Stone: what does it mean?

Joshua 4:21-24 “Then Joshua said to the Israelites, ‘In the future your children will ask, ‘What does these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground’. 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river before your eyes, and he kept it dry until we had all cross over. 24 He did this so that all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s hand is powerful, and so you might fear the Lord your God forever.”

The twelve stones Joshua led to set up before Israelites’ camp are their landmark. Our walk in the Lord is not one-stop shop where you’ll go for panic buying to keep sufficient foods. We can’t compare Christian walk to instant noodles, adding hot water for fifteen minutes and having salt overdose afterwards. We have to go through a process. By first years, infant is expected to walk but it needs repetitive guidance from the parents. In fact it was the greatest delight for parents to see their child progressing for the first time. How much more with God?

 Landmark

During Joshua’s leadership, the Israelites were reset into new batch of people because the former generation didn’t believe God and were in constant rebellion. The Lord purged this unyielding generation away and made their offspring the promise Land entering people. So God performed a miracle by making them cross Jordan River on foot. This landmark can be compared to Israel’s Red Sea experience on Exodus 14. But Had Israel continued to believe by holding on to the Lord’s powerful hands during hard times, they could inherit the Land.

Stone Pillars

God doesn’t change the teaching plans. Just like what God intended to hone from the former generation, he told Joshua to inform Israel that they must testify God’s faithfulness. In our Christian walk, Pastors and Leaders can be compared to Levites that lead us across the land. We hear and obey from them, for God assigned them for this noble task. But notice that Joshua is pertaining to each Israelite men to explain the meaning of stone pillars to their children. Training, then, starts from the parents and are guided by the leaders. We can’t pass the responsibility to anyone, let the child grow ignorant, and blame someone for their “expected” ruined lives.

What does it mean?

The purpose of Jordan River crossing is not to amuse Israelites by relieving them with recreational activities. God is not a clown to entertain man. He doesn’t have to please anyone, but everyone must be pleasing to him. Time will come when we are down on the hardest battles, but the only thing we can hold on to is our personal encounter with the Almighty. This is the meaning of Landmarks and stone pillars; so faith can grow into full maturity. And this faith doesn’t need imagery as reminders because complete trust is finally established.

Today, look back on your spiritual landmarks and thank God for what he has done. Sometimes we don’t need to be dramatic to please God. But setting our self-evaluation aside, God is worth rejoicing for.