Making Memories, Joshua 4

 

God’s message to Joshua

4 And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: ² “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, ³ and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ”

This one chapter, could be a book.

On the surface, it’s a simple story told three ways. God tells Joshua. Joshua tells the people. The people do it.

It goes like this:

Twelve men. Twelve stones. Don’t forget.

The end.

Amen.

Let’s eat.

But with a closer look, it’s powerful and profound. It has a prophecy that spans the breadth of time. As a bonus, there’s a built-in mystery. And, it closes with a message that every soul, from Adam to here, needs to hear.

Perhaps the best way to tell this story is to get to know the cast of characters. Once we know their story, we’ll understand the story. Most importantly, we want to see ourselves in the story, and thus, allow the LORD to reveal, how it applies to us, here and now.

Now, to be clear, when I say, "story" I mean "TRUE story." This really happened. This story is a true part of HIStory. 

The cast of characters include, the LORD and Joshua, and then, there’s the people, the priests, and the participants.

The LORD, needs no introduction. He is and always will be, the Hero, of HIStory.

Joshua, (Yehoshua), in Hebrew, and Jesus in Greek, have the same meaning: the Lord is Salvation. Only by way of the cross of Yehoshua, are we able to cross the Jordan, (death) into Life, into Salvation, into our Promise Land. Moses (representing the law) couldn’t lead them in, but Joshua (representing Jesus) did.

The letter kills, but the Spirit gives life. 2 Corinthians 3:6.

The People. The start of chapter four is like a television series. The new episode begins, where the last one ends. When all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, is the opening scene here in chapter four, and the closing scene in chapter three. Remember, that’s where we took a close look at our role as the people, CROSSing the Jordan, Joshua 3.

If Joshua chapter four were a stand-alone book, the table of contents would look like this (the numbers are verses—not pages).

1.    God’s message to Joshua 1-3

2.    Joshua relays God’s message—with an explanation 4-7

3.    Obedience 8

4.    Mystery Bonus 9

5.    Summary 10-14

6.    Closing – Prophesy that spans breadth of time 15-18

7.    The moral of the story 19-24

 

All the people had CROSSed the Jordan, except for, the priests. That’s where we left them, at the end of chapter three, and there they are, still standing in the middle of the river, as we open chapter four, today.  

Only those holding the ark, remained in the river. Poor guys, they’ve been standing there, waiting for us, for a week. Can you see them? The priests.

The first to enter, the last to leave. There they stand, in the presence of God, with the Word of God, standing firm, in the middle of the Jordan; holding back the rising, raging river.

Which we too, are called to do. Stand in the gap. Alone if we have to. Not leaving. Interceding. Holding back the raging, rising, flow of evil…  

Wait. Stop. Hold on a doug-gone minute. I’m no priest. I’m just an ol’ sinner saved by grace—the wretch they wrote the song about—just barely gonna make it, cross that there, river.

Well, maybe so. But that’s not your calling. Not God’s plan. Not His purpose. No good parent, or even a good friend for that matter, would want you to just barely survive, just limp through life, just making it to heaven by the skin of your teeth; teetering your entire life between sin and Salvation; Heaven and hell. No, He has a powerful plan for you.

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession, to proclaim the virtues of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light. 1 Peter 2:9

Your Creator, created you in His image, fearfully, and wonderfully, with a future and a hope, a powerful purpose and a Divine destiny, that glorifies and honors Him. And not just for you, but for others. You have a customized calling from Christ; that fits your pattern and place and purpose in life, because you are, one of a kind, second to none, world champion, YOU-nique.    

Lord, help us to stand, firm, unmovable, unshakable, against the ever-rising tide of evil that longs to flood the banks of every shore, and wash away every semblance, or resemblance, or remembrance, of all that is Good and Godly and Holy.

As they stood, the water kept rising in a heap, about fifteen to twenty miles upstream at a place called Adam. Joshua 3:16.

Do you remember?

Last week, in CROSSing the Jordan, Joshua 3, we discussed the powerful picture God painted with the water backing up from the Ark all the way to Adam.

Well, here we see yet another moving display from our Father. One that reveals His compassionate, tender, loving heart.  

Imagine you’re there, crossing the Jordan. Or better yet, imagine you’re one of those standing firm, holding the ark.

Now picture the water rising in a heap right there, rather than out of sight, several miles upstream. The ever-rising tower of water, casting a cold, dark shadow, would be, at the very least, intimidating, even for the brave; and downright terrifying for the timid.  

But our gracious God, thought about that. Not only did He dry up the bottom, so they didn’t lose their sandals by getting stuck in the mud; but He even saw to it, so the crossing was a pleasant memory to share, not a nightmare, to scare.

Oh, the wonders and tender mercies of our gracious, awesome, God, will amaze us forever and ever, all throughout eternity.

Now, after all the people completely cross the Jordan, we return to something previously mentioned.

Do you remember? Twelve men, in verse twelve, of chapter three, were quietly selected. No fanfare, no explanation, just a simple nod to twelve, unnamed, men.

