REMEMBER NOT TO FORGET
REVIEW OF ISRAELS HISTORY
Under Moses Leadership – Lead out of Slavery
Joshua becomes the leader of Israel – Led into the Promised Land
1. Twelve Stones of : Trusting God in the Land
1 After the entire nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the LORD spoke to Joshua: 2 “Choose twelve men from the people, one man for each tribe, 3 “and command them: Take twelve stones from this place in the middle of the Jordan where the priests are standing, carry them with you, and set them down at the place where you spend the night.”
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4 So Joshua summoned the twelve men he had selected from the Israelites, one man for each tribe,5 and said to them, “Go across to the ark of the LORD your God in the middle of the Jordan. Each of you lift a stone onto his shoulder, one for each of the Israelite tribes, 6 “so that this will be a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean to you? ‘
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7 “You should tell them, ‘The water of the Jordan was cut off in front of the ark of the LORD’s covenant. When it crossed the Jordan, the Jordan’s water was cut off.’ Therefore these stones will always be a memorial for the Israelites.” 8 The Israelites did just as Joshua had commanded them. The twelve men took stones from the middle of the Jordan, one for each of the Israelite tribes, just as the LORD had told Joshua. They carried them to the camp and set them down there. 9 Joshua also set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant were standing. The stones are still there today.
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Psalm 103:1-2 CSB – 1 My soul, bless the LORD, and all that is within me, bless his holy name. 2 My soul, bless the LORD, and do not forget all his benefits.
2. Over: The Nation, the Priests, and the Jordan
10 The priests carrying the ark continued standing in the middle of the Jordan until everything was completed that the LORD had commanded Joshua to tell the people, in keeping with all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people hurried across, 11 and after everyone had finished crossing, the priests with the ark of the LORD crossed in the sight of the people.
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12 The Reubenites, Gadites, and half the tribe of Manasseh went in battle formation in front of the Israelites, as Moses had instructed them. 13 About forty thousand equipped for war crossed to the plains of Jericho in the LORD’s presence. 14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they revered him throughout his life, as they had revered Moses.
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15 The LORD told Joshua, 16 “Command the priests who carry the ark of the testimony to come up from the Jordan.” 17 So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18 When the priests carrying the ark of the LORD’s covenant came up from the middle of the Jordan, and their feet stepped out on solid ground, the water of the Jordan resumed its course, flowing over all the banks as before.
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Joshua 3:13 CSB – 13 “When the feet of the priests who carry the ark of the LORD, the Lord of the whole earth, come to rest in the Jordan’s water, its water will be cut off. The water flowing downstream will stand up in a mass.”
3. Stones of Remembrance and God’s
19 The people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month and camped at Gilgal on the eastern limits of Jericho. 20 Then Joshua set up in Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken from the Jordan,
21 and he said to the Israelites, “In the future, when your children ask their fathers, ‘What is the meaning of these stones? ‘ 22 “you should tell your children, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 “For the LORD your God dried up the water of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, just as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up before us until we had crossed over. 24 “This is so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD’s hand is strong, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God.”
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REMEMBER NOT TO FORGET
Community Life Group Questions
1. (Joshua 4:1-3) Why do you think God instructed the Israelites to set up memorial stones after crossing the Jordan? How can creating memorials help us in our walk with God today?
2. (Joshua 4:6-7, 21-22) The memorial stones are meant to spark questions from future generations. Why is it important to share stories of God’s faithfulness with the next generation?
3. (Joshua 4:14) God exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel. How did Joshua’s obedience and leadership reflect his faith in God? What qualities made Joshua a trustworthy leader in this moment?
4.(Joshua 4:24) The miracle of the Jordan crossing was so that “all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD’s hand is strong.” How can our lives be a testimony to others of God’s power and faithfulness?
How can we pray for you?