"We will use these stones to build a memorial. In the future your children will ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' Then you can tell them, 'They remind us that the Jordan River stopped flowing when the Ark of the Lord's Covenant went across.' These stones will stand as a memorial among the people of Israel forever."
Joshua 4:6-7
I can't imagine what it was like the morning that Joshua woke up and was told to cross the Jordan River. First of all, just having God speak to me would be so awesome I would probably have trouble getting serious about anything, but one moment you are content on land, and the next God says to walk out into a rushing river. Frightening for sure but so comforting to know that God had helped in the past and He could be trusted. Joshua 3:15 describes the river as "overflowing its banks", this wasn't just a little creek but a large river that flowed heavily and rapidly during every harvest season. Joshua was told to send the priests carrying the Ark into the river but as soon as the feet of the priests carryng the Ark touched the water at the rivers edge, the water above that point began backing up and the water below that point flowed in the Dead Sea until the riverbed was dry (Joshua 3:15-16) They were able to cross the river on dry land! They had experienced a miracle, another witness of God's faithfulness and provision!
When God does something amazing in our lives it is important to remember it. Just like the people in this scripture were told to build a memorial, we are also expected to remember the great things God has done. We should be writing our blessings down in a journal and telling our family, friends and children of all the great things God does for us daily. We should be hanging scripture and memorials to answered prayer all over the place because that is our daily reminder that God is with us and He is to be trusted. The people in our lives deserve to know the same God that we trust in to get us through each and every day. We should be excited to share His Good News and the many examples in our life that prove His power and faithfulness.
God didn't just help Joshua and his people get across the river that day. He helped them cross the river so that from that day forward others would be inspired and have hope and strong faith in God's power and ability to help in the most difficult of times. He helped them to prove His power and to let all people know that He was to be feared and trusted forever (Joshua 4:25). So the great things He does for you aren't just for your benefit. The awesome strength God gives you and the miracles He perfoms in your life are for the world to see. He asks you to build a memorial for Him through speaking, writing, building and the many, many other ways you can show other's His love and faithfullness. Don't just let His goodness pass you by but stop and acknowledge His provision and make sure you let someoene else know. You never know what your sharing can do for someone who is struggling to believe, or for that one person who may have never heard of the greatness of God. Don't think that your blessings are just for you benefit! Start building your memorials!
Father God, thank you for taking Joshua and his people across the mighty Jordan River but more importantly I am so very thankful that Joshua wrote it down and that He built a memorial so that today we can see that you can be trusted. Thank you for all of your provision and miracles that are found in the bible that we may look to and believe in and find hope in our own circumstances. God you are forever faithful and you can be trusted. I praise your holy name! Help me to never keep your great works to myself but to share them with all I see. Amen
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