Reasons to Remember

Bible Book: Joshua 4 : 23-24

Subject: Remembering; Blessings of God; Gratitude; Forgetfulness

Introduction

Dr. Robert J. Morgan explains, “God wants us to remember what He’s done for us in the past. His blessings are encouragements in present trials. His faithfulness in earlier days is a harbinger of his care now and in the future. Our help in ages past is our hope for years to come.”1 Remember the events recorded in our text are forty years after the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea. Remember the children of Israel crossed the Red Sea to escape the bondage of Egypt and they crossed the Jordan River to enter the blessing of Canaan. Joshua 4:1-22 reads, “And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: ‘Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them: ‘Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 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. So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life. Then the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying, ‘Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.’ Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, ‘Come up from the Jordan.’ And it came to pass, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord had come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before. Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: ‘When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land.’”

Joshua 4:7b reads, “And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” The word translated “memorial” means “to remember.” Deuteronomy 6:10-12 reads, “So it shall be, when the Lord your God brings you into the land of which He swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, to give you large and beautiful cities which you did not build, houses full of all good things, which you did not fill, hewn-out wells which you did not dig, vineyards and olive trees which you did not plant—when you have eaten and are full— then beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage.”

Joshua 4:23-24 reads, “For 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, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”

When God dried up the Jordan River to allow the Israelites to cross over into Canaan, there are at least three reasons to remember.

I. The first reason to remember involves the will of the Lord.

Joshua 4:23 reads, “For 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.”

Dr. Clarence E. Mason, Jr., (1904-1985) explains, “The Jordan is at flood tide, overflowing not only the lower river channel, but the rather extensive jungle-like underbrush area before one comes to the lip of the depression through which the Jordan runs from the Sea of Galilee to the Dead Sea (3:15; 4:18). So the miracle of stopping the waters was particularly spectacular. Without it, Israel could not have passed over. . . .”2

God removed an overwhelming obstacle. Dr. Donald K. Campbell shares the following:

“How could this sensational event occur? Many insist that this was no miracle since the event can be explained as a natural phenomenon. They point out that on December 8, 1267 an earthquake caused the high banks of the Jordan to collapse near Tell ed-Damiyeh, damming the river for about 10 hours. On July 11, 1927 another earthquake near the same location blocked the river for 21 hours. Of course these stoppages did not occur during flood season. Admittedly God could have employed natural causes such as an earthquake and a landslide and the timing would have still made it a miraculous intervention. But does the biblical text allow for such an interpretation of this event?

Considering all the factors involved it seems best to view this occurrence as a special act of God brought about in a way unknown to man. Many supernatural elements were brought together: (1) The event came to pass as predicted (3:13, 15). (2) The timing was exact (v. 15). (3) The event took place when the river was at flood stage (v. 15). (4) The wall of water was held in place for many hours, possibly an entire day (v. 16). (5) The soft, wet river bottom became dry at once (v. 17). (6) The water returned immediately as soon as the people had crossed over and the priests came up out of the river (4:18).”3

II. The second reason to remember involves the hand of the Lord.

Joshua 4:23-24a reads, “For 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, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty. . . .” Isaiah 59:1a reads, “Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, That it cannot save. . . .” 1 Chronicles 29:10-13 reads, “Therefore David blessed the Lord before all the assembly; and David said: ‘Blessed are You, Lord God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty;

For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O Lord, And You are exalted as head over all. Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. ‘Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.”

Genesis 12:1-3 reads, “Now the Lord had said to Abram: ‘Get out of your country,

From your family And from your father’s house, To a land that I will show you. I will make you a great nation; I will bless you And make your name great; And you shall be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, And I will curse him who curses you; And in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed.’”

Exodus 19:5 reads, “Now therefore, if you will indeed obey My voice and keep My covenant, then you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people; for all the earth is Mine.”

Isaiah 49:6 reads, “Indeed He says, ‘It is too small a thing that You should be My Servant

To raise up the tribes of Jacob, And to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also give You as a light to the Gentiles, That You should be My salvation to the ends of the earth.’” Acts 13:47 reads, “For so the Lord has commanded us: ‘I have set you as a light to the Gentiles, That you should be for salvation to the ends of the earth.’”

God revealed an overarching objective. Deuteronomy 4:35 reads, “To you it was shown, that you might know that the Lord Himself is God; there is none other besides Him.” With privilege comes responsibility. Here are some examples of making the true God known. Exodus 8:8-11 reads, “Then Pharaoh called for Moses and Aaron, and said, ‘Entreat the Lord that He may take away the frogs from me and from my people; and I will let the people go, that they may sacrifice to the Lord.’ And Moses said to Pharaoh, ‘Accept the honor of saying when I shall intercede for you, for your servants, and for your people, to destroy the frogs from you and your houses, that they may remain in the river only.’ So he said, ‘Tomorrow.’ And he said, ‘Let it be according to your word, that you may know that there is no one like the Lord our God. And the frogs shall depart from you, from your houses, from your servants, and from your people. They shall remain in the river only.’” 1 Kings 8:56-61 reads, “Blessed be the Lord, who has given rest to His people Israel, according to all that He promised. There has not failed one word of all His good promise, which He promised through His servant Moses. May the Lord our God be with us, as He was with our fathers. May He not leave us nor forsake us, that He may incline our hearts to Himself, to walk in all His ways, and to keep His commandments and His statutes and His judgments, which He commanded our fathers. And may these words of mine, with which I have made supplication before the Lord, be near the Lord our God day and night, that He may maintain the cause of His servant and the cause of His people Israel, as each day may require, that all the peoples of the earth may know that the Lord is God; there is no other. Let your heart therefore be loyal to the Lord our God, to walk in His statutes and keep His commandments, as at this day.” 2 Kings 19:17-19 reads, “Truly, Lord, the kings of Assyria have laid waste the nations and their lands, and have cast their gods into the fire; for they were not gods, but the work of men’s hands—wood and stone. Therefore they destroyed them. Now therefore, O Lord our God, I pray, save us from his hand, that all the kingdoms of the earth may know that You are the Lord God, You alone.”

