Joshua 4:1-7 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying, 2 “Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 3 And command ye them, saying, ‘Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man: 5 And Joshua said unto them, “Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take ye up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel: 6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What mean ye by these stones?’ 7 Then ye shall answer them, ‘That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel forever.’”
God wants His people to succeed (1:3, 7-8). “Every place that the sole of your foot shall tread upon, that have I given unto you, as I said unto Moses… 7Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law, which Moses my servant commanded thee: turn not from it to the right hand or to the left, that thou mayest prosper whither-soever thou goest. 8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein: for then thou shalt make thy way prosperous, and then thou shalt have good success.”
Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.”
He wants us to be able to overcome the Jordan’s of life.
· Every Christian has had to come to the brink of Jordan and learn to trust God before God could entrust them.
· Every Jordan experience is meant to be a memorial to you! God wants us to remember these events!
Ephesians 2:11-13 “Wherefore remember, that…in time past…ye were without Christ, being aliens...and strangers…having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.”
Notice the statements found in v 6, 21 – “What mean these stones?”
These stones remind us of…
1. GOD’S FAITHFULNESS (4:10, 21-22): “For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over… 21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? 22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.”
Moses said, “Know therefore that the Lord thy God, He is God, the faithful God” (Deut 7:9).
Paul said, “He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (Phil 1:6).
- God Is Faithful…
- In Preserving His people!
- In Preparing His people!
- In Praising His people!
- In Promoting His people!
Lamentations 3:22-23 “We are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness.”
Christians spend too much time asking the question, “Can I trust God.” God has given us the memorials of…
- Baptism!
- The Lord’s Supper!
Every time we question God, just remember these memorials.
These stones remind us of…
2. GOD’S GRACE (v 18): “And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.”
Jordan means “spreading of judgment.”
Jeremiah 12:5 “How wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan.”
Psalm 96:13 “He cometh to judge the earth: He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with His Truth.”
Acts 13:31 “He hath appointed a day, in the which He will judge the world in righteousness by that man (Jesus) whom He hath ordained;”
We are living in the day of God's Grace! This day of Grace will soon end, then the waters of Jordan will “return to their place.”
- Grace FOR Salvation is when god gives us what we do not deserve – Time, Favor, Salvation! Webster’s: “Grace is the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.”
- Grace IN Salvation is the desire to know and follow the will of God cheerfully. Webster’s: “Grace is virtue, holy affection, disposition; faith, meekness, humility, patience, proceeding from divine influence.”
3. GOD’S LOVE (v 22). “Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.”
Luke 18:16 is one of the most loving passages in all of God's Word. “Suffer little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God.”
· Attributes of God’ Love: Patient, Kind, Longsuffering, Sacrificial, Victorious, Overcoming. 1 John 4:10 “Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.”
These stones remind us of…
4. GOD’S POWER (v 23-24). “For the Lord your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over: 24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God forever.”
- When God speaks, nothing more is necessary!
Psalm 62:11 says, “God hath spoken once; twice I have heard this, that power belongeth unto God.”
Matthew 24:35 “Heaven and earth shall pass away, but My words shall not pass away.”
- To a Leper He Said, “Be thou clean, and immediately his leprosy was cleansed.”
- To one who had lain in the grave four days He cried, “Lazarus, come forth, and the dead arose.”
- To the tempestuous wind and the angry wave He cried, “Peace, be still and a calm came over the water.”
