Date: October 10th, 2010
Speaker: Pastor Kevin Snyder
Title: What Do These Stones Mean?
Text: Joshua 3,4
INTRODUCTION
As you entered the sanctuary today you were instructed to deliberately pick up a stone. Perhaps you wondered as you sat down “What do these stones mean?”
Biblical Story
- In Joshua 3 & 4 we read about the Hebrew people finally crossing over the Jordan into the Promised Land. The Lord had instructed Joshua how it was to be done.
- The priests were to take up the ark of the covenant (symbol of God’s presence)and carry it ahead of the people. They were to lead the way.
- The Lord told him that when the priest’s feet hit the water at the edge of the Jordan, which was at flood stage, the waters would stop flowing.
- The priests were to stand in the middle of the Jordan until all the people crossed over. They did that.
- Joshua went to the middle of the Jordan and had 12 stones picked up out of the river bed and had them carried to the camp on the other side.
- As soon as the priests came up out of the water the river started flowing again at flood stage.
Listen to this:
Joshua 4:20 – 5:1
And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 21 He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea?d? when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
5 Now when all the Amorite kings west of the Jordan and all the Canaanite kings along the coast heard how the Lord had dried up the Jordan before the Israelites until we had crossed over, their hearts melted and they no longer had the courage to face the Israelites.
WHAT DID THESE STONES MEAN?
a. Sign Of God’s Faithfulness & Presence
Interesting that when the people were delivered out of Egypt the 1st act of deliverance with Moses was the parting of the Red Sea.
Here in Joshua we hear God repeatedly saying to Joshua that he will be with him just as he had been with Moses. God showed his presence with Moses when he held out his staff and the Red Sea part.
God shows his presence with Joshua with another parting of the waters. This time with the Jordan. The first showed God’s power to deliver them from their past. Delivers them from the old enemy behind them in Egypt.
This 2nd shows them God’s power to give them confidence that they can defeat the enemy ahead of them. They can push back the darkness. They can be victorious for the Lord is with them.
The significance of this didn’t get lost on Joshua or the people.
v. 23
The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea?d? when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
These stones told a story. They told a story of God’s presence, faithfulness & power. “Israel crossed on dry ground.”
b. A Memorial
When you are travelling you have come along signs that speak of special historical sites. Something significant that happened at this location in the past. We have as a country found value in preserving those historical landmarks. It ties us to our history. It reminds us where we have come from.
i.e.
Houston pizza – Battleford trail – wagon ruts
Reminds us of the barrenness of this land. Causes us to imagine what it would have been like to harness up the horses and load up the family and bounce your way to church this morning.
Maybe you have a Bible that was given you when you came to Christ. And in the front of it you wrote the date and the occasion – you set up some stones.
Note:the focus
In verses 23 – 24..The focus is not on what they did. The focus is on what God did for them.
- “For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan…”
- “The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea…”
- v. 24 – “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know…
The stones were to bring them back and remind them of what God did for them.
Joshua set up these rocks to remember whose they were. What God did for them. How God dried up the Jordan.
In Canada since the earliest days of development the development our leaders have attempted to set up some stones. In early days they tied it to specific events.
In early days it was given different days and meanings:
Lower Canada
Date of Observance |
Reasons |
Thursday, 10 Jan. 1799 |
In signal victory over our enemy and for the manifold and |
Thursday, 12 Aug. 1802 |
For God's mercies |
Thursday, 21 Apr. 1814 |
For glorious victories over our enemies |
Tuesday, 13 Sept. 1814 |
End of sanguinary contest in Europe and to give the Dominions blessings of Peace |
Thursday, 6 Apr. 1815 |
End of the war with the United States of America and |
Tuesday, 21 May 1816 |
End of war between Great Britain and France |
Wednesday, 6 Feb. 1833 |
Cessation of cholera |
Wednesday, 1 Nov. 1834 |
End of quarantine of ships at Grosse Isle |
Monday, 26 Feb. 1838 |
For the termination of the Rebellion |
Upper Canada
Date of Observance |
Reasons |
Tuesday, 18 June 1816 |
End of war between Great Britain and France |
Thursday, 14 Feb. 1833 |
To continue God's mercies |
Thursday, 30 Oct. 1834 |
To continue God's mercies |
|
|
Province Of Canada
Date of Observance |
Reasons |
Thursday, 3 Jan. 1850 |
For God's mercies and cessation of grievous disease |
Wednesday, 4 June 1856 |
For restoration of Peace with Russia |
Thursday, 3 Nov. 1859 |
For abundant harvest and continuation of Peace |
Thursday, 6 Dec. 1860 |
For God's mercies |
Wednesday, 11 Nov. 1863 |
For abundant harvest and continuation of Peace |
Wednesday, 18 Oct. 1865 |
For God's mercies |
Confederation
Date of Observance |
Reasons |
Monday, 15 April 1872 |
For restoration to health of H.R.H. the Prince of Wales |
Thursday, 6 Nov. 1879 |
Blessings of an abundant harvest |
Wednesday, 3 Nov. 1880 |
Blessings of an abundant harvest |
Thursday, 20 Oct. 1881 |
Blessings of an abundant harvest |
Thursday, 9 Nov. 1882 |
Blessings of an abundant harvest |
Thursday, 8 Nov. 1883 |
Blessings of an abundant harvest |
Thursday, 6 Nov. 1884 |
Blessings of an abundant harvest |
It wasn’t until 1957 when the Cdn Parliament established a fixed holiday for the purpose of remembering & being thankful.
