Introduction:

As God was with Moses He is with Joshua. Joshua 1:5

Joshua 4:1-7 NASB

Now when all the nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from each tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take up for yourselves twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet are standing firm, and carry them over with you and lay them down in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’” 4 So Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the sons of Israel, one man from each tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross again to the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan, and each of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the sons of Israel. 6 Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.”

Joshua 4:19-24 NASB

19 Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern edge of Jericho. 20 Those twelve stones which they had taken from the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21 He said to the sons of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ 22 then you shall inform your children, saying, ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed, just as the Lord your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; 24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

“Let this be a sign among you,” – A memorial

God’s miraculous work is worth remembering. (Worship)

Communion and Baptism

This memorial to God is for the next generation.

This memorial to God is a reminder of God’s leadership and provision.

This memorial to God connects Israel to their heritage.

This memorial to God is a call to change in the present.

This memorial to God is a pedagogical device.

God can still use memorials in our lives as change agents.

One of the enemies of faith is forgetfulness.

Who needs to hear about your memorials to God?

Discussion Questions

January 12, 2023, Pastor Lance Ainsworth

Prayer Requests:

Read Joshua 4 out loud.

Icebreaker: Have you been to a famous memorial? Which one? What emotions did you feel?

1.) What is the significance of 12 stones? The children of Israel took 12 stones and Joshua left 12 stones in the Jordan where the priests stood with the Ark of the Covenant. Why do you think Joshua left the 12 stones in the river?

2.) Why did God make the crossing of the Jordan so grand? Do we need to see God’s power at work to believe?

3.) Do you have any memorials to God in your life? Who has or would benefit from hearing more about God’s power in your life?

4.) Chapter 4 ends with “That all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” God uses the worship of His people to proclaim the power and uniqueness of God. Does that change your perspective of worship?

Family Time:

Share your favorite vacation spot growing up and how that place invokes a specific memory or emotion. Explain and contemplate how the Israelites had spent 40 years wandering the wilderness and God has prepared this moment for them to cross into the promised land. How important is it for us to make memorials to God in our life?