Two Sets Of Twelve Stones

Today’s meditation is taken form Joshua 4:5-8, “And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the LORD told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.” (ESV)

The twelve stones as a memorial

These are the instructions that Joshua received from the Lord as the Israelites stood before the Jordan which was full and overflowing. The people were to carry twelve stones, each stone represented the twelve tribes of Israel, from the place where the priest stood carrying the Covenant Box. Each of these stones were to be kept on the other side of the River Jordan as a memorial. God wanted this to be done so that the generations to come would be reminded about the wonders that God performed especially in parting the Jordan, to help the Israelites reach the Promised Land. The Lord had parted the Jordan, and made a way for the people to pass through. Nonetheless, God also knew that the future generations would certainly forget all that He had done for their fore-fathers, and hence decided that it was necessary for them to carry these stones as a memorial to teach their children about the wonderful signs God had performed on their behalf.

We as parents motivate our children to excel in their education, and also take much effort to help them develop other skills like music, sport, art etc., but we lack in our enthusiasm to teach our children about who God is, and about walking in His ways. If our children refuse to go to school, we coax and encourage them to do so because we realize that this is important for their future. However, when it comes to attending church or Sunday school we don’t insist, but give in to the excuses that they make. Often we think that our children should be well-educated, should secure good jobs, build a healthy family, and have a great future. Sadly, if we fail to teach our children to love the Lord and follow Him, the world will surely teach them to follow their ways.

Let me give you an example of how the world is in total conflict with God’s word. The word of God teaches us to wait for Him. God’s word reminds us that they who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. However, the world teaches us to possess things immediately. This creates a huge divide between God’s ways, and the ways of the world. Here are some examples to help drive home this point. As per the government orders in India, an individual can apply for their driver’s license when they turn 18. Oftentimes, parents will allow their children to drive their vehicles even before that stipulated age, though they may have some sort of apprehension about the same. Sometimes, parents even feel proud that their children are able to drive from a very young age, not realizing that they are actually encouraging them to break the law from a young age. It is good for us to teach our children to live the way God’s word exhorts us to live right from their childhood. Another example is of those who have been caught in the debt trap because of the allurement that says that they could clear their debts with easy instalments. The world is enticing us with the thought that there is no need to wait for anything, and that everything can be got immediately.

Our God is a God of order and discipline, whereas the ways of the world are disorderly and disruptive. We may notice that our children are being beguiled to live the ways of the world from things as simple as a hair-styles, and the clothes they wear. Our society has become so accommodating that what seemed unacceptable in yester years is now considered fashionable today. We must teach our children to dress modestly, and live in a way that is pleasing to God. It is our duty to teach our children about God, about faith, and about who God is for only then the generations to come will be blessed by the Lord.