Stones to remember God’s faithfulness.

As we read about Joshua’s life, we can see that he was a courageous man, full of faith. He seemed to have no question as to whether or not God would fulfill His promises to him personally, as well as the promises to Israel.

Perhaps, because of His faith and courage, God led Him to experience so many great things? Consider chapter 4 from the book of Joshua:

^“So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, ‘Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 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.’” (Joshua 4:1-7)

^“So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the LORD had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day.” (4:8-9)

While reading through these verses, I can’t help but think of the stones (memorials) we set up today. Most of the time, it’s to honour a certain figure or historical event pertaining to a certain group of people.

But how often do we put up a memorial to something God has done?

Can we do that?

In our culture, this practice might seem strange. Perhaps even the Christian world? They might say that it’s not worth the effort unless the Lord did something miraculous (like a river being stopped).

They might push back at any sort of memorial to something as simple as God’s faithfulness, or even at those little miracles in life that we know happened, but physical evidence is lacking.

On the other hand, what a testimony it would be for future generations?

The memorial doesn’t have to be huge.

You don’t have to go out and buy a plot of land for it. You don’t have to convince the government to give you a key spot in some central square. Walk into the middle of a wilderness setting near your home and pick a spot there. If you live in an urban centre, maybe the corner of your backyard? You live downtown; make it small, on a window sill.

After you have a location, think about this past year. Think of the numerous highs and lows. Think of the trials and struggles, the celebration and thanksgiving. To help this process, take out a pen and paper, or a notes app in your phone, and answer these questions:

• What amazing struggle has God helped you overcome?
• What task has God given you the strength to complete?
• What incredible experience has God brought you to?
• What need (or want) has God provided out of nowhere?

From there, set up your memorial. It might be a pile of stones in a forest, a few rocks in the garden, or maybe just a sea shell on the window sill, but it’s the reminder that matters! You will see it, and remember what God has done.

[bctt tweet=”What amazing struggle has God helped you overcome? What task has God given you the strength to complete? What incredible experience has God brought you to? What need (or want) has God provided out of nowhere?” username=”PastorJNorton”]