Chs. 3-4: Stones of Memory

(Guest columnist: Wini Hoffner)

Today we are covering chapters 3 & 4 of Joshua. These chapters contain two principles continued from chapter 1:

• That God affirms his appointed leader
• That God is present with those who serve him in faith and obedience.

Joshua and the Israelites are encamped at Shittim on the plains of Moab by the Jordan across from Jericho. The Jordan River is the boundary to the Promised Land. Shittim is their final encampment before they enter the land. They have been there since Numbers 33 where Moses gave them his final instructions before they would enter the land.

In Joshua 3 & 4 Israel crosses over the Jordan River and steps into the land that was their inheritance as promised by God to their father, Abraham.

It was a miraculous crossing, paralleling the crossing of the Red Sea.

The timing of the crossing is what made it a miracle. From v. 15 we see that it was at the time of the spring harvest (April/May) and so the river was at flood stage due to the melting of the snows of Mt. Hermon. The Jordan could have been forded at other times of the year, but not now. God chose a most inopportune time to lead the Israelites across the Jordan.

Chapter 3 begins with instructions by Joshua regarding the crossing and concludes with the words: “all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.” (3:17).

Chapter 4 enlarges upon some of the details of the crossing and puts particular emphasis on the “stones of remembrance”.

I. The Instructions

Josh. 3:1 Early in the morning Joshua and all the Israelites set out from Shittim and went to the Jordan, where they camped before crossing over.

Before they begin the crossing instructions are given:

• (vv. 2-4)The officers who had been appointed back in chapter one instruct the people, telling them that when the priests bearing the ark set out, they are to follow them.
• (v.5) Joshua instructs the people, telling them to consecrate themselves. They are about to embark on the Lord’s work.
• (v.6) Joshua instructs the priests that they are to take up the ark and lead the way.
• (v.8) The Lord instructs Joshua to “Tell the priests who carry the ark of the covenant: ‘When you reach the edge of the Jordan’s waters, go and stand in the river.’”

II. The Ark

The ark is mentioned 8 times in this chapter. It leads the way. The people are told to follow it (v.2); The priests are told to take it up and lead the way with it (v.6); three times we are told (vv. 8, 11, 14) that the ark entered the river first; and finally, that it remained in the middle of the river until all of Israel had crossed over (v. 17).

In this chapter it is called the “ark of the covenant”, and the “ark of the Lord of all the earth”.

What is the significance of the role of the ark in this miracle?

• It was the Lord’s throne. The Lord himself went into the river first and led the way.
• It contained God’s words engraved on the stone tablets. The divine word that would guide them in their battles and daily lives in the Promised Land.
• It is called the “ark of the covenant”...God, in this act, is being faithful to his promise of a land to Abraham.
• It is called the “ark of the Lord of all the earth”. This land belongs to him. It is his to give to Israel.

What is the significance of the priests with the ark standing in the middle of the river till all Israel crossed over?

(“the Lord himself remained in the place of danger until all Israel had crossed the Jordan.") NIV Study Bible note on v. 17.

III. The Miracle

In Josh. 3:5 we read: Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the LORD will do amazing things among you.”

“Amazing things”. The purpose of this “amazing thing” is 3-fold.

1. In v. 10 God said he would certainly drive out all the inhabitants of the land. And Joshua has said to the people: “This is how you will know...” This “amazing thing” that is about to occur will show Israel that they can trust God’s guarantee. The ark is the symbol that God, the Lord and ruler of the land, will go before them as they enter the land.
2. This “amazing thing” will demonstrate to the people who live on the other side of the Jordan that Israel’s God is like no other god. Indeed, the people are already aware, as Rahab confessed in 2:9-10.
3. And finally, this “amazing thing” will once again affirm Joshua as God’s chosen successor to Moses.

Josh. 3:7 And the LORD said to Joshua, “Today I will begin to exalt you in the eyes of all Israel, so they may know that I am with you as I was with Moses.”

