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!

 

This fourth chapter of Joshua is about 12 stones!

Actually 24 stones!

Count them: “And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the Lord spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. AND JOSHUA SET UP TWELVE (MORE) STONES IN THE MIDST OF JORDAN, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.” Joshua 4:8-9

The first of the stones will be placed on land, where Israel rested that first night. The other 12 stones are to be left in the riverbed! To soon be inundated by the flood waters of the Jordan River! Once all the Jews had (miraculously) passed from one side of the River to the other, from the desert side to the Canaan side.

What do they mean (the 12 stones in the river), or what does this command mean … clearly from the Lord?

Often in Scripture anything plunged under water is an emblem or picture of death or dying. (Think of the waters of the Flood in the days of Noah.)

The number of the stones is significant, too. Twelve (12) stones, one for every tribe of Israel! The whole Nation, all its people, identified with “death?”

Yes … in “type” … the people “died” that day … but only “in type” to be “raised again” out of the potentially deadly riverbed of the Jordan! (Hence tomorrow we look at the other 12 stones placed on dry ground … an obvious  picture of resurrection from the dead!)

So, it looks like, we have a pretty good symbol here of death and burial and resurrection … as Israel enters Canaan! Canaan which is a picture of the victorious Christian life, indeed the “Promised Land!”

Now, I kept thinking, if this is right … maybe I can find another Bible example likening some “under water” experience to “death!”

And I did! (Actually the Lord brought it to mind. Thank God for concordances, to help locate those hard-to-find verses we remember reading!)

In Exodus 15, as Israel sang and rejoiced over God’s bringing them through the Red Sea (another body of water) part of the lyrics God gave them go like this: “The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are DROWNED (DEAD) IN THE RED SEA. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom AS A STONE.” Exodus 15:3-5

There it is!

Twelve (12) stones in the bottom of the soon-to-be-raging-again Jordan River, representing God’s people, the Jews! Death, dying with Christ our Lord! It is often called “identification with Christ.”

But not permanent death!

Soon (nearly immediately) lifted out of death and rejoicing in Gilgal, the first place they encamped in their new Homeland!

Yes … death followed by resurrection!

It is, folks, a picture of what we call Christian Baptism!

Buried with Christ … only to be immediately raised with Him “to walk in newness of life,” as the Pastors say when baptizing someone!

Israel … victorious Christian living?

Then death and burial and resurrection is certainly the “key” to such a “high plane” of existence!!!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

“Twelve stones,” essentially the theme of Joshua chapter 4.

Twelve stones taken from the “bed” of the temporarily dry Jordan River!

“And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, and command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests’ feet stood firm, TWELVE STONES, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.” Joshua 4:1-3

These stones, as we shall see tomorrow, are to be used as sort of a “memorial” of what God did as the Israelites first entered the Promised Land!

But first, let me share something I saw yesterday. A whole “string” of “stone” incidences in the Old Testament! Stones as “preachers,” nearly.

Jacob used such a stone in his life, to mark a special place! “And Jacob rose up early in the morning, and took the STONE that he had put for his pillows, and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil upon the top of it. And he called the name of that place Bethel: but the name of that city was called Luz at the first. And Jacob vowed a vow, saying, If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat, and raiment to put on, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace; then shall the LORD be my God: and this STONE, which I have set for a pillar, shall be God’s house: and of all that thou shalt give me I will surely give the tenth unto thee.” Genesis 28:18-22, a stone marking the place where God was so very real to Jacob!

(Later in his life Jacob again used a pile of stones as a witness to a “contract” made between him and Laban, his Father-in-law. “And Jacob took a STONE, and set it up for a pillar. And Jacob said unto his brethren, Gather STONES; and they took STONES, and made an heap: and they did eat there upon the heap. And Laban said to Jacob, Behold this heap, and behold this pillar, which I have cast betwixt me and thee; this heap be witness, and this pillar be witness, that I will not pass over this heap to thee, and that thou shalt not pass over this heap and this pillar unto me, for harm.” Genesis 31:45 and 46 then 51 and 52)

Then additionally in Joshua 24:26-27 a stone is used as an “indicator” of dedication to the Lord. The Jews have just (again) agreed to obey the Law of God. “And Joshua wrote these words in the book of the law of God, and took a great STONE, and set it up there under an oak, that was by the sanctuary of the LORD. And Joshua said unto all the people, Behold, this STONE shall be a witness unto us; for it hath heard all the words of the LORD which he spake unto us: it shall be therefore a witness unto you, lest ye deny your God.” A “memorial” or “witness!”)

