Twelve Stones of Remembrance
By Shirley Mitchell
“So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, and said to them, ‘Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.’ “
Joshua 4:4-7
I didn’t realize what God had been doing for the past few months until I had lunch with my good friend Kendra. She asked me about the Bible study that I was writing. I told her that God had me stop writing the Bible study and focus on some devotions from my life and journey with Him over the past twelve years. It was at that table in the restaurant that it hit me what God was doing. He was having me set up twelve stones of remembrance like the Israelites did in Joshua 3-4.
The book of Joshua tells the story of how the Israelites take their Promised Land and conquer their enemies. The Book begins with God telling Moses’ young apprentice and warrior, Joshua, to be strong and courageous and to obey the Law. God tells Him that He will give them rest and grant them this Land.
There was one problem. There was a big river blocking their passage to the Land. The river was at flood stage during this time of year (Joshua 3:15). The water level was so high that the water was beginning to leave its banks. It was at the point where it could overflow and cause damage. The whole nation of Israel had to get across this river to take its Promised Land. The Israelites were not good swimmers. They did not have the resources of time and materials to build a bridge or make rafts. Through their own power, the task was impossible, unattainable, and unachievable.
Through God, everything and anything was possible. The river was not a barrier but a means to show God’s might and heart for them to possess this Land. When it was time, the officers went throughout the camp, giving orders to the people, “When you see the ark of the covenant of the LORD your God, and the priests, who are Levites, carrying it, you are to move out from your positions and follow it” (Joshua 3:3). As soon as the feet of the priests who were carrying the ark touched the water’s edge, the water from upstream stopping flowing and piled up in a heap (Joshua 3:15-16). The nation of Israel crossed on dry ground. How surprising and surreal it must have been to walk across that river!
Then, God told Joshua to choose twelve men to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River from right where the priests stood and to carry them over and set up a memorial. So Joshua built an altar at Gilgal out of the twelve stones from the Jordan River. Everyone who passed by would wonder what those stones meant and hear the story of God’s power and ability to make what is impossible with man easy with Him. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that they might always fear the LORD (Joshua 4:24).
At that luncheon with my precious friend, I heard God whisper to me, “You are setting up twelve stones of remembrance, Shirley.” God had been leading me to write about some things that have happened since I started walking with Him. He led me to the first devotion that I ever wrote, “The Big Blue House.” He allowed me to go back to Guam and reminded me of the girl that I used to be. He showed me the stepping stones of how He led me to start writing. He showed me how He publicly honored me in a way that left me in awe of Him. He showed me how He taught me to walk on water and press through the dark raging storm. Maybe God is doing this so that people on the earth may know that He is powerful. Maybe…But you know what blows my mind away? I know that He is making me write these things and collect them together so that I know that He is powerful. He wants little me to have a memorial of my walk with Him so that I know that He has done miraculous things in my life, and I can expect more to come! I will tell my children and anyone whom I mentor or teach what God has done for me and leave a legacy for them of God’s demonstrative power and love for me! If He can do it for me, then He will do it for you, too!
Beloved, what about you? What are some practical ways that you can remember what God has done for you in order to cultivate your faith, to use this memory for future conquests, and to worship Him with praise and thankfulness? What testimony are you leaving behind for your children and spiritual children, and how are you sure they will get it?
Pray with me: Almighty God, we are in awe of You. We will exalt You, our God the King; we will praise Your name for ever and ever. One generation will commend Your works to another; they will tell of Your mighty acts. They will speak of the glorious splendor of Your majesty, and we will meditate on Your wonderful works. They will tell of the power of Your awesome works, and we will proclaim Your great deeds (Psalm 145:1, 4-6).
Help us to recount Your great deeds. As we meditate on them, teach us to set up our own twelve stones of remembrance to honor what You have done in our lives. Help us to tell the next generation so they know that You are powerful, and they will always fear You, respect You, and worship You. It’s in the Name above all names, in Jesus’ Name, Yeshua’s Name, we pray. Amen.