Joshua - Chapter 4 - Remember the Lord

In Joshua Chapter 4, we see the Children of Israel cross the Jordan.  They do so exactly the way the Lord directed.  Not only do they do so exactly the way the Lord directed, but the priests carrying the Ark standing in the middle of the river did not move until the Lord directed them to do so - even though all the people had crossed.  But there is something very specific the Lord told Joshua to have the people do when the crossed.  One man from each of the twelve tribes were to pick up one stone each and give them to Joshua.  Joshua then stacked them in a pile in the middle of the river where the priests had stood.  The purpose was for the stones to become a memorial to what had occurred.  He then picked up the stones and carried them to the place where they camped on the border of Jericho in Gilgal.  He set them up, it says in v. 20.

In verses 21-24 Joshua tells the Israelites that when their children ask the purpose of the stones, they will tell their children how the waters of the Jordan River were withheld so they could cross on dry land, just as God did for the Red Sea, so that all people will know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty and that they may fear the Lord forever. Moving into the Promised Land for possession was not to be kept quiet through the generations.  The miracles that God had performed up to that point were to be remembered.  This is not the first time the children of Israel had been told to remember what the Lord had done for them. 

How often do we look back and tell others of the greatness and might of the Lord God in our lives?  How often do we just look back in remembrance?  It is so easy to get distracted and shift focus from the Lord to the circumstances we are in and to the problems we encounter.  We allow them to weigh us down so that those that see us don't see the overcoming victory we have in Christ.  They see defeat and choas.  They see anxiety and worry.  They see anger and depression.  They see the exact opposite of what we should be exhibiting to the world around us.

In Deuteronomy Chapter 8, Moses is speaking to the Children of Israel after he had been given the ten commandments.  If we look at Chapter 8, we see why remembering what God has done for us is so important.  The chapter begins with this: 


Deuteronomy 8:1  "Every commandment which I command you today you must be careful to observe, that you may live and multiply, and go in and possess the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers..."

Why were the Israelites to "be careful" to observe every command?

1. So they may live and multiply
2. Possess the land.

Deuteronomy 8:2  And you shall remember that the LORD your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not.

The word 'shall' in the English language is one of the most powerful action words.  It is nearly a certainty that something will occur and a command that will something will pass.  The Children of Israel were about to see the Lord defeat whole nations on their behalf as they moved forward in battle.  How easy it would have been for them to begin to believe it was by their own strength they defeated the people and took the land by themselves.  So, they were to set those 12 stones at their camp so they would not forget.  They were a reminder each time anyone looked at them what the Lord had done for them.  Look at v 18, 19 and 20 in Deuteronomy chapter 8.

Deuteronomy 8:18-20  "And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.  (19)  Then it shall be, if you by any means forget the LORD your God, and follow other gods, and serve them and worship them, I testify against you this day that you shall surely perish.  (20)  As the nations which the LORD destroys before you, so you shall perish, because you would not be obedient to the voice of the LORD your God."

God was pretty specific here in these three verses.  If they were to begin to believe they had done all these things themselves and forgot what the Lord has done for them, then they would perish.  If they were to worship other gods, then just as the Lord would destroy nations before them, they would perish.  Earlier in Deuteronomy Chapter 8, all the good aspects of the land were listed by the Lord.  He told them there would be no lack and no worry about food.  The land was rich in minerals that would bring them wealth.  The land had provision above and beyond what they had seen previously.  But it was a land that God was providing for them through His power and His might.  He was destroying nations with His right hand, with His strength.  We saw in Joshua Chapter 2 the two spies that Rahab helped say this:

Joshua 2:24  And they said to Joshua, "Truly the LORD has delivered all the land into our hands, for indeed all the inhabitants of the country are fainthearted because of us."

Do you see how the spies contributed the deliverance of the Land to the Lord, but the fear in the people to themselves?  "They are fainthearted because of us..."  This very thing is why the stones were such an important reminder of where they had come from and the miracles performed on their behalf to lead them to the land He promised.  We know how inquisitive children are, so when the children asked their parents what the stones were, it gave the people an opportunity to speak of the things the Lord had done.  I know in my life when I think back over the things the Lord has done for me at various points, it encourages me to keep pressing on and it gives my faith and hope a boost because if He did those things then, is He not able to do them again?  

Psalms 77:11-12  I will remember the works of the LORD; Surely I will remember Your wonders of old.  (12)  I will also meditate on all Your work, And talk of Your deeds.

Don't just remember and meditate (study, ponder) on all God has done for you, but share His power, might, and good deeds with others!  You never know who you might encourage by doing so.  

Joshua chapter 4 closes out with this:

Joshua 4:24  that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

This is why we remember what the Lord has done for us and this is why we tell others of what He has done.  Everyone needs to know the power and might of the hand of the Lord.  Nothing is too big or too difficult for Him.  We are also to fear the Lord.  In this case, fear means give reverance to Him for all He has done.  I do not know about you, but thinking back on the things God has done for me throughout my lifetime builds within me a thanksgiving that is so great it is nearly overwhelming.  

My oldest daughter has a verse in Psalms that is her favorite verse in the bible, and it fits here:

Psalms 51:12  Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit.

Do you want the joy of your salvation restored?  Begin to think back over your life.  Ask God to bring to your remembrance all the times He has made miracle provision or brought someone into your life that spoke a word over you.  Think back on all the ways it was so obvious God was moving...but you coudn't see it at the time.  I promise you, there will be a joy that wells up inside you just as it did when your spirit was restored to the Father at the point of your salvation.  Share that joy of remembrance with others so that all people will know the power and might of the Lord. Give Him the glory and honor for what He has done in your life. Because it is not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of the Lord... (Zechariah 4:6).  

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