Drawing a Line in the Sand”
Joshua 4
For most of us when we go on a trip we often purchase something, a souvenir that reminds us of that place. It’s not the cost of the item that really matters, it’s the memory behind it. Two years ago I went to a baseball game in Kansas City to see the Royals play. While there, I bought this bottle of water. It came right out of the fountain in their stadium. Holds about 12 ounces of water I suppose and paid $10 for it. Kind of an expensive bottle of water-I don’t intend to drink it. This is on the shelf in my study and when I see it, it reminds me of a great evening of baseball I enjoyed with my three sons and my son-in-law. We had a great time.
That picture I have on my wall, one of my favorites, it will be as meaningful to you but to me it speaks volumes. My family gave this to me about 25 years ago. It is titled my father’s business taken from the passage when at the age of 12, Jesus went missing for three days. When asked where he had been he simply replied, didn’t you know I must be about my father’s business? This picture makes me think about all of our years of ministry and getting ready for Sunday mornings, a pair of little boy’s shoes, a little girl’s shoes, polishing shoes and getting ready for Sunday morning. I can’t look at it without thinking of my family.
All of us have objects that trigger memories in our lives; memories of places, people. We have memories of God answering prayer. When God went out to face Goliath-he said, Lord I remember you defeated the lion and the bear--I now know you will help me defeat this Philistine. But sometimes when we are facing a fresh battle, and spiritually it is getting the best of us, we often forget. We tend to forget everything God has done for us in the past! In the Old Testament, Moses issued a final warning to Israel just before they entered the Promised Land... Here it is... “Be careful not to forget the Lord who rescued you from slavery in the land of Egypt.”
Verses 2-5. Chapter 3 tells us that earlier 12 men were chosen to go back to where the priests were standing in the middle of the river, holding the Ark of the Covenant. Each man was to pick up a large stone from the dry riverbed and carry it to the other side of the river where Israel would camp in the Promised Land. God does not have to explain himself to us but I like it when he does. And in this passage he gives us three reasons he was telling them to do this.
First, (1) God wanted them to remember to focus on the rescue, not the slavery. They were slaves in Egypt, forced to work long hours, daily laboring, the Bible says the labor was harsh; they were constantly making brick and mortar, working on projects for someone else; things they would never be able to use or enjoy. There were forced to do all kinds of work in the fields. If the women were pregnant and had a child during this time; if the child was a boy; the child would be killed by throwing them into the Nile River. Life was more than difficult for all of them. Verse 7 says these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever. These stones were set into place to remind them of the great rescue that had taken place, not the slavery. Many of us have experienced what we would refer to as slavery in certain areas. There are many addictions that some have experienced. A recent report from the Florida Department of Law enforcement says that we had 197 deaths in just two counties in Florida in the past year all from the use of the drug oxycodone. Those two counties-were Pinellas and Pasco. We also led the state in deaths from methadone and also hydrocodone. These are not areas where we want to set records. We actually rank as one of the highest in the nation. Perhaps you or a family member of yours is a part of this statistic and God has freed you or them from this addiction. Keep this in mind. God does not want you to focus on the addiction so much as he wants to focus on the incredible rescue that has taken place in your life
Notice in verse six it says these stones shall be a memorial to the children of Israel forever. What if God had said go back into Egypt and get one of the bricks you made then take it with you the Promised Land and each time you see it I want you to be reminded of the terrible slavery you are in. Instead he said take a stone from the dry ground to remind you of the rescue I provided. That is what we will see happen in Celebrate Recovery. Listen, we do not need be beat up because we have hurts, habits or hang-ups. We need God’s grace to come to rescue us. God wants you to remember the rescue, not the slavery.
(2) God wants us to pass this message along to future generations. Life is bigger than just you and me. Verses 6-7. In two places in this chapter there is a reminder to parents of their responsibility of passing on our faith to our children. As parents, as grandparents, are you passing along your faith to the next generation?
Verses 6-7. In the future when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean? (7) 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.” Verses 24. “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
The purpose of the memorial stone is to initiate questions from future generations. Listen, Christianity is never more than one generation from extinction. Our world is growing darker. More sinful and if we don’t pass it along to our children they may completely miss it. Think about it.
1962. Prayer in schools became illegal.
1963. Bible reading out loud stopped.
1980. We can no longer post the 10 Commandments in schools.
2000. No more prayers over the PA system at ballgames.
Now, Coaches are no longer allowed to pray with their team before game.
God’s warning to Israel was simple-do not let society dictate your values. And that’s exactly what we have done.
There is an amazing story in the book of Acts involving the apostles. The apostles were healing people in the name of Jesus. Crowds of people were bringing the sick and laying them on mats in the streets in hopes that Peter might heal them. The Bible says all of them were healed. So the leaders of the church became jealous of what was happening and had them arrested. That night an Angel came and freed them and told them to go stand in The Temple courts and tell the people the full message of this new life. So as soon as daylight came they began to preach.
That morning the priests sent some officers for the apostles to be brought out of jail--to stand before him. But when the officers got there, they didn’t find them. This is what they said in verse 23. They were puzzled. Verse 25. So they brought them all before the Sanhedrin to be questioned. They said we gave you strict orders not to teach in Jesus name. Then Peter and the other apostles replied: we must obey God rather than men. We must obey God rather than men. We no longer have believers/leaders who are willing to say that. Instead we have become too concerned with what is politically correct. God’s people must begin to stand up for what is right. Joshua instructed the children of Israel to take up 12 stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the 12 tribes and carry them to the place where they would lodge that night. So they carried them to the shore of Canaan, Joshua build an altar right there in the middle of the river-then he commanded the priests to finish crossing the river with the Ark of the covenant. Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying 16-18. The moment that the feet of the priest touched the other side, the wall of water that had piled up for miles came crashing back into place.
Last (3) This was a marker to say goodbye to the past. A memorial. It’s like we have crossed the line and we will not go back. Verses 19-20. It is significant that this happened on the 10th day of the first month; this is exactly 40 years to the day since Israel marched out of Egypt.
We serve a God of deliverance. He delivered the people out of Egypt and brought them to the Promised Land. Out of an area where there was only desert. Out of the slavery of their past into a new life in the land of milk and honey.
He delivered the apostles from jail and brought them out to preach the gospel again.
John 5:5-6. He healed and delivered a man who had sat by the pool of Bethesda for 38 years, waiting for his turn to be healed. Jesus asked him an interesting question…He said to him, “do you want to be healed?” You would think the answer would be simple….sure! Sign me up for the healing! But instead he just gave excuses. (v.7) Jesus then told him to get up and walk. And the man was delivered from his sickness. Can you imagine how different his life was after that?
Many times the Promised Land is just a step away. Joshua put his feet into the water and look what happened. The apostles stepped out of jail and lives were changed. A lam man finally decided to get up and walk. You can too. At one of our beach baptisms I drew a line in the sand and I said I want anyone who wants to name Christ as their Savior to step across this line and we will baptize you today. Many did. Today I asked some of you to do that as well. Cross the line to become part of this church. Become a member of this church today. Cross this line and pray for someone. Cross this line and invite Christ to be your personal Savior. Do as the Israelites did. Draw a line here today and never go back. Claim victory in Christ.
