Crossing of the river Jordan was a remarkable and amazing miracle which ONLY God the Creator can perform. After the people of God crossed the river, God’s commanded Joshua to collect 12 stones from the river where the feet of the priest rested when they stood in the river which God dried up so that His people can easily pass on to their conquest of the Promised land.
1. Vs. 6-7 – explains why God wanted them to make a memorial. God wants His people to remember Him and His deeds.
The Israelites was crying in Egypt under the bondage of slavery – God heard them and remembered of His covenant (Exodus 2:23-24) – He raised Moses and delivered His people. The Lord led them through the Red Sea by splitting it open and did many marvellous and amazing miracles in the wilderness – but the people forgot His power and His ability to lead them when they doubted Him at Kadesh Barnea (Deuteronomy 1:19-22; 32-32).
Now 40 years later after 1 whole generation was destroyed in the wilderness – God brought them back into the promised land with Joshua and Caleb. First thing He tells Joshua is to make a memorial so that the people will always remember Him and His mighty deeds.
This was a major problem or the Israelites and ours to. We often forget God and what He has done for us when times are good. Our dependency on God is much greater in times of need than the time of rest and prosperity.
Today you maybe going through hardship in life – but fear not God will do amazing things and save you. But also remember Him and never become ungrateful to Him.
Do you think God expects us to thank Him?
Luke 17:11-19 – vs. 17-18 tells us of God’s expectation from His people.
Let us not become ungrateful people like the rest of the 9 healed lepers.
2. Joshua 4: 23-24 – He wants us to always remember His mighty deeds and fear Him.
God does great and marvelous things so that we will live in His fear realizing how powerful and majestic our God is!
Today, there are so many problems in this world because the fear of God seems to be absent in most people’s life. Because we don’t fear God – we deliberately sin against others, against the law and order and ultimately against Him.
To stand in the awe of God because who He is and what He is able to do, should not only strengthen our faith and confidence that He is able to do everything, but it should also ignite fear in our lives to live righteously as His children.
Who do we fear today?
Very simple answer to that question. We fear whoever we want to please and whoever will be of mutual benefit to us.
Do you want to please God? – make Him the priority of your life! Your time; your talents; your gifts etc……….
To fear God is to give Him the TOP PRIORITY in your life.
To fear God is to live in obedience to all His commands and with the sense of accountability to Him in every of our words and deed as we have been reminded by the Qohelth – Ecclesiastes 12:13-14
Conclusion:-
As the Lord took His people into the Promised land after 470 years – He outwardly commanded them to remember all that He has done and to fear Him.
Today we are His people. These are the same expectation that the Lord has for each of us.
