 When 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, 3 and 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.’”4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe. 5 And 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,6 that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7 then 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.”
8 And 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. 9 And 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. 10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste. 11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the Lord and the priests passed over before the people. 12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them. 13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life. 15 And the Lord said to Joshua, 16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the Lord came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before. 19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. 20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over,24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” Meditation Whether it is William’s famous hymn Guide Me, O Thou Great Jehovah or Bunyan’s classic book Pilgrim’s Progress, God’s people celebrate life as pilgrims remembering His faithfulness on the journey into His promises. “Come up” is the central command of Joshua (16, 17, 18, 19) and a central theme of God’s people in the Old Testament. This is distinctive language for Jacob’s family journeying from Egypt (Genesis 45:25) and Israel’s exodus from Egypt (seen in Exodus 3, 17, 32, and 33). As Israel is entering the promised land, “come up” is a reinforced thread in the strong rope of God’s covenant faithfulness leading Israel to the fulfillment of God’s promises. Bookending this chapter is the placement of memorial stones, explained as reminders of God’s faithfulness for the next generation (1-7, 21-24). When “all the peoples of the earth” saw God’s miracle of stacking the waters to heaven they would recognize God’s power (24). When Israel saw the twelve memorial stones, they had opportunity to explain God’s faithfulness to His promises (especially the children). Coming into God’s promises necessitates we remember God’s faithfulness in the journey. God’s grace filled shepherding care guides believers to the promised land of the fullness of His blessings in Jesus. Jesus says, “come,” and believers “come up” into the blessings of Jesus by faith and “remember” through the sacraments. In Christ Jesus there is abundance of His covenant faithfulness: love, life, mercy, and the fruit of the Spirit. Let us remember God’s faithfulness that has led us to come into Christ! Richly Dwelling -Do you see the sandwich, God’s memorial to remember His faithfulness on either end of this chapter, and command to come, as the meat in the middle? What does this tell you about the invitation of the Lord to come into the fullness of His blessings? -Do you remember and celebrate God’s faithfulness in your pilgrim journey? If not, do you think this reflects a lack of dependency on Him? -How can you “come” into more of the fullness of blessing in Jesus for you? Key Verse 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” Comments are closed.
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