When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua,“Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, and tell them totake up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”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. – JOSHUA 4:1-6How quickly and easily we forget. Israel proved how forgetful it was as a nationimmediately after they left Egypt. On the banks of the Red Sea, they forgot God could save them from Pharaoh. In the wilderness, they forgot God could feed them and give them water. And the first time they approached the land of promise, they forgot their God, who had defeated Egypt, was big enough to defeat giants in Canaan.Memorials help us remember. Every time the soldiers marched past this spot, both in the next days and into the future, every time Israel marched by the fallen walls of Jericho and looked east toward the Jordan, they would see the memorial built to celebrate the moment God brought them to this land as He had promised.Every footprint that God leaves on earth can be a memorial that causes us to givethanks for what He has done. Every triumph of His people against evil can be remembered. The bread and the cup are perhaps the greatest memorial of all time, reminding us that God held nothing back, not even His Son, to assure victory and the salvation of His people. Don’t forget!Prayer TimeThis is a good time to sit and remember what God has done for you and for His church, then give Him thanks.

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 4:5-7World War II began almost ninety years ago. Most older adults have known veteranspersonally; I know stories from my granddad who fought, but for younger adults, much less children, the war that engulfed the world and killed over 60 million people is just a chapter in their World History class.Just as quickly, if each generation of children is not taught and then reminded, they will forget what God has done for them and for His people. The memorials Joshua raised and those we raise today for our children are not nostalgia, that is, just a sentimental journey to “the old days.” No, they are personal and intentional statements of faith about God and the future of His people. Look what God did. Yes, it was impossible, but He did it. That’s why we know He is able—not just able, but willing—to guide His children through the deepest valleys to the victories He promised. Our children must hear His story.Prayer TimeWhat younger person can you share about what God has done in your life? Who can the church share about what He did through Jesus? Ask God to make His answers clear.

On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. – JOSHUA 4:19-20My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. – JOHN 10:27Is Joshua guilty of celebrating a victory before the battle has been fought? Some might see raising this celebratory monument as premature. What if something goes wrong the next day? What if the army gets cold feet in their first battle and flees? Lots of things could happen that might disrupt Israel’s plans or even defeat them and make this a day to forget.What if we as God’s people are cautious? Is that bad? After all, we don’t want to getahead of God. We don’t want to waste God’s money or risk losing some of His people. Joshua doesn’t hesitate to begin the celebration or to raise the memorial. How can He be so sure of victory? Joshua was sure because God had told Him what to do. In fact, God had been telling Him what to do for a long time. Joshua had experienced listening to God, so it was not difficult to recognize His voice. When we listen more often and more carefully to the voice of God, we begin to understand Him better. That’s why we can celebrate today. We hear His voice and know what to do and where to go.Prayer TimeSpend a few moments in quiet reflection, listening for God’s wisdom and guidance. Then pray for the courage to do as God has instructed.

Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God. – JOSHUA 4:19-20Power is something to respect and to fear. We benefit greatly from the high voltagewires in our neighborhood, but if one comes down in a storm, you don’t want to come close to it. God’s power is much the same. His power created everything in the universe that gives us life and happiness. But his limitless power puts fear into those who oppose His will or resist His plan.Whenever you see the hand of God acting powerfully as the Israelites did in themiraculous crossing of the Jordan, your reaction may be to wonder at His might andpraise Him. On the other hand, to understand God knows your every thought andmotive for every action might make you want to run and hide from Him. Your response tells you much about your relationship to God.Prayer TimePray for God to continue to work powerfully in the lives of His people and His church. Then ask Him to take away our guilt, so we will not be afraid, but only filled with praise.

He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God. – JOSHUA 4:24On several occasions, Moses had told Israel they were a special people to God: “Of all the people on earth, the Lord your God has chosen you to be His own special treasure” (Deuteronomy 7:6). Israel took great pride in this special relationship, but they also made the mistake of thinking that they were the only nation God loved. This was never true.God has always loved the whole world—all the nations. Later, God shocks Israel with the revelation He gives through His prophet Amos: “Are you Israelites more important to me than the Ethiopians?” asks the Lord. “I brought Israel out of Egypt, but I also brought the Philistines from Crete and led the Arameans out of Kir” (Amos 9:7). While the biblical story revolves almost exclusively around Israel, God’s activity in the world, including His special relationship with Israel, was designed for the benefit and blessing of all the nations.“For this is how God loved the world: he gave his one and only Son” (John 3:16). Thismessage of powerful love is a message for the whole world, and we, God’s people, are not just objects of this love, but we are blessed to be the witnesses of this truth and the bearers of this message to anyone who might not have heard.Prayer TimeAre we too guilty of thinking all of God’s focus is on us? Pray for a compassionate heart for other people and other nations.