Apr 23 – Joshua 3, Joshua 4, Joshua 5:1-12 Luke 22:1-38 Psalm 50:1-15

Josh 3:15-16

Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (that is, the Dead Sea) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho.

This was the second time Israel would cross over water on dry land. It may not have been as impressive as the first time, but it provided a good reminder to the people of that time.

For most of the people crossing that day., the crossing of the Red Sea was a distant memory or a story told by their parents. But they were about to step into a new land – which required a new level of faith and obedience from them.

They needed a reminded of the power of God – they needed a reminder of the ready they were there in the first place.

This miracle cemented in their minds that God was still with them. That it wasn’t about Moses – but about God. They could trust and follow Joshua knowing that the Lord was with Him.

Josh 4:9

Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.

When God does something amazing – it’s good to remember it.

Joshua also used stones to help God’s people remember His goodness. After wandering in the wilderness for 40 years, the Israelites experienced the power of God to roll back the waters of the Jordan River, enabling them to cross over and take possession of the Promised Land.

Joshua then commanded them to build a memorial of stones as a public testimony of what God had done for them … stones that would remind them to keep on praising Him.

These stones were not an altar – or a place of meeting – or the place of a promise.

No – they were set up as a remembrance of something great God did.

Whenever they would look at them – they’d remember this time.

When their children asked them what they were – they were to serve as a reminder so you could tell about the great things God has done.

When people from another land came and asked – it was an opportunity for them to be told about the God of Israel and how mighty He is.

A mark of remembrance to ourselves. A sign for generations to come. And a beacon for those who don’t know God.

It’s good to take time to remember. To mark occasions. To thank God for what He has done.

God wants His people to say thank you.

Because when we remember – when we say thank you – we remember his goodness to us and He gets the glory.

And when God gets the glory – we are fulfilling the reason we are alive.

Mark occasions in your life and in your journey with God. Celebrate them.

Do something to remember when God answers.