Good morning EVERYONE! Joshua chapter 4.
Some observations from this chapter:
- The Rock's the Israelites were to take for the memorial are the ones by the priest, the Ark of the Covenant, God's presence. This should be our desire, to be in the presence of the Lord. Can you think of how our lives would be different if we constantly saw ourselves in the presence of the Lord? Can you think how we might think differently? How we might act differently? What acts of kindness or Mercy we might show to others because we realized we are in the presence of the Lord?
- Being in the presence of the Lord is the opportunity to see God's mighty hand at work. Just as the Israelites got to see the miracle of crossing the Jordan on dry ground, so we are able to see God's mighty hand at work in and through our lives and in the lives of those around us. We should want to be a part of that. As I read this chapter my mind was flooded with miracles from God. Miracles that related to family, to Ministry, to healings, to many answered prayers. Experiencing and then sharing these miracles with others is a great way to point people to a mighty God for their lives! I wonder how many miracles God has done that I missed? That I looked over? Or just plain forgot? We need reminders!
- Reminders are great to help us keep focused on the Lord, to remember his power and desire to work in and through our lives and the lives of others, and are great reminders to fear him so that we stay holy before our God.
Lack of reminders make it easy to walk away from the Lord and get distracted by the things of this world.
Thank you Lord for miracles and answered prayers. Help me stay in your presence. Help me keep believing in you. Help me to stay focused on you. Help me to fear you so I am Holy!
Bible explained:::
One of the reasons for the miracle at the Jordan River, was so the people would know the same anointing was on Joshua that had been on Moses. Israel’s respect for Joshua grew greatly at the opening of the River Jordan under instructions given to them through Joshua.
What big shoes to fill …replacing Moses, wow!
I have been in similar situations where I was to be in charge…. even though no river was dried up, God has given me the strength and signs to be in that leadership position ….and also take it away.
Glory to GOD
The 12 stones representing the 12 tribes are a picture of unity. It reminds me what Jesus prayed in John 17 “Father, let them be one that the world might know that I am in You and You are in Me.” In other words, love within the body of Christ is proof positive to a world that is skeptical that Jesus is risen and real, alive and well. Satan likes to chip away at this evidence so we all have to stay diligent and stand firm.
One memorial was visible to the people and the other one was hidden in the river, visible only to God once the river started flowing again. Some of His greatest blessings to me have come when I was able to bless someone in a way that no one else was aware except God.
God took care of all the people and made it possible for them to cross the Jordan River. The 12 stones were to be a reminder to them and for the future generations to learn about for years to come. I think it’s good to stop and remember sometimes. I know that I just have to be careful not to dwell so much in the past that I miss living in the present. We should always be learning from the past, living in the present, and preparing for the future. I see this experience in chapter 4 as a good time for the Israelites to be able to reflect on all that God had brought them through with Moses in being set free from slavery and as God then gave them Joshua as their new leader to lead them at that present time and they had a great future to look forward to. The key would continue to be trusting and obeying the Lord.
There are a couple of passages that came to my mind today and they both have us looking at God’s creatures as examples for not being lazy and for not worrying.
Proverbs 6:6-8
Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise. Without having any chief, officer, or ruler, she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.
Matthew 6:25-34.
“Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life? And why are you anxious about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? Therefore do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. “Therefore do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble.”
“He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
In our lives and the lives of others we can see how powerful God is. And how loving He is.
Many Red Seas and Jordan Rivers in my life, challenges, uncertainty, fear, have been forged and conquered by God… parted and dried for me to follow where He is leading. Jim I love those verses, do not be anxious. God is leading the way.