Joshua 4 Memories
I. INTRODUCTION
Years ago, as I visited with Gladys’ family on the night they erected their Christmas tree, they began to tell stories. As they would open boxes and pull out ornaments, they would explain, “This ornament is from the year we did this and so. This ornament is from the year we did this and so. Memories.
We had a similar tradition at Gladys and my house. Every year we add a new ornament, that relates to a major trip or a major event of the year. This is from the year we went to the Grand Canyon, or this is from the year we got married. This is from the year Drew was born. Remember when he madre this ornament at school? Then each year when we decorate our tree we relive those memories.
On our refrigerator, you will find magnets of state parks, and national parks, some states and countries we have visited. Folks will sometimes visit, mention a magnet and we get to share a memory.
Years ago, Gladys mentioned to Drew and I that she’d like to have a honey dipper. Funny thing, a day or so later, Drew and I stopped at an estate sale, where a lady had collected honey pots from each country she had visited so instead of one, Gladys now has a collection of honey pots and dippers.
Memory aids. Items to prompt our memories. We people are so quick to forget that the Lord has given us, and the Jewish nation, many aids to help us remember.
The Lord gave us the Sabbath, to remember how God rested on the 7th day and to remind us every week that life is not all about work and working.
There is a reason the Lord had all Jewish men circumcised. It was a memorial of God’s covenant with Abraham. God commanded that all Jewish men, and male slaves owned by the Jews, be circumcised when they were 8 days old. It was a marker, a reminder that they were God’s chosen people.
Jacob set up a memorial stone and poured out oil and wine on it at the place where he had his vision of the ladder rising to heaven. He wanted to remember His God, his vision, and his commitment to God.
God instituted the Passover, as a memorial meal to be celebrated by the Jews each year as a reminder of when the Lord’s death angel passed over the Israelite homes in Egypt and of when He brought them out of Egypt.
Do you remember when Jesus criticized the pharisees for wearing extremely long tassels when they were in public? He criticized them for wearing long ones because they were trying to gain attention by exceeding what God commanded.
In numbers 15, the Lord commanded the Israelites to wear tassels at the corners of their garments. These tassels, called zitzits, on each corner have 8 strings per tassel, each with 5 knots, totaling 613, the number of commands in the Torah, or Jewish law. These were to remind them to not intentionally sin. In each tassel was to be a blue thread, the color of royalty, to remind them that they were a holy nation, a nation of royal priests. They were reminders.
God had manna placed in the ark of the covenant as a reminder of how He fed the Israelites in the wilderness. He had Aaron’s flowering staff placed there as well, as a reminder to the people that Aaron and his family had been chosen to serve as priests.
He gave us communion, to remember the broken body and spilled blood of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, and to remind us that the price has been paid and forgiveness is available.
The Christian church has added additional reminders to our calendars. Every year we celebrate the Christ mass, remembering the greatest gift that God has ever given us, the gift of His Son Jesus Christ.
Every year we celebrate Good Friday to remember the crucifixion of our Savior, and Easter, to remember the resurrection of our Savior.
We forget so quickly, we get our minds wrapped up in the daily and the routine so quickly, one day begins to run into another so quickly the Lord says, “Along the way I want ya’ll to stop and remember. This life is not about laundry and dishes. It’s not about another work week and trying to make it to the weekend. Stop and remember what life is all about. You only get one shot at this thing. You’re only going to live on this earth one time and this life is preparation for everything that comes for the remainder of eternity. Stop and remember what’s important.”
In Joshua chapters 3 and 4, we have recorded a major event in the life of the nation of Israel. It is the account of when the Israelites, after 40 years of wandering in the desert, are finally crossing the Jordan River, and are finally entering into their promised land. It is an event so significant in the peoples’ lives, that the Lord devotes more space to talking about the crossing of this river than He does to when Moses led the people to cross the Red Sea.
In the midst of this crossing, the Lord tells the people, I never want you to forget this day. I want you to set up a memorial.
