Joshua 4

God made a promise to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. After centuries of suffering and growing, Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry land. They were home. This was a moment to remember.

Memory is important to the life of faith. The Lord brought the tribes that came from the sons of Jacob out of Egypt. He was with them through forty years in the wilderness. Now He brought them across the Jordan River by His own mighty hand.

He did this at the time of the Passover. Passover and Firstfruits are in the first cluster of festivals in the Old Testament ceremonial calendar. Jesus died in connection with Passover and He rose again on the third day, the day of Firstfruits.

These great events, the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. have become memorial stones for us in every Sunday worship service over all these centuries since they first took place. When we gather together on the first day of the week to break bread at the Lord's Table (see Acts 20:7), we remember the Lord's death until He comes. We worship on Sunday because that is the day of the week when Jesus rose from the dead.

These are such important memorial stones for us that we do not remember them only once a year. We celebrate them every week.

It is not easy to sort through exactly what happened at the Jordan River with the memorial that God commanded Israel to make. Twelve stones small enough for each tribal leader to carry by himself on the shoulder were taken from the dry river bottom of the Jordan, and eventually placed on the Israel side of the river. They were a sign of the miracle that the whole nation had experienced and a reminder of the greatness of God.

This much is very clear: On that day the Lord exalted Joshua. Many years later, at the same time of year, God lifted up His Son Jesus through His death and resurrection. The church needs to remember that.

The waters of death have been dried up for us in the death of Jesus. We pass over on dry ground. We have eternal life. When we forget or minimize this message, we lose our strength for the battle of love.

This Joshua, His death, and His resurrection have become our message to all the peoples of the earth. Millions now know that the hand of the Lord is mighty. They have received the forgiveness of sins, and they will worship the Lord forever.