1. A custom in ancient times: When something significant happened regarding God (or a god) -- people would stand up a stone to draw attention to the event -- Generally, they did not write on the stone -- a silent testimony -- when people walked by the stones they would ask why they were there; those who knew gave testimony to what God did; Two kinds of stones:
a. Set by pagans to give attention to false gods -- to be dismantled -- there may be times when Christians can -- in love -- point out to the world that the stones they have erected point to powers that do not exist;
23 "When my angel goes before you and brings you to the Amorites and the Hittites and the Perizzites and the Canaanites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, and I blot them out, 24 you shall not bow down to their gods nor serve them, nor do as they do, but you shall utterly overthrow them and break their pillars in pieces. Exodus 23.23-24
b. Stones God chose to use -- And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.21 And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' 22 then you shall let your children know, 'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' Joshua 4.20-22
2. People are big on monuments which commemorate key events
a. Forefathers Monument in Plymouth, MA -- Matrix of Liberty -- central figure: Faith
b. Washington Monument and other DC Monuments
c. Pyramids
d. Stonehenge
3. Do not move the ancient landmark that your fathers have set. Proverbs 22.28
4. Dads can set and identify a legacy through spiritual landmarks
I. Setting the Landmarks
The Smith House in Dahlonega, Georgia, has been sitting on a gold mine for more than a century. During renovation of the landmark hotel back in February of 2006, workers discovered the entrance to a four-foot wide hole under the concrete floor in the main dining room. The hole goes straight down nineteen feet to the entrance to a gold mine under the building.
Captain Frank Hall built the house in 1884. As legend has it, the city would not permit Hall to dig for gold on the property, partly because it was too close to the downtown square and partly because he was a Yankee. It would appear that he built the house to cover-up his mining operation until his health failed and he sold the land.
"We never would have known it if we hadn't chipped up the concrete," Chris Welch, the owner of the hotel, said.
For many years, the owners have joked with patrons that they were "sitting on a gold mine". They had no idea just how true a statement that really was.
Kind of makes one wander doesn't it: What treasure might there be in your life that you don't know is there because you haven't looked for it?
Certain landmarks of scripture are sitting on gold mines of value to us.
A. The Landmarks of the Patriarchs
1. Abraham planted the Tamarisk Tree -- Genesis 21.33
a. Tamarisk trees -- Preferred by Bedouin families
There is no fruit; Slowest growing of desert trees
Tamarisk trees must be intentionally watered, either by hand or diverting water to them
It is the only shade tree in the desert if it is cared for -- it lasts for generations
Bedouins show off their wives; flocks; and Tamarisk trees
b. One does not plant a Tamarisk tree for oneself but for one's great grandchildren -- won't live long enough to see its maturity
Beersheba is God's city of faithfulness
2. Abraham and the Altar on Moriah
a. Built altars
b. Dug wells
3. Jacob's Stone at Bethel to remember his dream of angels ascending and descending
4. Moses and the Standing Stones at Sinai
a. Exodus
b. Torah from God
5. Joshua and the Standing Stones at the Jordan River
a. Miracles of God
b. Salvation of a nation
6. What if:
a. Descendants of Abraham tell the story of the Tamarisk Tree?
b. Isaac took Jacob and Esau to Mt. Moriah and told the story?
c. Jacob took his sons to see the stone at Bethel?
d. Caleb took his grandchildren to Mt. Sinai and told the story?
e. Joshua's kids took their kids to the Jordan and told the story? etc.
B. Landmarks of Our Family Patriarchs
AN UNFORGETTABLE MOMENT: In 2010, Drew Brees -- quarterback for the New Orleans Saints, had that kind of moment as he celebrated a Super Bowl win. As he stood with his son lifted up high in the air, he said, "I stood there with my little boy, and I was overwhelmed. I told Baylen how much I loved him and how much he meant to me and what an inspiration he was to me. I thought of my mom, who I believed was smiling down from heaven, and all my family and friends who were there watching. 'We did it, little boy. We did it!'"
In that landmark moment for Drew Brees' career, the image of him holding his son up in the air will be an image forever etched in his mind.
As Simeon stood there holding the Messiah, his words echo that same overwhelming sentiment of a true landmark event. Simeon said, "Lord, now You are letting Your servant depart in peace."
1. Dads are charged with nurture and admonition of children -- set up spiritual landmarks of faith for them:
a. Greatest Commands
b. Deity of Jesus
c. DBR
d. Salvation
2. What if our Dads took their children to places of spiritual significance and told their stories?
a. Bible camps of importance to them?
b. Congregations where they were baptized or had key events?
c. Christian college?
d. Significant Scriptures?
e. Key books that impacted them? Etc.
f. A trip to Israel to SEE together the places we read of?
II. Honoring the Landmarks
Mark Cuban, owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, offered WGN Chicago Radio sports-talk host David Kaplan $50,000 to legally change his name to "Dallas Maverick".
When Kaplan politely declined, Cuban sweetened the offer. Cuban would pay Kaplan $100,000 and donate $100,000 to Kaplan's favorite charity if he took the name for one year.
After some soul searching, and being bombarded by e-mails from listeners who said he was crazy to turn down the money, Kaplan held firm and told Cuban no. Kaplan explained, "I'd be saying I'd do anything for money and it bothers me. My name is my birthright. I'd like to preserve my integrity and credibility." Some things we do not change!
A. Tendency to throw away our heritage
1. Failure to respect the aged
2. Failure to respect the past -- lose our direction
B. Making Connections Keeps us on Track
Thus says the LORD:
"Stand by the roads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way is; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, 'We will not walk in it.' Jeremiah 6.16
1. Stand as Living Stones for others 1 Peter 2.4-8
4As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, 5 you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. 6For it stands in Scripture:
"Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone,
a cornerstone chosen and precious,
and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame."
7So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe,
"The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone,"
8and,
"A stone of stumbling,
and a rock of offense."
Lesson from 1 Peter 2.1-4 -- Not to be just house of God but living standing stones -- our lives are to constantly draw attention and others ask, "What is it about you?" Then, we point people to God; Implication -- God calls us to be silent stones bearing witness to something greater than ourselves and our accomplishments; bearing witness to an active God in history
A standing stone with no witness is useless -- who can tell about the pre-Israel Canaanite standing stones today? No witnesses to their gods;
It is not enough to look like our Rabbi -- we must give testimony when others ask -- not let me tell you about me but let me tell you about God;
2. Removing the Landmarks can be deadly
I read that there was a rock on the North Sea, just off the Firth (Bay) of Tay, Scotland. This rock proved very dangerous to many ships, because when the high tide came in, the rock was hidden just below the surface.
There was a warning bell attached to the rock by the Abbot of Aberbrothok, so when tide came in the huge warning bell floated and rang out a warning to all ships that passed: there was hidden danger.
This warning bell was stolen by a sea pirate.
History records about a year after the said warning bell was stolen, there was a terrible pirate ship crash at this rock, and the pirate perished in the icy waters.
It appears the pirate that stole the warning bell, perished on the hidden rock one stormy night.
