Joshua 4:1-7 ESV
Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan
1When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2“Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man, 3and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests’ feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’” 4Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, 6that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
Joshua 4:1-2 ESV
1When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2“Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man,
When I was going through the Basic School in Quantico, there was a part of the curriculum called Patrolling. It was designed to teach us to move tactically as a unit by foot through the woods and adequately assess danger areas.
When we would cross a danger area, we would assemble what is called a hasty 360 security position.
There was always one who didn’t come across the danger area or was lost…and always one who falls asleep and needs to be tapped and told we are moving when the hasty 360 was over.
All the nation equals around 600,000 people.
With 600,000…and this being enemy territory, and there being 12 tribes, it would be a little more difficult than getting 12 men up from each tribe of “the hasty 360” to go back and check the danger area.
This isn’t the biggest game of duck-duck goose ever. So how did Joshua do it?
For that we’ll need to look back at chapter 3.
Joshua 3:11-12 ESV
11Behold, the ark of the covenant of the Lord of all the earth is passing over before you into the Jordan. 12Now therefore take twelve men from the tribes of Israel, from each tribe a man.
Joshua already had the 12 men selected. This is not only a demonstration of Joshua’s wisdom, it is also a demonstration that he is in step with the LORD.
Add a note
These stones are to be set up in the place where they lodge on the first night…and they are a Memorial of the LORD’s faithfulness.
Something that we won’t cover in next week’s message, but also an interesting note…there were not only 12 stones, but 24.
Joshua 4:8-9 ESV
8And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the Lord told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. 9And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.
Why would Joshua place 12 stones in the midst of the Jordan to memorialize something that the people would never see?
The Bible doesn’t tell us this, but I think it is because he wanted the people to remember what the stones represented. They looked to the memorial which was a replica to the memorial to the place where the feet of the priests stood. Two sets of 12 stones to represent God’s care and protection.
This would also officially mark the end of the Exodus of the Israelites. They would transition from a people, to a nation…they would officially receive their inheritance from the LORD and become a Nation of the LORDs people. The exodus is book ended by two miracles that God would perform the parting of the Red Sea as they left Egypt as a people, and the parting of the Jordan as they entered the promised land, as a Nation.
Add a note
Let’s continue in our text. The first portion of the text for today is what God said to Joshua (verses 1-3). Now we come to the part where Joshua tells the 12 men what the LORD said:
Joshua 4:4-5 ESV
4Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel,
I have to believe that Joshua didn’t just randomly select 12 men. I believe he would have purposefully selected these men for the task they would have to accomplish.
Their task is greater than simply picking up a stone and carrying it out of the Jordan. They had to perpetuate the Legacy of God’s faithfulness to their whole tribe.
For this purpose, I think Joshua would have selected leaders among the tribes.
These men not only shouldered the weight of the stones, they shouldered the weight of the responsibility to pass on the legacy of God’s faithfulness to their people, and their families, and their children.
Joshua 4:6-7 ESV
6that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.”
Add a note
“Your Love Awakens Me” — Phil Wickham
“Cornerstone” — Hillsong Worship
“Goodness of God” — Bethel Music
“Build My Life” — Pat Barrett (feat. Chris Tomlin)
Please use the Give Online button on the Home tab.
Every gift helps.