Open your Bibles, your copy of God’s word with me today, and turn with me please to the book of Joshua. This morning we’re going to start with Joshua chapter 3 and verse 14. Joshua chapter 3 and verse 14.
- Read Joshua 3:14-4:24
PRAYER
II. THE OBSTACLE
After 40 years, after temptations and failures; after victories over enemies, plagues and snakes brought by disobedience; after manna from heaven and water from rocks, the Israelite people are finally crossing into the land they have dreamed about. They are finally leaving the wandering of the desert behind them and are heading into a land flowing with milk and honey. A land with obstacles, challenges and enemies to be sure; but a land governed and guarded by their Lord. And they are excited.
2 1/2 tribes have decided they want to settle for where they are, but the rest of the people choose to be obedient. They want the Lord’s best for their lives, so they’re pressing on.
The river in this area is normally about 100 feet across, and 2 1/2 to 10 feet deep. Now, however, the river is at flood stage.
Before the time of the Romans, there were no bridges or barges in this area. The river had to be forded, which is an old way of saying, people had to wade across it. In this part of the river, across from Jericho, there were usually 5 places solid enough and shallow enough for people and their animals to wade across.
The water is deep and it is wide. There are woods and stands of trees along both banks, except where the fords are, and the waters of the river are swirling among those trees.
When I was in college, some friends took me kayaking in a river in Arkansas. Now mind you, I had never been kayaking before. And I’m not talking about what passes for kayaking in Florida, where you sit on top of a boat and paddle across calm water fishing. I’m talking about where you sit down in the boat, and you wear a rubberized skirt that ties you into the thing. You pray and kiss your family goodbye before you leave.
I had never been kayaking before, so they took me to a pond behind their house and taught me how to get into and out of a kayak. They were kind enough to teach me what to do if I flipped and was hanging up side down in the boat and couldn’t get it turned back over. By the way, that did happen, several times.
Now before we went, I was a bit apprehensive. On a scale of 1 to 6, with a 6 being the most difficult river to kayak, this was a 4. To quote the guide, “ Class IV rivers are the start of what many would term advanced whitewater terrain. You’ll find very intense and powerful rapids that require quick, efficient boat handling to paddle safely on a Class IV river.” Un huh, and I had never been before. When I expressed my concern to my friends, they said, “Oh, don’t worry. There will be quiet eddies along the banks where you can rest.”
Really? When we got there, the river was in flood stage. Those quiet eddies they promised were 50 feet up in the trees. I ended up carrying that stupid kayak as much as I floated in it.
That’s what the Israelites found when they approached the Jordan River. It was in flood stage. Normally 100 feet across, now it was more than a mile. Normally 2 1/2 to 10 feet deep, now it was more than 20.
In 1854 an expert swimmer attempted to swim across the Jordan River near Jericho at flood stage. He was unable to do so because the river was too wide and the current was too strong. (BiblePlaces.com Seven Fascinating Facts About Crossing the Jordan River, Todd Bolen, August 17, 2016).
The Lord told the Israelites, “now, when the priests set their feet in the water it will stop.”
So, the priests head out into the waters carrying to ark of the Covenant. When the first priest’s foot touched the water it stops. The Bible tells us that the water stopped and backed up as far back as the city of Adam.
Using the geographical layout of the land from Adam to the crossing of the Jordan site, the body of water that would have accumulated would have been 20 miles (32 km.) long, 2 miles (3.2 km.) wide, and around 120 ft. (37 m.) high. (Jordan River Crossing into the Holy Land, holylandsite.com)
II. THE CROSSING
The priests are standing in the middle of the river holding the ark of the Covenant. The water is stacking up beside them, upriver, and the people begin to cross.
Now let’s think for a minute about the number of people crossing the river that day.
If you remember, the Israelites were numbered by Moses and Eleazar the priest, who numbered the children of Israel in the plains of Moab by Jordan near Jericho. (Numbers 26:63) This was a few months before Joshua led them across the Jordan river.