On January 31, 1957, the Canadian Parliament proclaimed:
|
A Day of General Thanksgiving to Almighty God for the bountiful harvest with which Canada has been blessed … to be observed on the 2nd Monday in October. |
This day is like coming across those stones and asking “What does this day mean?
It is a day to focus on what God has done for us.
APPLICATION
Let’s come back to the stones you have in your hands and ask:
What could these stones mean to you personally?
- They could mean nothing. We could walk right on by and just see a pile of stones…not even reflect on what they mean
- Or this could be our little memorial. A reminder of what God has done.
I want you to reflect back on your year.
- Where have you witnessed God’s activity in your life?
- Where has God shown his faithfulness?
- His presence?
- His power?
What do you need to remember?
a. God’s blessing
We had a rain-filled year, colder, not much sunshine…but look around the world. Remember Pakistan, China & all the floods, death, homelessness…it seems kind of cheap & short-sighted to complain.
b. Health
You are still here and on right side of the grass. Past week I did 2 funerals for families who can’t say that….lost loved ones.
Ever since our accident I try to remind myself that everyday I have is a gift…It could have been over 16 years ago for me, my wife…I have had 16 years of ministry, 16 more years with my wife and family… I have a lot to be thankful for
Remember the quote: “I complained I had sore feet until I saw aman who had no legs.”
c. Spiritual Blessings
- What has God done in your life?
- Where were you a year ago?
This has been an exciting year. Our venture in downtown with the Center has been exciting to see God’s activity…we have had a front row seat in seeing God’s activity in some wonderful ways…all the people who have donated to this project.
I have seen how God has blessed our church this past year. We have seen people touched, lives changed, relationships restored, people drawn to East Side.
God has blessed us.
d. Relationships
Who has God brought into your life that you are thankful for? 6 or 7 young parents awaiting a new baby…a precious life being brought into your family.
- Maybe you have had a child or grandchild.
- Maybe God has brought into your life a friend, a partner, a mentor.
- Maybe God has brought back into your life a friend that was lost.
- Maybe you have been complaining about lack of friends and not cultivating or appreciating the ones right around you.
e. God’s Help
Maybe this year you saw some deep waters ahead of you…some things that looked like the Jordan River at flood stage. They looked daunting. You weren’t sure how you were going to make it through. Economic hardships, relationship fears, personal problems…you were worried and anxious.
And just like the Hebrew people when you got to the water you saw God had gone before you and with you…He parted the waters and today you stand on the other side of what last year looked so daunting.
Summary
Today is a day to set up some stones to remember. To reflect and take stock.We can rush through life, and fail to reflect and note God’s activity in our midst.
“Where’s Waldo?”
Look through a picture looking for Waldo. Miss him if not looking for him. But he is there.
Same thing can happen to us.
i.e.
I met with someone awhile back and gave them an exercise. They were going through some rough waters and found their minds being always pulled toward their problems which in turn filled them with worry and anxiety.
I encouraged them to do a little exercise which I offer to you.
You see, sometimes we get focused on seeing all the evil, and problems, and troubles around us.
We see it on the news.
We hear it at the coffee shop.
We experience it at work.
Times when we begin to wonder “Is God even active?”
I believe God is as active today as ever.
The problem is we aren’t tuned to see it.
We are on the wrong station.
Looking at the wrong things.
We can’t see God just like we can’t see Waldo because his activity gets lost in all the noise.
And to see his activity really is a choice, a discipline
Challenge you to look for God & his activity in the picture of your life. Look to find him…see him…
Give you a framework to use.
Something that can enable you to set up more stone memorials like Joshua because you see God’s activity. It’s like playing “I spy” The exercise is to try and spy God’s activity inyour world.
Where to Look For God
- Unusual linkage of events (coincidences or God-appointments?)
- Unexpected signs of God’s care
- Answers to prayer
- Things that somehow draw my attention back to God (words from Scripture, friend, thoughts, etc)
Encourage you to sift through your life, your days looking for God’s activity…playing “I Spy”
Wrap-Up
2 Exercises Today:
- Think what word could you write on this stone today that you are thankful to God for. What could this stone mean? What could it remind you of in terms of God’s activity, faithfulness, provision, help?
- At dinner table today…exercise
- Pass stone around and either have everyone write something that they are thankful for on the stone…and then have someone giving thanks before the meal for all those things.
- Pass the stone around or if everyone has one share what you wrote on the stone…and then give thanks.
Today, as you go let someone know: “What this stone means to you?”
It is ThanksgivingDay not thanks-feeling day…It is a day to give it, to express it.
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d Hebrew Yam Suph; that is, Sea of Reeds
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jos 4:20-5:1
d Hebrew Yam Suph; that is, Sea of Reeds
The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Jos 4:23-24