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The 12 stones, of course, symbolize the 12 tribes of Israel. You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land which the LORD your God is giving you, “a land flowing with milk and honey,” just as the LORD God of your fathers promised you (Deuteronomy 27:2–3). If the Israelites had remembered God’s Word spoken to them not long before, they would recollect that He had already told them to mark the day they crossed the Jordan River with stones:Īnd it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the LORD your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones, and whitewash them with lime. He even used stones specifically several times (Exodus 24:4 1 Samuel 7:12).
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Scripture records many instances when God instructed His people to remember. When the priests carrying the Ark completely crossed over the Jordan, the water immediately rushed back into place as it had been before (v. God kept the waters at bay long enough for Joshua to finish his task on dry ground. The Israelites took 12 stones from the Jordan to set up as a memorial, and Joshua also set up 12 stones in the midst of the Jordan. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight” (4:3). When they reached the other side, God gave them a unique order: “Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. Just as He had done in the Israelites’ Exodus from Egypt, God rolled back great waters to allow His people to cross over dry ground, this time to lead them closer to the Promised Land. All the Israelites could then walk across the river on dry ground. When the feet of the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant touched the river, He caused the waters of the Jordan to “be cut off, the waters that come down from upstream, and they as a heap” (v. But God made a way.Īs the Israelites prepared for their journey, Joshua told them, “Sanctify yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do wonders among you” (Joshua 3:5). For 12 tribes of people carrying all they had, including the Ark of the Covenant, this was not a realistic endeavor. To do so meant they had to cross over the Jordan River. In chapter 3, two Israelite spies had just returned from a reconnaissance mission in Jericho, helped by Rahab’s quick thinking to hide the men on the roof in fear of the Lord. In the book of Joshua, Israel began to enter their long-awaited Promised Land from God. We can find it in a key turning point in Israel’s history with an important commandment from God to remember. If you’re wondering if remembering the past is worth the trouble, know that there is biblical precedent for doing so. As I find myself forgetting days gone by, I recognize special moments in the present by taking pictures and notes on my phone to capture those memorable days. I personally depend on these reminders of the past because my memory is weak.