Stones: Making God's Faithfulness Your BedrockSample

Your Progress Comes from God’s Power

Moses’ successor, Joshua, assumed his leadership role under a lot of pressure. During the Moses/Joshua baton-passing ceremony, God reprimanded Moses and said he would see the Promised Land but not enter it (Deuteronomy 34:4). Imagine that you are taking on a new leadership role as the CEO of a company. During your introduction to the team, the company owner points out all the unrealized potential of the previous CEO. What a tremendous amount of pressure to inherit! Moses had been an amazing leader, but he was also an enduring example of what happens when you don’t finish well.

Maybe this is why Joshua’s book in the Old Testament repeats reminders from God to not be afraid or discouraged but to be strong and courageous (Joshua 1:6, 7, 9, 18). If you have been overcome by fear or discouraged into defeat, stand strong and persevere in courage. Just as God was with Moses and Joshua, he will accompany you as you lead at home, work, and church.

Like Jacob and Moses, Joshua’s storyline is stacked with stone imagery:

• Joshua 4: Joshua instructs the Israelites crossing the Jordan River to build a memorial of stones so that the nation and all the generations to come would know and trust God as their rescuer (verses 20-24).

• Joshua 8: Joshua renews the Mosaic covenant with God by writing a copy of the Ten Commandments on new stones (verse 32).

• Joshua 24: In Joshua’s final speech as the leader of Israel, he sets up a large stone under an oak tree to serve as a witness to the renewed covenant God has with his people (verses 26-27). It is a sacred echo of God’s renewed covenant with Jacob in Genesis 35.

Focusing in on Joshua 4, we see Joshua guiding the Israelites in laying stones of remembrance for a miraculous event that displayed God’s power. The Israelites needed to know that God was mighty because they were many battles to come. Over and over, Joshua’s army will succeed in their fights, but not without severe hardships. Everyone who crossed the Jordan River needed to remember how God parted the waters to guide the people across to safety.

Joshua’s stones of remembrance show us the importance of tangible resources in building an intangible faith. Faith solidifies as we remind ourselves, remember, and internalize what God has done and is doing. Whether we take pictures, journal, post verses, or decorate our desks, we are all trying to keep our faith top of mind. Maybe you love creating worship playlists or wear a special piece of jewelry that commemorates a special moment in your life of faith. Whatever your memorial stones, may they encourage you to remember God’s faithfulness in your past and look forward to the future with the hope of one who knows that your ultimate salvation rests not in a story of building with stones but in the story of a gravestone being rolled away.

Prayer: God, I confess that sometimes I question your strength or willingness to be mighty on my behalf. Help me to look to the story of Joshua and your faithfulness in the past so I can stay the course. In Jesus’ name, Amen.