6-7). Stones as Silent Storytellers Scripture often uses stones to help God’s people remember His faithfulness: • Genesis 28:18-22 – Jacob sets up a pillar at Bethel after his dream, marking the spot where God confirmed His covenant. • Exodus 24:4 – Moses erects twelve stone pillars at Sinai, representing the tribes as they enter covenant with the LORD. • Deuteronomy 27:2-3 – Israel is told to raise large plaster-covered stones on the day they cross the Jordan and write the law on them. • 1 Samuel 7:12 – Samuel sets up the Ebenezer stone, declaring, “Thus far the LORD has helped us.” • Joshua 24:26-27 – Joshua places a large stone under the oak at Shechem, calling it “a witness against us” to the renewed covenant. Memorials Beyond Stone God also appoints other tangible reminders so His works will never fade from memory: • Rainbow (Genesis 9:12-16) – a covenant sign that the earth will never again be destroyed by flood. • Passover (Exodus 12:14) – an annual feast: “This day will be a memorial for you.” • Jar of manna and Aaron’s rod kept before the testimony (Exodus 16:32-34; Numbers 17:10) – reminders of provision and authority. • Sabbath (Exodus 20:8) – a weekly call to “remember” the Creator and Redeemer. • Tassels on garments (Numbers 15:38-40) – visual prompts to “remember all the commandments of the LORD.” • Feast of Booths (Leviticus 23:42-43) – living in shelters so later generations “may know” God made Israel dwell in booths after Egypt. • Purim (Esther 9:28) – established so “these days should never cease…nor lose their significance.” • The Lord’s Supper (Luke 22:19) – Jesus commands, “Do this in remembrance of Me,” anchoring the new covenant in a recurring act of memory. Threads That Tie the Memorials Together • God initiates each memorial; His works are worth remembering. • Physical objects or practices engage sight, touch, taste, and community, helping truth sink deep. • They point backward to mighty deeds and forward to continued faithfulness, bridging generations. • They invite storytelling: children ask, adults answer (Joshua 4:21-22), keeping doctrine alive in the family. Living Memorials in Everyday Life • Keep Scripture visible—verses on walls, lock-screens, or cards—modern “stones” that re-center the heart. • Celebrate communion and biblical feasts with fresh gratitude, not routine. • Mark personal deliverances: journal entries, dated Bibles, even literal stones in the yard, so future moments of doubt meet past proofs of mercy. • Testify often; spoken remembrance strengthens listeners and speaker alike (Psalm 145:4-7). Like the twelve stones by the Jordan, each God-ordained memorial, ancient or present, whispers the same message: He has acted, He is faithful, and He will be faithful still. |
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