In Numbers 26:51 the Jewish adult males numbered 601,730: These were the numbered of the children of Israel, six hundred thousand and a thousand seven hundred and thirty.
Double it to include the women and you have 1,203,460 adults. Since we don't know how many children there were, we could be talking anywhere from 2 million people and up.
Now, if you take out the people of the tribes who are staying behind, besides the ones going to fight, and add to that the number of Levites, we could again be talking between 1.5 and 2 million people crossing that river.
In addition, think of all of the flocks and herds the people had. Think of crying babies, tents and cookware; clothing and blankets, jewelry and rugs.”
Imagine this, the St. Johns River suddenly dries up. Between 1.5 and 2 million people have to cross Lake Monroe in 1 day, with all of the animals and stuff they have with them, and there are only 5 ramps on this side of the lake and 5 on the other. Do you think that might make for a long day?
My goodness what a day. You take 3 times the population of Volusia County, along with their livestock, tents and all of their stuff, you take them down the banks of Lake Monroe on our side, in 5 funnels, walk them across the lake bottom, have them leave the lake bottom up 5 boat ramps on the Seminole County side, have them separate their animals and set up their camps. Remember, the oldest folks in this camp, other than Joshua and Calib, wouldn’t yet be 60 years old, so there are children everywhere, so it’s then time for a meal and trying to get the exhausted children settled down and into bed. That would be a massive endeavor.
There was an obstacle, the river in flood stage. There was a miracle and a crossing, an all-day endeavor. Then notice if you will the CURRENT REMINDER.
III. THE CURRENT REMINDER
- Read Joshua 4:9
In this verse we find Joshua setting up a memorial. It was not the one specifically commanded here. It was an additional one.
In verse 8, the 12 leaders took 12 stones up out of the river that they would later to construct a God-commanded memorial. Here, however, Joshua has the people erect a memorial in the middle of the river, where the priests were standing, so the people would notice it and comment on it as they passed it by.
Oh my friends, it is so important to remind ourselves and to point out to our children each day, when and where we see the Lord work.
Chapter 4 verse 1 says, “After the people had crossed the Lord said “get some stones.” Verses 10 and 11 seem to indicate that some were passing after Joshua had a monument erected in the middle of the river. He wanted the folks to notice it before the river waters returned. He wanted to emphasize what was going on in their midst right when God was doing it.
It might not be seen again, until the flood waters receded and a boat got hung up on the rocks while going down river and they stop and say, “Oh yeah, this is where the Israelites crossed.”
I believe Joshua was trying to do what the Lord commanded him in Deuteronomy 6 where he was told,
> Deuteronomy 6:4-9 “Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads.Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates.”
He wanted to drive home in a forceful way, a reminder of what the Lord was doing that day. He wanted the young people to be able to remember it forever and he was going to use whatever tool he had at his disposal to drive home that lesson, even if it was a pile of rocks no one might ever see again.
A sculptor once engraved his own name at the base of a statue, and covering that with plaster, cut into the plaster the emperor’s name and titles, knowing that as years went on, the plaster would vanish, and the first inscription would become visible.
Joshua said, “I’m gonna take the time right now to drive home the importance of what is taking place, so that in the eyes ahead, no matter what may accumulate, or distract people for a while, they will have this as a foundation to return to, to remember. God worked here. And every boat that passes down this river, and every person who crosses this ford, will see the turbulence and say, “This is where God worked.”
Folks, never miss an opportunity to point out to your children, your family, or your friends, times when you see God working. You are laying a foundation to which people can return again and again. Oh yeah, I remember when God did this, or He did that.
IV. THE MEMORIAL
- Joshua 4:1-3, 20-24
After the people had crossed, after a very long day for the people crossing, and after a very long day for the priests hold the ark in the middle of the river, the Lord had them take the stones out of the river and Joshua had them erect the stones in Gilgal.
The Lord said, “I know it’s been a long day. I know it’s been a busy day, but don’t forget to include time for Me in your day.”