Then later Samuel, under God’s direction, utilized a stone! “And the men of Israel went out of Mizpeh, and pursued the Philistines, and smote them, until they came under Bethcar. Then Samuel took a STONE, and set it between Mizpeh and Shen, and called the name of it Ebenezer, saying, Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” 1 Samuel 7:11-12, with “eben” meaning “stone” in Hebrew. Celebrating another great Act of Almighty God!

But then one day, I’d like to suggest … God reciprocated! God gave back to mankind a Stone!

Psalm 118:22 makes a prophetic announcement. “The STONE which the builders refused is become the HEADSTONE of the corner. This is the LORD’S doing; it is marvellous in our eyes.” He’s talking about Jesus, folks!

Then … many years later our incarnate Lord uses this verse and (correctly) applies it to Himself! “Jesus saith unto them, Did ye never read in the scriptures, The STONE which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner: this is the Lord’s doing, and it is marvellous in our eyes?” Matthew 21:42

Luke’s wording is even more powerful. “And Jesus beheld them (the chief priests and scribes), and said, What is this then that is written, The STONE which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? Whosoever shall fall upon that STONE shall be broken; but on whomsoever it shall fall, it will grind him to powder.” Luke 20:17-18, I am so glad I fell on that Stone and He broke me and saved me and humbled me and now will love me forever!

One more thought today … Simon Peter (under the Holy Spirit’s guidance) masterfully used this “word picture” of a Stone as applied to Jesus in 1 Peter chapter 2. There he makes us Christians (having first come to God’s Chief Cornerstone) … he calls us “living stones” … by the Power of God! A miracle indeed! “Wherefore laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings, as newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: if so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious. To whom coming, as unto a LIVING STONE, disallowed indeed of men, but chosen of God, and precious, Ye also, as LIVELY STONES, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 2:1-4, Jesus the LIVING STONE, and we (through him) are now LIVELY STONES!

Now here’s Peter, still considering Jesus as the Ultimate Stone …

1 Peter 2:6 … “Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Sion a chief CORNERSTONE, elect, precious: and he that believeth on him shall not be confounded.” That’s JESUS, all right!

1 Peter 2:7 … “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious: but unto them which be disobedient, the STONE which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner.” God “reversing” man’s wrong opinion!

Then 1 Peter 2:8 … to unbelievers Jesus will become … “A STONE of stumbling, and a ROCK of offence, even to them which stumble at the word, being disobedient: whereunto also they were appointed.” Wow!

Just a quick survey of Scripture this morning … as it pertains to “stones” as memorials or witnesses … and a Stone (THE STONE) as Lord and Saviour!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I merely mentioned in our last Lesson that both the Crossing of the Red Sea (under Moses’ leadership) and the subsequent crossing of the Jordan River (under Joshua’s leadership) were accompanied by beautiful Psalms, songs of praise in honor of God’s manifested Power!

No one doubts (or forgets) the great Psalm composed as Israel came up out of the Red Sea bed! Here’s the first “stanza” … “Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the LORD, and spake, saying, I will sing unto the LORD, for he hath triumphed gloriously: the horse and his rider hath he thrown into the sea. The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. The LORD is a man of war: the LORD is his name. Pharaoh’s chariots and his host hath he cast into the sea: his chosen captains also are drowned in the Red sea. The depths have covered them: they sank into the bottom as a stone. Thy right hand, O LORD, is become glorious in power: thy right hand, O LORD, hath dashed in pieces the enemy.” Exodus 15:1-6, what Poetry!

