Title: What do these stones mean?
Contents
Title: What do these stones mean? Text: Joshua 4:1-9
Today's text tells us that the Israelites crossed the Jordan River safely. Even 2 million people were able to cross the Jordan River without any difficulties because God made the floor dry by parting the Jordan River. God, who took the lead in such a great work, commands the Israelites to do something meaningful. The Lord God said to Joshua that he had chosen one man from each tribe, and commanded that the priests carry the ark of the covenant, go to the place where they stood in the middle of the Jordan River, and take stones one by one from there and build a monument. The 12 stones that the 12 men of each tribe brought out of the Jordan River became a sign among the people of Israel, and they will become permanent memorial stones. What do these stones mean?
1. This monumental stone commemorates the crossing of the Jordan River by the power of God.
2. It is a commemorative stone that announces that Jehovah has opened the door to Canaan.
(Joshua 4:7) The Jordan River is the gateway to Canaan. It is also the biggest obstacle to entering Canaan through the wilderness. It is of special significance for God to set up 12 stones collected from the Jordan River toward Israel who crossed the Jordan River. Because crossing the Jordan River was a sign of the covenant that the whole of Canaan would be given. Because this is like building a beautiful house and putting a nameplate on the gate. Crossing the Jordan River is like putting the name of Israel on the land of Canaan. This shows that no matter how strong and powerful a human being, the door of Canaan can only be opened if God opens it. It was God who made the water stand still. It was God who led the way so that we could cross it like land. Likewise, God must open the door for us to enter the New Jerusalem and the new earth. In other words, if you want to enter the spiritual Canaan, heaven, you cannot go to heaven by human strength. That is why God sent Jesus Christ to this earth to open that door. Through his death and sacrifice, he parted the river of sin and opened the gates of heaven.
3. This stone is a commemorative stone that taught us to unite.
(Joshua 4:2) Why did God tell us to choose 12 people, one from each tribe? It's easy to just go to anyone, pick up a stone, and build it. The meaning of this is the union of the 12 tribes. No tribe should be excluded. No one should be left out. Everyone must be together. God wants to be one. Ephesians 4:3 says, “Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.” Even though it may seem impossible to people, when we rely on God and all the saints march together as one, God works His might before us and makes the impossible possible. God is with us where we are united. God is not with us where there is strife, conflict, and strife. Jesus also said: Luke 11:23 “He who is not with me is against me, and he who does not gather with me scatters.”
4. He ordered monuments to be erected in two places.
First, in verse 9, the priests took the ark of the covenant and set it up in the place where they stood firm in the middle of the Jordan River. (Joshua 4:9) Second, in verses 8 and 20, they crossed the Jordan River and had them move 12 stones from the Jordan River to Gilgal, the first place where they stayed. (Joshua 4:8) Why did God have two stones to be erected? It is to remember the historical site where the miracle took place. Therefore, it is only natural to erect a monument at the site of a miracle. The moment we all experience grace, the evidence of that grace must be deeply in our hearts and we must become those who do not forget and remember the rest of our lives. It is also to ensure that we do not forget the miracles that God has given us. Anyone who has ever crossed a river will never forget that miracle. It was also to make known this fact to all the people of the future generations and to all the peoples of the whole earth. History must be objective. Neither one or two people can operate it. There must be objective evidence that anyone can accept.