Joshua 4:1-24 – Understand backward but live forward

One strategy to live a progressive life is to understand it backward while living it forward. What do we mean by that? It simply means that we constantly look back at what God had helped us through in our past and use what we have learned to realign and develop a future walking, in alignment with God. This is the purpose of the two heaps of memorial stones recorded for our instruction in Joshua 4.

Remember in the last chapter in verse 12, Joshua stationed twelve men, one from each tribe but we were not told what their function was. Here in Joshua 4, we get a clearer picture of what their assignments were. Joshua knew that when the feet of the Ark bearing priests stepped into the Jordan, the water that flowed in that river would stand in one heap, creating a dry ground for the people to cross into Canaan. These twelve men were supposed to pick up a stone each to build a memorial at the West bank of Jordan. That was exactly what they did. Obediently, they picked up a stone each and carried it to the resting place and built a memorial on that day. This memorial stood at Gilgal.

Then in verse 9, we are told that Joshua himself built a memorial in the riverbed of Jordan with twelve stones. This would be the second memorial. These two heaps of twelve rocks, each stood in their places to remind the Israelites of God’s goodness to them. The first heap erected in Canaan would remind the subsequent generations that God had faithfully by His power acted on their behalf and brought them victoriously into the promised land. The second heap was to remind them that it was their faith in God that had enabled them to collaborate with Him and brought them safely over Jordan to experience the victory.  

The first pile would be a visible sign and it would prompt questions from future generations. It would stand to show them that the God they worship is a faithful God. The second pile would be covered by the water of Jordan, to remind them that their past was buried in the midst of the sea. It was something hidden from their physical eye but not God’s. It will be a monument to their faith in God. It would help them in the future when faced with tough circumstances, that they would be challenged to have faith and trust in God to act on their behalf again.

What are some of the things that God had seen us through that we have put on record so that we can go back every now and then to be reminded of God’s faithfulness? What are some things that we may not make known to others but can be a constant reminder to us that we need to have faith in God? Be challenged to keep some experiences as a memento to remind us of God’s faithfulness. Do have a private journal where we record all the encounters with God, where we can constantly refer to and find strength in trying circumstances.