Grasp the Gospel — Bible Comprehension Quizzes

Joshua 4 Devotional

Stones That Tell the Story

“He did this so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, and so that you may always fear the LORD your God.””Joshua 4:24 (BSB)

Before the river flows again, God has Israel carry twelve stones from the riverbed where the priests stood, one for each tribe (4:2-3). The stones are set up at Gilgal for a purpose. One day children will ask what they mean, and their parents are to tell them that the LORD dried up the Jordan just as he dried up the Red Sea (4:6-7, 21-23). Faith is handed on through a story about what God has done.

The chapter also gives a wider reason. God did this so that all the peoples of the earth would know how mighty his hand is, and so that Israel would fear him always (4:24). It was a witness to the nations and a lesson for the next generation. The psalmist resolves not to hide the LORD's wonders from the children but to declare them to those who come after (Psalm 78:4). The works of God in your own life are worth naming out loud, for the sake of whoever comes after you.

To think about: What has God done for you that you could tell someone in the next generation this week?

About Joshua 4: Twelve Memorial Stones from the Jordan

Twelve men, one per tribe, carry stones from the riverbed where the priests stood with the ark, and Joshua sets up twelve more in the river. The LORD honors Joshua before Israel, the river returns once the priests step out, and the stones at Gilgal are to remind future children of the crossing.

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