III. The third reason to remember involves the fear of the Lord.

Dr. Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., explains, “The word fear in this context did not refer to a certain level of fright in the face of God's power; it more directly referred to coming to trust him. Fear may start with awe and amazement, but the scriptural use of the word, 'fear,' wants it to go on to express itself in an attitude of trust that leads to complete obedience to the One who is above all other beings, lords, and sovereigns.”4

God required an overflowing obedience. Oswald Chambers (1874-1917) writes, “One step forward in obedience is worth years of study about it.”5 Dr. Andrew Alexander Bonar (1810-1892) writes, “It is not the importance of the thing, but the majesty of the Lawgiver, that is to be the standard of obedience. . . . Some, indeed, might reckon such minute and arbitrary rules as these as trifling. But the principle involved in obedience or disobedience was none other than the same principle which was tried in Eden at the foot of the forbidden tree. It is really this: Is the Lord to be obeyed in all things whatsoever He commands? Is He a holy Lawgiver? Are His creatures bound to give implicit assent to His will?”6

Joshua 4:24b reads, “. . . that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” This is reminds us of Deuteronomy 6:13a, “You shall fear the LORD your God and serve Him. . . .” Dr. Adrian Rogers (1931-2005) explains, “Godly fear, though, may be better understood as profound reverence. This reverence is our response to God's power (Joshua 4:23-24), goodness (1 Samuel 12:24), judgment (Revelation 14:7), and forgiveness (Psalm 130:4). Godly fear is also constructive, leading to wisdom (Proverbs 1:7), purity (Psalm 19:9), and satisfaction (Proverbs 14:27).

At other times fear implies dread, dismay or anxiety. This fear results from, among other things, disobedience (Genesis 3:10), suspicion (Acts 9:26), or even death (Hebrews 2:15). This type of fear is destructive, leading to demoralization (1 Samuel 13:5-8) and paralysis (Matthew 28:4).”7 Dr. Frederick Edward Marsh (1858-1931) explains, “A godly fear is a stimulus to faith, an incentive to love, and a prevention of failure.”8

Conclusion

Deuteronomy 11:31 reads, “For you will cross over the Jordan and go in to possess the land which the Lord your God is giving you, and you will possess it and dwell in it.” Deuteronomy 12:10 reads, “But when you cross over the Jordan and dwell in the land which the Lord your God is giving you to inherit, and He gives you rest from all your enemies round about, so that you dwell in safety.” Deuteronomy 27:2-3 reads, “And it shall be, on the day when you cross over the Jordan to the land which the Lord your God is giving you, that you shall set up for yourselves large stones, and whitewash them with lime. You shall write on them all the words of this law, when you have crossed over, that you may enter the land which the Lord your God is giving you, ‘a land flowing with milk and honey,’ just as the Lord God of your fathers promised you.”

The Book of Ephesians is the New Testament counterpart to the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament. The Book of Joshua records how the children of Israel possessed their possession of a physical land and the Book of Ephesians shares how believers are to possess their spiritual land, living in the “fulness of Christ” (Ephesians 4:13). We must fight according to God’s plan to possess our possession (Ephesians 6:10-20).

Have you crossed the Red Sea? Have you escaped the bondage of Egypt in a spiritual sense? Have you crossed the Jordan River? Have you entered the blessing of Canaan in a spiritual sense? If you have yet to cross the Jordan River and wonder why you should; you need to know the will of the Lord, the hand of the Lord, and the fear of the Lord, are some good reasons to remember.

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1Robert J. Morgan, All to Jesus (Nashville, TN: B&H Publishing Group, 2012), 99.

2Clarence E. Mason, Jr., “His Specialty: Miracles!” Sermon Notes (Joshua 4:15-24).

4Walter C. Kaiser, Jr., Mission in the Old Testament: Israel as a Light to the Nations (Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Books, 2012), 20.

5Our Daily Bread, “What Will I Do?” (James 1:22) February 3, 2010, Oswald Chambers (Grand Rapids, MI: Our Daily Bread Ministries, 2010), Accessed: 10/31/17 https://odb.org/2010/02/03/what-will-i-do/ .

6Andrew Alexander Bonar, A Commentary on the Book of Leviticus: Expository and Practical, with Critical Notes (London: James Nisbet, 1852), 211, 212.

7Adrian Rogers, “Why Should I Fear God?” Accessed: 10/31/17 http://www.christianity.com/theology/theological-faq/why-should-i-fear-god-11531786.html .

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Dr. Franklin L. Kirksey, pastor First Baptist Church of Spanish Fort 30775 Jay Drive Spanish Fort, Alabama 36527

Author of Don’t Miss the Revival! Messages for Revival and Spiritual Awakening from Isaiah and

Sound Biblical Preaching: Giving the Bible a Voice [Both available on Amazon.com in hardcover, paperback and eBook]