Did you do a lot today? Yes. Was it a long day? Yes. But, don’t forget about Me. I’m the One who made all of this possible. I’m the One who brought you out of Egypt. I am the One who provided for you in the wilderness. I am the one who gave you victory over your enemies. I’m the One who made it possible for you to cross today. Yes it’s been a long day, and yes you’re tired, but don’t forget about Me.
Oh I wonder, how many times God’s Spirit says the same thing to our dry and parched souls? Yes, it’s been a long day and there are chores, and there are bills, and there are commitments, but don’t forget about Me. Remember what it’s all about.
Now, there are several items I would like you to notice about this memorial.
1. This memorial was for everyone -
- Joshua 4:4
Were these men priests? No. Were they Levites, or those who took care of the tabernacle? No. How many of them were there? There were 12 of them, one from each tribe.
My friends, we all have a responsibility, people of every tribe and nation, not just ministers and teaches, we all have a responsibility to share what we know about the Lord and about His work and His great gift to us.
We have a shared responsibility.
2. This memorial was uncultured
- Joshua 4:3
Were these stones cut? No. Were they polished? No. Were they made into marble? No. Were they finished into jewelry? No. They were rough, and unpolished. They were formerly mud-covered laying on the river bottom. Now they were exposed to the sun. They would be rain-washed, and visible for all to see.
My friend, tell me that isn’t a picture of what God has done in your life and mine. He has taken us from sin-stained, mud-dwelling lost folks, and put us on display for the world to see the change He can bring about in a person’s life.
> 1 Corinthians 6:9-11 Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
It is the change in our lives the Lord puts on display to show His might.
The blind man Jesus healed wasn’t sophisticated. He didn’t know anything about theology, or eschatology, or propitiation, justification, or sanctification. He said, “This one thing I know. I was blind but now I see.”
Jesus says, “By this may all men know that you are My disciples, if you have love one for another.”
It’s easy to get angry about the world, and angry about the way things are going. Anyone can do that. It’s when you act differently than the world, it’s when you come up from the mud that you stand out.
This memorial was for everyone. This memorial was uncultured. Third, this memorial had a purpose.
3. This memorial had a purpose
Look there again please at verse 22.
- Read Joshua 4:22
1) It was to teach the children - Oh my friend, never forget the importance of teaching our children.
I am so grateful for the children the Lord lets us minister to here. He is adding more and more all the time, Last night Gladys registered the 39th child in 4H, and Friday nights there are children running all over the place. I’m glad we have the opportunity to teach them and to sow seeds; but there is a world of difference between the children who’s families spend time teaching them about eh Lord and those who don’t. They may not have put it all into practice yet, but those from parent-invested Christian homes, at least know much more about the Lord than those who don’t.
Never miss an opportunity to teach children.
2) It was for all the people of the earth
- Read Joshua 4:24
This memorial was for everyone.
Do you remember what Jesus said in Matthew 28?
> Matthew 28:19-20 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
We aren’t saved just so we and our families can enjoy eternity. We are saved to share. To tell other people about the wonderful gift God has made available to us.
3) It was for us
- Read Joshua 4:24
This was to be a constant reminder to the people so they wouldn’t forget.
The Israelites met in Gilgal for religious purposes many times over the years, for festivals and celebrations. (1 Sam. 11:15; 2 Sam. 19:15) Each time they remembered and renewed their commitments.
The faith of those people, their confidence in God, is still bearing fruit in the lives of their nation and in the nations of the world to this day.
In the 1930s, a flute player had a pet lyrebird that mimicked his music. He later released the bird into the wild. Fragment’s of that flute payer’s music were passed down by generations of lyrebird’s and are still present in their songs today.
What song are you passing down to those who follow? What memorial are you making of your life?
The Lord says, “Yes, you’re tired. Yes, you’re busy. Yes, it’s been a long day. Don’t forget about Me. I’m the only thing that’s lasting.
