The last paragraph of Joshua 4 is our “Text” today …
“19And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal. 21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? 22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: 24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.” Joshua 4:19-24
Several facts are notable here …
First … They crossed the Jordan (at flood stage), coming up our of the riverbed “on the tenth day of the fist month,” which was linked to PASSOVER DAY! (See Exodus 12:3. “Speak ye unto all the congregation of Israel, saying, In the tenth day of this month they shall take to them every man a lamb, according to the house of their fathers, a lamb for an house.” And this would be the Passover lamb for each Jewish home.)
Spiritually speaking, that suggests we can only inhabit the “Promised land” (victorious Christian living, spiritual life on the highest plane, a much ‘deeper’ walk with God) because of a prior event, the “Passover” (the Death of Jesus God’s Lamb on the old rugged cross of Calvary)!
Jordan is related to that great Event long ago (a whole generation earlier to these Israelites) where each Jewish family killed an innocent little animal, a lamb, and painted its blood across the doors of their homes!
VICTORY … because of CALVARY!!!
Second today … the “children” are part of the reason for those twelve stones! The “stones” being a “teaching tool” for them! “When your CHILDREN shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over.”
Tangible, visible objects ARE a great means of illustrating truth to many, including the young. God caring for the boys and girls! (Herein we also see the parents’ or even grandparents’ responsibilities in so guiding those little ones!) THEY will ask! YOU Must answer! (Remember 1 Peter 3:15? “Be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you.” Right!) Also note, Daddy, it’s your PRIMARY job to see that this teaching is done, “fathers,” King James Version!
Third … not just the children! Others through the years will see those “stones!” They too will be curious! Particularly gentiles (the lost) are meant here, no doubt. “that all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.” All the people of earth!
God has a burden for ALL the unreached, unsaved!
Oh, the POWER of a question!
When rightly answered!
“What does _____(some spiritual issue)_____ mean?”
Never neglect such a query, Christian friend, from an interested inquirer!
At least these are my thoughts on a hurried Thursday morning in September.
The Bible, an amazing Book!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
Twelve stones … magnifying God!
Luke 19:40-41 … And he (Jesus) answered and said unto them, I tell you that, if these (disciples praising the Lord) should hold their peace, THE STONES would immediately cry out, Saying, Blessed be the King that cometh in the name of the Lord: peace in heaven, and glory in the highest.”
Wow!