1 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
2 Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man,
3 And command ye them, saying, Take you hence out of the midst of Jordan, out of the place where the priests' feet stood firm, twelve stones, and ye shall carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men, whom he had prepared of the children of Israel, out of every tribe a man:
5 And Joshua said unto them, Pass over before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of Jordan, and take you up every man of you a stone upon his shoulder, according unto the number of the tribes of the children of Israel:
6 That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean ye by these stones?
7 Then ye shall answer them, That the waters of Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it passed over Jordan, the waters of Jordan were cut off: and these stones shall be for a memorial unto the children of Israel for ever.
8 And the children of Israel did so as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones out of the midst of Jordan, as the LORD spake unto Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them unto the place where they lodged, and laid them down there.
9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests which bare the ark of the covenant stood: and they are there unto this day.
10 For the priests which bare the ark stood in the midst of Jordan, until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to speak unto the people, according to all that Moses commanded Joshua: and the people hasted and passed over.
11 And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over, that the ark of the LORD passed over, and the priests, in the presence of the people.
12 And the children of Reuben, and the children of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh, passed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses spake unto them:
13 About forty thousand prepared for war passed over before the LORD unto battle, to the plains of Jericho.
14 On that day the LORD magnified Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they feared Moses, all the days of his life.
15 And the LORD spake unto Joshua, saying,
16 Command the priests that bear the ark of the testimony, that they come up out of Jordan.
17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, Come ye up out of Jordan.
18 And it came to pass, when the priests that bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD were come up out of the midst of Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up unto the dry land, that the waters of Jordan returned unto their place, and flowed over all his banks, as they did before.
19 And the people came up out of Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and encamped in Gilgal, in the east border of Jericho.
20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of Jordan, did Joshua pitch in Gilgal.
21 And he spake unto the children of Israel, saying, When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones?
22 Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land.
23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over:
24 That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the LORD, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the LORD your God for ever.
Joshua chapter 4 is a continuation of the events that took place in chapter 3. In this chapter, the Israelites, led by Joshua, have just crossed the Jordan River and entered into the Promised Land. As they set foot on the other side, God commands Joshua to have 12 men, one from each tribe, to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan River and place it on the shore as a memorial. This chapter also marks the end of the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness and the beginning of the fulfillment of God's promise to the Israelites.
The main themes of this chapter are remembrance, obedience, and faith. The placing of the stones is a physical reminder of God's faithfulness and provision for the Israelites. It also serves as a reminder for future generations of the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River. This chapter also emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands, as the Israelites followed Joshua's instructions and placed the stones as God had commanded. Lastly, this chapter highlights the faith of the Israelites in God's promises and their willingness to follow Him into the unknown.
One of the main themes in Joshua chapter 4 is the importance of remembrance. After the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, God commanded Joshua to have 12 men, one from each tribe, to take a stone from the middle of the river and place it on the shore as a memorial. These stones were meant to serve as a reminder for the Israelites and future generations of God's faithfulness and provision. In verse 7, God says, "These stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." This act of remembrance was a way for the Israelites to never forget the miraculous crossing of the Jordan River and the fulfillment of God's promise to bring them into the Promised Land.
Throughout the Bible, God commands His people to remember His faithfulness and the promises He has made to them. In Deuteronomy 8:2, God says, "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not." God wanted the Israelites to remember their journey in the wilderness and how He provided for them, even in the midst of their disobedience. Similarly, in our own lives, it is important to remember God's faithfulness and provision, especially in times of trials and hardships.
The act of placing the stones as a memorial also serves as a reminder of the importance of passing down stories of God's faithfulness to future generations. In verse 6, Joshua says, "That this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, 'What do these stones mean to you?'" This shows that the stones were not only meant for the current generation but also for future generations to remember and pass down the stories of God's faithfulness. It is our responsibility as believers to pass down the stories of God's faithfulness to the next generation, so they may also know and trust in His promises.
Another important theme in Joshua chapter 4 is obedience to God's commands. In verse 2, God commands Joshua to have 12 men take stones from the Jordan River and place them on the shore. In verse 8, Joshua commands the 12 men to do as God had commanded. The Israelites could have easily questioned or disobeyed Joshua's instructions, but they chose to obey without hesitation. This shows their faith and trust in God's commands and their willingness to follow Him.
Similarly, as believers, it is important for us to obey God's commands, even if they may seem difficult or illogical. In John 14:15, Jesus says, "If you love Me, keep My commandments." Obedience to God's commands is a demonstration of our love for Him and our trust in His plan for our lives. It is also a way for us to show our faith in Him and His promises.
Furthermore, the act of placing the stones was not just a physical act of obedience, but it also had a spiritual significance. The stones were placed as a reminder of God's faithfulness and provision, but they also symbolized the Israelites' obedience to God's command to enter into the Promised Land. This act of obedience marked the end of the Israelites' wandering in the wilderness and the beginning of God's fulfillment of His promise to bring them into the Promised Land.
The final theme in Joshua chapter 4 is the importance of faith. The Israelites had to have faith in God's promises and follow Him into the unknown. They had to trust that He would provide for them and lead them into the Promised Land. In verse 7, God says, "The Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over." This was a reminder for the Israelites of God's faithfulness and power, and it required them to have faith in Him.
Similarly, as believers, we are called to have faith in God's promises and trust in His plan for our lives. In Hebrews 11:1, it says, "Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." Faith requires us to trust in God even when we cannot see the outcome or understand His plan. Just as the Israelites had to trust in God's promise to bring them into the Promised Land, we must trust in God's promises and have faith that He will fulfill them in His perfect timing.
The placing of the stones also serves as a reminder for us to have faith in God's faithfulness and provision in our own lives. Just as the Israelites were able to look back at the stones and remember God's faithfulness, we too can look back at our own lives and see how God has been faithful and provided for us. This can give us the faith and confidence to trust in Him for our present and future needs.
Joshua chapter 4 holds several significant meanings for believers today. Firstly, it serves as a reminder for us to remember God's faithfulness and provision in our lives. Just as the Israelites placed the stones as a memorial, we too should have physical reminders of God's faithfulness in our lives. This can be through journaling, keeping a gratitude list, or having physical objects that represent God's faithfulness to us.
Secondly, this chapter emphasizes the importance of obedience to God's commands. The Israelites obeyed without hesitation, even when it may have seemed difficult or illogical. As believers, we are called to obey God's commands, even when they may not make sense to us. This shows our trust in God and our willingness to follow Him wherever He may lead us.
Lastly, this chapter highlights the importance of faith in God's promises and His faithfulness. Just as the Israelites had to have faith in God's promise to bring them into the Promised Land, we too must have faith in God's promises and trust that He will fulfill them in His perfect timing. This chapter serves as a reminder for us to have faith in God's faithfulness and provision in our own lives.
In conclusion, Joshua chapter 4 is a significant chapter in the Bible that holds important lessons for believers today. It reminds us to remember God's faithfulness, obey His commands, and have faith in His promises and provision. Just as the Israelites crossed the Jordan River and entered into the Promised Land, may we too have the faith and obedience to follow God into the unknown and experience His faithfulness and provision in our lives.
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