But few even recognize the Psalm written to celebrate the additional (matching) miracle, the crossing of the Jordan River! No, it is not located in Joshua chapter 4, where one might have expected it! (The Holy Spirit is full of surprises, what an Author He is!) He rather places the “Jordan” song in the Psalter, the hymnbook of Israel.

I’m speaking of Psalm 114.

“¹When Israel went out of Egypt, the house of Jacob from a people of strange language; ² Judah was his sanctuary, and Israel his dominion. ³ The sea saw it, and fled: Jordan was driven back. ⁴ The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs. ⁵ What ailed thee, O thou sea, that thou fleddest? thou Jordan, that thou wast driven back? ⁶ Ye mountains, that ye skipped like rams; and ye little hills, like lambs? ⁷ Tremble, thou earth, at the presence of the Lord, at the presence of the God of Jacob; ⁸ Which turned the rock into a standing water, the flint into a fountain of waters.” I have left the verse numbers in place purposely.

A short Psalm, indeed, but sublimely beautiful!

Look at the last line of verse 3 … “JORDAN WAS DRIVEN BACK!” That’s exactly what happened too, the Jordan flowing southward, God “made the upriver waters stand in a heap!” Driving them backward, literally! (Read it: “The waters which came down from above stood and ROSE UP UPON AN HEAP very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.” Joshua 3:16)

Now look again at our Psalm, verse 5: “WHAT AILETH THEE … THOU JORDAN, THAT THOU WAST DRIVEN BACK?” Nature (as they say) in total obedience to God!

This Hymn (Psalm 114) is clearly obeying a principle of Grace … praising God for His wonderful works! “Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for HIS WONDERFUL WORKS to the children of men!” Psalm 107:8

Wow!

The Red Sea dried up … and the triumphant Exodus 15 Song was born!

The Jordan parted … and (at least part of) Psalm 114 was conceived!

God’s people have a song … always!

Even in the “night!” (See Job 35:10 … “God my maker, who giveth songs in the night.” That’s Him!)

But songs galore in times of victory … “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.” Psalm 126:3

Amen!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Sing to HIM Today!

 

All I am saying by the title given today’s Lesson is that many similarities exist between the miracle of Israel marching across the Red Sea … and the miracle of Israel (a generation later) crossing the River Jordan.

In both cases the miracle was associated with water! (Think of the times Jesus interacted with water. He changed it into wine, walked on it, preached about it, and one day a lady even got saved by a well of it!)

Both miracles (Red Sea and Jordan River) were enacted with a congregation of hundreds of thousands watching! Not in private, by any means!

Each removed a (humanly speaking) formidable barrier, blocking God’s people from “going forward” in His Plan for their lives!

Each further authenticated Israel’s leadership (Moses at the Red Sea and Joshua at the Jordan River)

Both miracles tested the faith of the Israelites, just step into the Ocean (on one hand) and later wade into this (in flood stage even) River!

Each crossing is reported to have been executed with dry ground under the Jews’ feet! “Dryshod” is the old English word!

Both miracles were lived “in silence,” no noise required at all from the Israelites … as in distinction to the battle of Jericho, for example.

No damage was done to the waters, in either case. Both the Sea and the River (once Israel was through) resumed their normal shapes!

Also, both miracles showed God’s enemies His mighty Power! (The Egyptians and the Canaanites, who were well aware of what had transpired!)

And … my main point today … both miracles were accompanied by SONGS, hymns of praise!

Wow!

But wait a minute, “songs?”

Clearly the Exodus did … famously recorded in Scripture! Sung subsequent to their crossing the sea, voiced in fact as Israel came up out of the sea bed!

But crossing the Jordan? Where is the song? Joshua 4 tells about 12 stones … but no song!

Ahh!

The Jordan River song is NOT recorded in Joshua!

For that we go to the Book of Psalms!

To Psalm 114 … a gleeful celebration of God and His Character and His drying up the River Jordan!!!

In fact, I think we’ll study that one Monday morning!

Just for a single lesson … then (finally) into  Joshua 4, the Lord willing.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell