In the book of Joshua, we learned how, “Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man. And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel. That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean you by these stones?”, and in chapter four and verse seven of the book of Joshua, Joshua told the twelve men when their children ask questions about the twelve stones, “answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD” where we read,
Then you shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
The verse reads, “Then you shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD;” Joshua or the writer began with the words, “then you shall answer them” which means “at that time, when the children of Israel ask questions concerning the twelve stones, you, the immediate male progenitors of Israel, are to respond to them, the children”, “that the waters” or “that the flowing water streams” “of Jordan” which means “belonging to Jordan whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)” “were cut off” or “existed as stopped and hewn down” “before the ark” which means “in front and in advance of the box or chest” “of the covenant” or “pertaining to the alliance, pledge, treaty and agreement” “of the LORD” which means “belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name for the One True God”. Joshua told the twelve men that they were to respond to their questioning children by telling them the flowing waters of the “Jordan” river were stopped in advance of Jehovah God’s “ark of the covenant’s” crossing.
The verse continues, “when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.” Joshua added the words, “when it passed over Jordan” or “at the time and moment it, the ark of the covenant, crossed Jordan whose name means descender and was the river of Palestine running from the roots of Anti-Lebanon to the Dead Sea a distance of approximately 200 miles (320 km)”, “the waters of Jordan” which means “the flowing water streams belonging to Jordan whose name means descender” “were cut off” or “existed as stopped and hewn down”: “and these stones” which means “and the twelve large rocks” “shall be for a memorial” or “will exist as a memento, reminder and record” “unto the children of Israel” which means “to the offspring and progeny belonging to Israel whose name means God prevails and is the name of the descendants and the nation of the descendants of Jacob” “for ever” or “for long duration, futurity, evermore and perpetually”. Joshua told the “twelve men” at the time the “ark of the covenant” crossed over the “Jordan” river, the water streams of the river were stopped, and the “twelve stones” would be a reminder of this event for long duration and perpetually.
When we consider the words in this verse, we learn how Joshua obeyed Jehovah God’s directive concerning the “twelve stones” and the memorial they would serve to the people of Israel. God was to do a great work in their midst, and lest they forget His provision, they were to look upon this place of remembrance and be reminded of God’s work. God wants us to call to mind places in our lives that He has provided for and protected us. His greatest provision was when He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind, and when He raise Him from the dead after three days, He made the way through faith and belief in Him and our “Savior and Lord” to be forgiven of our sins, granted everlasting life and equipped with His Holy Spirit who will guide us into all truth and help us remember what Jesus did for us at the “cross” which is one of the greatest memorials in the world.
Next time we see how, “the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".
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