Erect A Memorial
When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua, "Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight."
. . . In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." Joshua 4:1-7
. . . In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' tell them, that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." Joshua 4:1-7
Washington DC is full of memorials and monuments. We have monuments to Washington, Lincoln, Jefferson, Martin Luther King Jr., and Vietnam and on the list goes. All these are maintained at the cost of millions of dollars per annum. Why are those memorials important? Why preserve them at such costs?
They are preserved to serve as a vivid reminder of important historical events and people whose lives have made a difference in the history of the United States. Those memorials are meant to preserve precious memories for future generations. History must be preserved. History must be told. History must not be forgotten. History inspires future generations.
That was God's intent in asking Joshua to preserve the memory of how He parted the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites to cross over into the Promised Land: "In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD . . . these stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." God wanted future generations to be reminded of His mighty acts on behalf of His children. God wanted them to be inspired to depend on Him.
It is interesting that the emphasis was on reminding their children about their spiritual heritage.
It is easy for future generations to gloss over their spiritual heritage and never connect in personal ways with God's faithfulness to their parents. God holds us responsible for that.
A few years ago, I had two major back surgeries in one month. Our children were too young to understand how critical it was and how the Lord saved my life from possible paralysis. But I preserved the back brace and the walker I used in my recovery and showed it to them when they were old enough to understand. They are now able to relate to my frequent statement that Jesus heals and Jesus saves! I believe it is imperative that we continually erect memorials of epoch events in our walk with God. Those memorials should be preserved and explained to our children so that they can understand the passion behind our worship of God. Erect a memorial!
They are preserved to serve as a vivid reminder of important historical events and people whose lives have made a difference in the history of the United States. Those memorials are meant to preserve precious memories for future generations. History must be preserved. History must be told. History must not be forgotten. History inspires future generations.
That was God's intent in asking Joshua to preserve the memory of how He parted the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites to cross over into the Promised Land: "In the future, when your children ask you, 'What do these stones mean?' Tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD . . . these stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever." God wanted future generations to be reminded of His mighty acts on behalf of His children. God wanted them to be inspired to depend on Him.
It is interesting that the emphasis was on reminding their children about their spiritual heritage.
It is easy for future generations to gloss over their spiritual heritage and never connect in personal ways with God's faithfulness to their parents. God holds us responsible for that.
A few years ago, I had two major back surgeries in one month. Our children were too young to understand how critical it was and how the Lord saved my life from possible paralysis. But I preserved the back brace and the walker I used in my recovery and showed it to them when they were old enough to understand. They are now able to relate to my frequent statement that Jesus heals and Jesus saves! I believe it is imperative that we continually erect memorials of epoch events in our walk with God. Those memorials should be preserved and explained to our children so that they can understand the passion behind our worship of God. Erect a memorial!
Prayer: Lord, I thank you for the many amazing things you have done in my life. Please help me to memorialize them to tell future generations about your faithfulness. Amen.