Joshua 1:1-14:15
"What do these stones mean?"
"Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you 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."
As believers we have the habit of picking up the wrong things. We carry guilt from past actions; pack in worry over future events; throw in fear of the unknown, and add some stress from things we can't control. It's time we start picking up some river stones.
Most evenings I talk a walk with my kids. The kids act like they are explorers on a new adventure. Every day we walk past this rock bed where the kids pick up a stone. They come running back to show mom and dad their "treasure." Our faith should be like those children who pick stones along their journey to keep as treasure.
Crossing the Jordan symbolizes Israel's final obstacle from obtaining the Promised Land. It also symbolizes God's power and provision over the Jordan and the inhabitants of the Canaan. God told Joshua to have twelve men pick up stones from the middle of the river for a memorial to the people as a reminder of God's power.
All of us have Jordan Rivers in our lives. Something we must pass through on the way to God's promises. We may have placed ourselves by the river, God may have placed us in the river, or the world may have placed you at the river. Regardless of how we got to the river, God walks us through. It's time we start picking up some river stones and keep them as treasure; as a reminder that God is powerful and provides the way through!
When a child is born pick up a stone.
When one of God's children goes home pick up a stone
When the cancer goes into remission pick up a stone.
When the addict is sober pick up a stone.
When a job appears out of nowhere pick up a stone.
When the sick get well pick up a stone.
When the storm subsides and joy returns in the morning pick up a stone.
When the captive is set free and goes from condemnation to life pick up a stone.
When your in the middle of the river pick up a stone. So when you are on the other side you might remember that the Lord your God is powerful and provides. And when the next river comes, the stone will remind you that your are not alone. That your Heavenly Father is there to walk you through the river to the other side.
Share your stone. Someone might be on a journey today, looking for some treasure.
External Link: Joshua's Central and Southern Canaan Campaign
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/036.htm
Joshua's Northern Canaan Campaign
http://www.anova.org/sev/atlas/htm/037.htm
