Memorial Stones

     Joshua 4 records an interesting incident in the history of Israel. Well two actually, but I want to focus on the less remembered part of this incident. The chapter begins with the priest standing in the middle of the Jordan as the people are crossing over into the Promised Land. Joshua is just about to tell the priests to move when God stops him. God tells Joshua to pick one man from each tribe and have them pick up a stone from where the priests are standing. Then God directs Joshua to have the men leave the stones at the place where the nation of Israel camped that night. It was only after this was done that God commanded the priests to step out of the river, and the waters of the Jordan went crashing back over the river banks.

     We remember the part of this story where God parts the Jordan as the priest steps in, but it's easy to forget about the weird part with the stones. It seems a strange detail, but it is an important part of Israel's history. In fact that action memorialized God's miraculous intervention to bring Israel into the promised land of Canaan. This pile of stones was meant to cause children to ask their parents what the stones mean. The stones were an opportunity to share with future generations what the Lord had done for Israel.

     Do you take time to remember what God has done in the past? For me one way I reflect and remember what God has done in the past is to journal. Periodically, I'll read through old entries so that I can remember God's faithfulness and provision.

     There is a two-fold purpose in memorial stones. The first purpose is to encourage gratitude and thankfulness. Without reminders of the times that God has moved in unexpected ways, it is easy to take life for granted. It is easy to feel as though all you have is your just desserts. But when we look at the memorial stone, we remember how we felt when the flood waters of the Jordan blocked our way home. God's surprising actions quicken our hearts to gratitude. The second purpose of memorial stones is to build faith in God. Memorial stones are not just dead memories of days gone by. When I look back at how God provided for my family to bring us here to Trinity, it gives me the perspective to face my current disappointments and challenges. How we are going to be able to pay off student loans isn't as terrifying when I remember what it felt like to be without a job when we first arrived at Trinity. Memorial stones remind me that God provided employment in a miraculous way. When the time comes for another challenge, I can remember how God has been faithful, and that He will remain faithful.

     What are some ways that you can erect memorial stones to God's faithfulness? Maybe you could take a second and journal when God does something amazing. Maybe you could have a picture album dedicated to pictures that show God's faithfulness. These are just a few ideas, but there are many ways to remind ourselves of God's faithfulness and kindness to us.

By Sarah Price

Crowns Editor