Joshua had 12 men, one from each tribe, gather 12 large stones to set up as a memorial. “Joshua spoke: “When your children ask their fathers, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan ON DRY LAND‘; for the LORD your God dried up the waters until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that you may 1FEAR THE LORD YOUR GOD FOREVER.” (Josh. 4:21-24) 1yare’: to make afraid, terrify, to cause ASTONISHMENT and AWE. Why terrify? I believe we need to understand the consequences of dying WITHOUT CHRIST in our lives. We know that, “…God SO LOVED the world that HE GAVE His only begotten Son, that WHOEVER BELIEVES in Him should not perish but have EVERLASTING LIFE. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him MIGHT BE SAVED.” (John 3:16-17) We also know, “…we are receiving a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with REVERENCE AND GODLY FEAR. For our God IS A CONSUMING FIRE.” (Heb. 12:28-29)
God wanted Israel to learn IMPORTANT LESSONS from the miracle crossing of the Jordan River.
- First, God demonstrated that He was with Joshua as He had been with Moses. The ark of the covenant was God’s throne on earth. The Lord demonstrated His role as Israel’s protector. The same God that went with Joshua and the Israelites into the Jordan IS WITH US TODAY:
- Second, the Lord revealed that His wonder-working strength would enable the people to conquer EVERY ENEMY THEY FACED. The Jordan River was about 1,300’ feet wide and over 50’ deep feet deep. (it was the flood stage, overflowing its banks.) Nothing but the mighty hand of God could have parted it and made it safe for His people to cross. And NO ENEMY can overcome God’s mighty power.
BEHOLD WHAT MANNER OF LOVE THE FATHER HAS BESTOWED ON US, THAT WE SHOULD BE CALLED CHILDREN OF GOD! (1 John 3:1)
-Bill Stockham