The Lord uses the dramatic event of the crossing of the Jordan, so similar to the crossing of the Red Sea, to demonstrate Joshua’s equal standing with Moses.

IV. The Stones of Remembrance

Twice in these 2 chapters we are told that the whole nation crossed the Jordan and entered the land:

Josh. 3:17 The priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD stood firm on dry ground in the middle of the Jordan, while all Israel passed by until the whole nation had completed the crossing on dry ground.
Josh. 4:1 ¶ When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD said ...

All of Israel is united in this venture, including the Transjordanian tribes. All are following God’s command, all have embraced Joshua’s leadership. The unity of the whole nation was essential.

Now that they have successfully crossed into Canaan, in vv. 4-8 Joshua has the people appoint 12 men, one from each tribe to collect 12 stones rom the middle of the Jordan River and carry them to their new camp on the west side of the Jordan at Gilgal. Joshua then sets the stones up as a monument (v.9)

What is the purpose of these stones, of this monument?

Verses 6-7 and 21-23 tell us that they were to serve as a sign so that when their children see these stones and ask what they mean they are to tell them:
Josh. 4:7 “tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

This “amazing thing” was not just for the current generation; it was for all of Israel to remember for all time (just as Passover would always remind Israel of the Red Sea Crossing and their deliverance from bondage, and just as the Lord’s Supper always reminds us of our deliverance from sin and death through our Lord’s death and resurrection).

Joshua told the representatives of the 12 tribes to collect stones from the middle of the Jordan (v.5).

Why stones from the middle of the Jordan? Why not from the nearby bank? The middle of the Jordan is the place where the priests stood with the ark while the people were crossing - the place where God held back the waters and protected them during the entire crossing.

V. Crossing details

Chapter 3 gave the instructions for the crossing and then summarized the crossing in the last 3 verses. In chapter 4, in addition to the details regarding the stones of remembrance we have the details of the crossing laid out before us in layer after layer, with emphasis again on the ark and the priests’ role.

In v. 10 we are told that the priests and the ark were to remain in the middle of the Jordan “until everything the LORD had commanded Joshua was done by the people, just as Moses had directed Joshua. The people hurried over...”

In v. 11 we read that after crossing, the people watched as the priests bearing the ark come up out of the river.

In vv. 15-17 we see that the priests come up out of the Jordan in obedience to Joshua’s verbal command just as they entered the river at the command of Joshua in 3:8.

This authenticates Joshua’s leadership in the eyes of the people. So we read:

Josh. 4:14 That day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.

V. Preparing for Battle

Notice that it is the Transjordanian tribes that lead the way as the nation enters Canaan.

Josh. 4:12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them.
Josh. 4:13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the LORD to the plains of Jericho for war.

They are entering the land that God had promised to their fathers, but it is nonetheless enemy territory. And so they come prepared to do battle. They have come in obedience to the Lord’s commands and so they can expect that he will fight for them.

Chapter 3 began with Israel camped at Shittim on the plains of Moab on the east side of the Jordan. Chapter 4 ends with them camped across the river at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. God has done an “amazing thing” and brought them into the Promised Land. Their days of desert wandering are over.

Conclusion

Finally, this “amazing thing” was not meant just to remind Israel that her God is awesome and powerful; it was also meant as a testimony for the whole world.

Josh. 4:24 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.

Application

Many times in the Bible we see Israel reviewing her past history, remembering God’s power and God’s work in their lives. These past victories would encourage them for the present and renew their trust in God. That was the purpose for these “stones of remembrance”. They would encourage Israel in the face of the battles ahead, both immediately and far into the future.

What “stones of remembrance” do you have in your life? Times that you can look back upon where God empowered you to overcome, where you were strongly aware of his presence, where he did “amazing things” in your life that kept you and upheld you?

As you and I face the challenges, difficulties, and tragedies that seek to overwhelm us, we should look back on those “stones of remembrance” and be reminded that our faithful God is still present with us and will see us through.