March 18

Written by Bill Grandi on March 18th, 2019

My title for this devotion is Remembering vs Forgetting.

Last week sometime I finished the Pentateuch. In all my years of reading through the Bible, I can honestly say this is the first time I read through the Pentateuch. I would always skim it. But I’m now in Joshua-a much more exciting read! 🙂

Joshua has already received Moses’ “mantle.” He has already sent the 2 spies to Jericho, who in turn had their encounter with Rahab. Today’s reading was the miracle of the people of Israel crossing the Jordan on dry ground. Crossing the Jordan on dry ground, which at this time was overflowing its banks, is not what drew my attention. God had Joshua take 12 leaders of the tribes to take 12 stones out of the Jordan and set up an altar where the priests stood as the people crossed. Then they were to carry those stones and set up an altar at Gilgal. Let’s call them Stones of Remembrance. Here’s why:

“When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’ then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’ “ (4:21-22)

The responsibility of telling the children was that of the parents. The stones stood as a reminder of God’s faithful deliverance.

We no longer have an altar made of stones to remind us. Instead we have two sacraments-baptism and the Lord’s Supper-to remind us of God’s faithfulness. Baptism is the response of obedience to God’s salvation as that person indicates to all the choice he made to follow Jesus. The Lord’s Supper is a tangible, physical remembrance of the sacrificial death of Jesus on the cross, which brought about our deliverance from sin.

“Father, help me not to forget Your faithfulness. And even though I don’t have an altar made of stones to remind me, You have given me/us two tangible reminders. Help me not to slough them off as being unimportant. Remind me of Your faithfulness so that I may faithfully tell others.”

 

9 Comments so far ↓

  1. We definitely need these reminders of God’s faithfulness, Bill. We humans are “prone to wander” as the hymn goes, and God knows that better than anyone. May we all stick to the paths of righteousness.
    Blessings!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      prone to wander is a good way to put it Martha. I’m convinced that is why the reminders are before us.

  2. Ryan S. says:

    It is good to have reminders… “standing stones” to point to the one who has given it all.
    Help me never forget!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      We might be better off if we did have “standing stones” but I’m guessing they would either get old or be made into an idol.

  3. Pam says:

    We have been talking about stones of remembrance in Sunday School the last two weeks. We were sharing what spiritual events in our lives need to be remembered. I love thinking about the sacraments as “stones of remembrance”!

    • Bill Grandi says:

      It is good to go over things like in a class pam. I like calling them spiritual events.

  4. In my now new life and God moving me to this strange, new land called North Carolina, He provided me a wonderful little house to rent. When I first walked through it’s doors to look at it, I felt like I was home. After being displaced for 5 years, to feel this way was overwhelmingly great. In gratitude I had a remembrance stone made with the Hebrew words for “The LORD has brought me home”. It stands in my front yard by my little porch.

    • Bill Grandi says:

      I love the name of your stone Diane! It is amazing what God does for His children and it is good of you to put up your “stone of remembrance and honor” to Him.

  5. floyd samons says:

    Good call, Bill. We need to remember all that our Father has done and continues to do daily! His hand holds back utter destruction constantly.