Memorials

Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the LORD had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day. – Joshua 4.7-9

Crossing the Jordan was a major event. It was one of those times that even people who don’t put stuff on Facebook would have put on Facebook, maybe even with a selfie. It’s the kind of thing that they would have wanted a record of to look back at in the future.

People do that with all kinds of silly stuff – but it is more important to remember the important stuff instead. All over the world and for a long, long time people have been building monuments or statues or buildings or shrines to remember important people of important events in their history.

 Israel was no different. God wanted His people to remember what He had done for them in the Wilderness and in parting the Jordan River. He told them to make a memorial of what He had done. When their children asked what the stones were there for they could tell them about the great work God had done.

I think memorials are a good idea for us as well. We need to remember the great things God does for us and even record them so that we can look back and remember them during the trials. It might be photos or journal entries or videos or even Facebook posts when God does great things for us. Our memories are short so it is good to do something to help us remember the good when the bad comes.