What can we learn about obedience from God's command to Joshua in Joshua 4:15? Setting the Scene Israel has just crossed the Jordan. Twelve stones now rest on the riverbed as a silent witness. The water is still miraculously held back. In that dramatic pause, “Then the LORD said to Joshua” (Joshua 4:15). Key Verse “Then the LORD said to Joshua” (Joshua 4:15). So brief—yet packed with insight for everyone who longs to obey God wholeheartedly. Observation: A Simple Command The very next verse (4:16) tells Joshua to command the priests to come up out of the Jordan. No debate, no delay, no alternatives offered—just a clear directive. What Obedience Looks Like • Listening first • Acting promptly • Trusting God’s larger plan • Demonstrating leadership through example Lesson 1 – Obedience Begins with Hearing God • Joshua does nothing until God speaks. • Scripture is God’s primary voice to us today (2 Timothy 3:16). • We cannot obey what we have not first heard or read. Lesson 2 – Timely Obedience Matters • The priests are still standing in the riverbed; hesitation could endanger them. • God’s commands often come with an implied “now.” • Compare: “Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you” (Deuteronomy 5:33). Lesson 3 – Obedience Aligns with God’s Larger Plan • The command is part of a bigger story—memorial stones, future testimonies, Israel’s faith. • Our obedience, even in small tasks, fits into God’s overarching purposes (Romans 8:28). Lesson 4 – Obedience Requires Leadership and Example • Joshua must relay the command; the priests must respond; the people must watch. • Leadership is validated when it submits to God first (Hebrews 13:7). Lesson 5 – Obedience Leads to Remembrance of God’s Work • The result will be a national memory stone altar at Gilgal (4:20–24). • Personal obedience today becomes tomorrow’s testimony. Practical Takeaways 1. Start each day in the Word—position yourself to hear God. 2. When Scripture identifies a clear command, move on it without bargaining. 3. Trust that even routine obedience is weaving into God’s redemptive story. 4. Lead by example: your quick obedience encourages others to trust God. 5. Keep a record of God’s faithfulness that follows each obedient step. Related Scriptures on Obedience • “If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.” (John 14:15) • “Samuel replied: ‘Does the LORD delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices as much as in obedience to His voice? Behold, obedience is better than sacrifice.’” (1 Samuel 15:22) • “But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22) Every time God speaks, Joshua 4:15 reminds us: hear, trust, obey—right away. |
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