THE TWELVE STONES FROM THE JORDAN RIVER

PROCLAMATION

“And it came to pass, when all the people were clean passed over Jordan, that The Lord spake unto Joshua, saying, ‘Take you twelve men out of the people, out of every tribe a man, 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 carry them over with you, and leave them in the lodging place, where ye shall lodge this night.’ ’ ”  Joshua 4:1-3 (KJV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Joshua under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After the people had crossed the Jordan on dry ground, The Lord told Joshua to have twelve men, one from each of the twelve tribes, to each pick a large stone from the middle of the Jordan and carry it with them to the place where they would camp for the night.  The priests who were carrying the ark remained standing in the middle of the Jordan on dry ground until Joshua commanded them to come out.  When they came out and the last priest set his foot on the shore, the waters of the Jordan river returned to their place at flood stage. (Joshua 4:1-18)  Joshua set up the stones in a special arrangement to commemorate their crossing the Jordan, and to serve as a marker for future generations to question and to be told what The Lord God did for them on that day. (Joshua 4:19-24)

 

APPLICATION

The Lord will make a way.  Even when there appears to be no way, The Lord will make a way.  He made a way for the children of Israel to cross The Red Sea to flee from the Egyptians, (Exodus 14:21-22) and He made a way for them to cross the Jordan River to enter the promised land. (Joshua 3:17 to 4:1)  There is nothing too hard for The Lord God. (Jeremiah 32:17)  There is not problem that we have today that He cannot handle.  That pillar made of the twelve stones taken from the Jordan is there as a reminder to us today of the power of God.