That’s how it is. God’s still small voice. His tiny Seed, planted in our heart. His calling, compels us, quietly. Wooing us, with love and goodness. He doesn’t use mandates, and dictates, or coercion, or threats.

He simply calls. Jesus said, many are called, few are chosen. Only a few are focused, listening, intentionally paying attention. Matthew 22:14.

Do you remember?

The people were no longer led by the pillar of fire and smoke, but were watching and praying with their eyes wide open, focused on the invisible presence of God moving through men quietly walking toward the river, with the ark.

Now the twelve, who were paying attention enough to notice the eyes of Joshua, looking at them, giving a head nod to them, are remembered, and called to duty.

Like the fishermen, who left their nets to become fishers of men. Like the tax collector, who walked away from the bags of money and the booth, to the author the first gospel.

Like you. Like me.

Are we watching? Listening? Would we notice if He chose us?

Or, are we too busy? Are we only watching others, and following them…in place of Him?

 

Joshua relays God’s message—with an added explanation

⁴ Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; ⁵ and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, ⁶ that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ ⁷ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”

The called. The appointed. The participants.

You know who you are. You feel it. That inner urging, stirring, yearning, the passion welling up from within, the longing in your heart that, says I want, I need, to be a part of what God is doing. I want to do my part.

Is that you?

Just this week, I’ve seen it. I’ve heard it. I’ve witnessed the invisible hand of God using you, to raise boulders to your shoulders, and set them in place, making memorials, that will last forever.

They may not look like river rocks. They might be more like visits to our dear sister in assisted living. Flowers given. Prayers prayed. Cards written. Weeds pulled…

Just this week I’ve heard it.

“I don’t know what I’m doing, but I want to help. I’ll do my very best.”

“It feels like everything in my life has led me to this moment, this point of passion and purpose.”

“Just checking in to see how’re you’re doing.”

“How’d it go with the doc?”

Do you feel that nudge? That yearning, thirsting, hunger? Can you hear that gentle, quiet, calling?   

That’s God.

That’s God calling. Jesus knocking. Holy Spirit appointing, anointing.

God is looking for the willing. Not the wise, strong, good looking, well equipped. He’s looking for the humble heart, simply willing to say, “Lord, if You can use me, send me. I’ll jump back into the riverbed. I’ll grab a boulder on my shoulder.”

Jesus says it like this:

“Take up your cross and follow Me.” Matthew 16:24-26. 

He will use your cross, your calling, your burden, your shoulder, even if just for someone to cry on… as an eternal memorial.

Lord Jesus, here we are, we lift our hearts and offer our hands, our feet, our all, to You, to use, however You choose.  

 

Obedience

⁸ And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.

And the children of Israel did so. They didn’t just nod their heads; they did what he said. 

James 2:14-26, tells us faith without works is dead; and depicts a road paved with good intentions. (We all know where that road leads).

They obeyed Joshua, but really, they were obeying God. Joshua was simply God’s messenger. We too, obey, as unto the Lord. We have One Master, One Lord, our Savior, Christ Jesus.

 

Why’d they, do it?

To remember.

They intentionally set up a memorial, a reminder, so they’d never forget.

We took communion last week. Jesus said of communion, “Do this, in remembrance of Me.”

James 1:25 says be not a forgetful hearer but a doer…

We get together, to remind each other of these things. Hebrews 10:25 tells us to forsake not (one version says “forget not”) the assembling together of yourselves, especially see day approaching.   

Jesus said the Comforter would come, and He would bring all things to our remembrance.  John 14:26.

While there’s time, make memories, set memory markers, that cannot be washed away, that will remain, as memorials, forever. 

Not like the four golfers.

For many years, Ron, and Dave, and Bruce and Harry, were golfing buddies.  

But now they were sad, because, Harry went to heaven. They missed their friend, of course, but they really needed him. You see, he was the only one that could see, well enough to know where the golf balls landed.

So, they asked at the pro shop, if they could find someone to take Harry’s place. “The only requirement—” they said— “is really good eyesight.”

“We know just the guy” they were told. “Lee has eyes like an eagle.”

So, the threesome was a foursome once again.

Their first time at the tee, one by one, the trio asked Lee, “Did you see where it went?”

Each time, Lee smiled and said, “Yep, I saw right where it landed, clear as day.”

They were all smiles as they drove their golf cart down range.

When they got to the spot where the balls must’ve landed, they all said at once, “Well, which way, Mr. Lee?”

Lee’s smile dropped a little. He scratched his head and raised one shaggy gray eyebrow… “Ummm, I can’t remember.”  

😁

Lord, help us to live in a way, that our life, is a memorial, to You, forever. 

Next, we come to the Mystery Bonus, in verse nine..

But alas, we’re all out of time. 

So, we’ll pick it up, right here, next week…

As long as we make it a point to remember.

Remember, we love you,

most importantly, 

Jesus loves you.