Title: What Do These Stones Mean?
Text: Josh 4:1-24

I was trying to remember when I visited the traveling Vietnam wall at the SAC Museum. I think it was in April or May but can't remember. But it was a very moving experience. I don't know how many of you have seen it, but it is a replica of the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC. I'm sure it would be an even greater experience to visit the one in Washington.

The wall is simply that. It is a long very plain looking black wall, nothing elaborate or fancy. On that wall are the names of all the men and women who died in the Vietnam war. It is a memorial to their sacrifice for the cause of freedom. It serves to remind us that freedom comes with a very high price - the lives of sons, daughters, husbands wives, fathers, mothers and families whose lives were touched, shattered and lost on the battlefields of a country in Southeast Asia that many had never heard of. It keeps their memories alive. That's what a memorial is, something that serves to keep something in our minds.

Joshua chapter four is the story of just such a memorial. Also not very elaborate. A memorial of ordinary stones taken from the Jordan River. Chapter 4 begins with the Lord's instructions to Joshua. He was to select one man from each tribe to take a large stone from the middle of the Jordan. Each is take a stone up on his shoulder verse 5 tells us. They carried those stones to Gilgal, where the Israelites made camp, and there Joshua set them up as a memorial.

Three objectives are revealed for this memorial. The first is as a sign to promote encouragement and reverence, verse 7 says, forever. It was a sign of encouragement because it would remind Israel of the sovereign power of the Lord not only over people and nations but over all of creation.

These stones came from the middle of the Jordan River, the very place where the priests stood with the ark so that Israel crossed over on dry land. They were a reminder of God's deliverance, but they were also a reminder of much more.

Whenever people see the Vietnam memorial it reminds them of all aspects of the war. The political turmoil it generated, the heroism, the cruelty, those who fought, those who fled, the things that brought us together the things that pulled us apart.

These 12 stones were to do the same thing. They were to remind Israel of the plagues in Egypt, the first Passover, the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire that guided and guarded them, the parting of the Red Sea, the manna and the quails, the bitter water made sweet at Marah, the water from the Rock, the giving of the commandments as well as the crossing of the Jordan River. It was a reminder of God's continued faithfulness.

It was also a reminder of their unfaithfulness and their doubting. It was a reminder of their grumbling at God and Moses along the way, a reminder of their rebellion at Sinai when Moses went up to meet with God, a reminder of their lack of faith at Kadesh-Barnea and their 40 years of wandering. Those 12 stones were an everlasting reminder of the continued failure of men and the constant faithfulness of God.

For the Christian the cross of Christ stands, like those stones, as an everlasting memorial to the fallenness of humanity and the faithfulness of God. The cross reminds us of all our failures, and our short comings. It reveals the wretchedness and darkness of sin in the brilliance of the glory of All Mighty God, but it also reminds us of His unfailing love and saving grace.

Second they were to promote instruction to future generations. In verse 6 and verse 21 the Lord specifically mentions the responsibility of families to communicate the word of God to their children.

When they ask what do these stones mean. The response is not only to be a recitation of the historical narrative, in other words not simply a history lesson. The history is important, the events of history are important.

Deut 4:9-10 says, 9 "Only give heed to yourself and keep your soul diligently, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life; but make them known to your sons and your grandsons.10 "{Remember} the day you stood before the LORD your God at Horeb, when the LORD said to me, 'Assemble the people to Me, that I may let them hear My words so they may learn to fear Me all the days they live on the earth, and that they may teach their children.'" (NAS)

They had a responsibility to future generations to not only teach the events of their history but to teach how God worked and was active in and through those events. Generations to come must know the meaning of those stones taken from the midst of the river. They must hear and be taught the truth about a loving and faithful God, but also the truth about a holy and a just God as well.

This is very important in our generation. It is a holy responsibility that as parents, as family as a church we can not abdicate to others. God charges parents with that privilege and responsibility. We can not depend on schools systems or governments to teach these truths to our children. It is a parental privilege and responsibility that in many ways must be shared by the body of Christ.

Unfortunately it is an area in which we seem to be failing. The latest research from Christian sociologist George Barna reveals teenagers are embracing religion, but not necessarily biblical Christianity. In his latest research Barna found that 60% of those surveyed referred to themselves as committed Christians, which sounds good. Only half of those who described themselves that way, however, responded affirmatively that they had made a personal commitment to Jesus Christ that is important in their lives. The implication, based on this and other indicators in the survey, is that at least for the youth in this survey, being a committed Christian doesn't necessarily mean that a person have a relationship with Christ. (From Facts & Trends Magazine, November 2000, p. 11)

This seems to suggest that while they may know the historical reality of the cross and Jesus they don't understand it's true significance. The story of the cross is not simply an historical narrative about and itinerant Jewish preacher put to death by the Romans. The cross is about sin and salvation, about grace and love about the God of creation who entered into human history to restore the broken relationship between the created and creator. When future generations ask what does this cross mean they must be taught the significance of the Savior who gave Himself as an atoning sacrifice for them. They must know and be taught it is about a personal relationship with a personal God.

The third significance of the memorial stones at Gilgal was as a testimony to other nations.

Josh 4:24 "that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever." (NAS)

Everyone who saw those stones would be reminded of what God did in delivering Israel from slavery in Egypt and them into the promised land. They would be a reminder of the power of God as He went before Israel in battle, as He delivered them from the hands of foreign kings. It was a reminder to all the world these people were unique. Unique in the sense they were chosen by God for a special relationship and purpose.

God was also using these stones as a way of reminding Israel of that unique relationship and purpose as well. As a nation of priests they were to share the message of God's redemption with all the peoples of the earth.

Deut 26:18-19"And the LORD has today declared you to be His people, a treasured possession, as He promised you, and that you should keep all His commandments; and that He shall set you high above all nations which He has made, for praise, fame, and honor; and that you shall be a consecrated people to the LORD your God, as He has spoken."

Through their descendancy from Abraham they were to be a blessing to all nations.  Isa 49:6 "He says, 'It is too small a thing that you should be My servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and to restore the preserved ones of Israel; I will also make you a light of the nations so that My salvation may reach to the end of the earth.'" (NAS)  Unfortunately they turned their focus inward in an exclusionary way, wanting to keep God for themselves and no others.

All of these, but particularly the cross, are a reminder to us of our special place in the plan of God.  1 Pet 2:9, "But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for {God's} own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" (NAS)

Those who have trusted Christ are to be the light of the world. We are to call all people to forsake the darkness of sin and come into the divine light of Jesus Christ.  Just like Israel was to respond to the generations who would ask what those stones meant, we must respond to the generations who ask what does this cross mean with the truth of God's gospel. Our hymn of invitation says I saw the cross of Christ and in that cross I found peace with God. Like those stones the cross of Christ is an everlasting memorial to the deliverance of God from the slavery and the death of sin.

Have you seen that cross and responded to God's love? Have you seen that cross and been cleansed? Have you seen that cross and found peace with God. And if you have, have you shared with others what that cross means?

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