A Memorial To Remeber

A Memorial to Remember

Joshua 4

Good morning…

Since tomorrow is Memorial Day, I would like to take a moment to pay honor to all of our nation’s heroes who died serving in the armed forces.

The LORD’s protection is why we have certain freedoms, but we can also be thankful for the sacrifices of those who died while serving in the armed forces.

Remembering what the LORD has done for us is very important for believers!

Every day of our Christian Walk should be a Christian Memorial Day, so today we are going to talk about the importance of a memorial to the LORD.

With that thought in mind, please open your Bibles to Joshua 4

In Washington, D.C., there are different memorials to remind us of the people who helped form our nation.

There is the Washington Monument, as well as the Jefferson, Lincoln, and Roosevelt memorials.

There are also WWII and Vietnam War memorials, the memorial to the flag-raisers of Iwo Jima, and many others.

Why are there so many different memorials to so many different things in our nation’s capital?

Because we are forgetful people, and we can sometimes forget events of the past. Sometimes the LORD’s people need help remembering the works He has done for us as well.

Throughout the Bible, the people of Israel were told not to forget all the LORD had done for them.

Allow me to set a backdrop to the Book of Joshua, which we will look at this morning.

Moses had led the children of Israel out of Egypt, and then, because of their lack of faith, they wandered the desert for forty years until that unbelieving generation died off.

When Moses died, the LORD called Joshua to lead Israel, as the LORD led Israel to claim their inheritance.

Joshua is the book of new beginnings for Israel, telling of when it was finally time for Israel to enjoy the blessings of the land the LORD had prepared for them.

In the Book of Joshua, their new leader was taking the children of Israel over the Jordan River into the Promised Land.

The LORD wants us to enjoy the life He has given us today.

Jesus Christ, our Joshua, wants to lead us in conquest today and share with us all of the treasures of His wonderful inheritance.

Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, NKJV

Be reminded of courage.

Read Joshua 4:1-7

The Hebrew word for "memorial" means “To remember”. Memorials have played an important role in biblical history.

Memorials can be made up of a pile of stones, altars, or even the Ark of the Covenant. There were memorials for special days, celebrations, or rituals to recall something the LORD had done.

Here, the LORD commanded His people to build a memorial so they and their children would remember that the LORD brought the people into the Promised Land over the dry Jordan Riverbed.

Joshua 4:1, “when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan,” then the LORD gave more specific instructions.

The LORD does not always reveal His entire plan to His Children, He wants us to obey Him without knowing all of the details, which is genuine faith.

Once we have obeyed the first step from the LORD, then He will give us the next step in His plan.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. NKJV

The idea is that the LORD only shows us one step at a time. i.e., He gives us the light for the next step in front of us, and then He wants us to trust Him for the rest of the journey.

Back in Joshua 3:14, “So it was, when the people set out from their camp to cross over the Jordan, with the priests bearing the ark of the covenant before the people,

Joshua 3:15 and as those who bore the ark came to the Jordan, and the feet of the priests who bore the ark dipped in the edge of the water (for the Jordan overflows all its banks during the whole time of harvest)” NKJV

(Notice) Joshua didn't send out Engineers or advisers first; he sent the priests out, who carried the Ark of the Covenant, which was the visible representation of the LORD's presence.?

Even with the LORD's specific promises and guidance, entering the Jordan was still an impressive step of faith for them to take.?

Because of the spring rains, at this time of early harvest, the Jordan River was swollen and overflowing its banks.

During most of the year, the Jordan River was about 100 feet wide, but during the spring, the river overflowed its banks and became about one mile wide.