That You May Fear The Lord
Joshua 4 (ESV):
1When all the nation had finished passing over the Jordan, the LORD said to Joshua,2 “Take twelve men from the people, from each tribe a man,3 and command them, saying, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the midst of the Jordan, from the very place where the priests' feet stood firmly, and bring them over with you and lay them down in the place where you lodge tonight.’”4 Then Joshua called the twelve men from the people of Israel, whom he had appointed, a man from each tribe.5 And Joshua said to them, “Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel,6that this may be a sign among you. When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’7then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it passed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall be to the people of Israel a memorial forever.” 8 And the people of Israel did just as Joshua commanded and took up twelve stones out of the midst of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel, just as the LORD told Joshua. And they carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there.9 And Joshua set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests bearing the ark of the covenant had stood; and they are there to this day.10 For the priests bearing the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the LORD commanded Joshua to tell the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua. The people passed over in haste.11 And when all the people had finished passing over, the ark of the LORD and the priests passed over before the people.12 The sons of Reuben and the sons of Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh passed over armed before the people of Israel, as Moses had told them.13 About 40,000 ready for war passed over before the LORD for battle, to the plains of Jericho.14 On that day the LORD exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel, and they stood in awe of him just as they had stood in awe of Moses, all the days of his life.
15 And the LORD said to Joshua,16 “Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.”17 So
Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.”18 And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests' feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.19 The people came up out of the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they encamped at Gilgal on the east border of Jericho.20 And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal.21 And he said to the people of Israel, “When your children ask their fathers in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean?’22 then you shall let your children know, ‘Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.’23 For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over,24so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.”
Main Points
1) The memorial stones for the people
2) The motive for the deliverance: knowing the mighty hand of God 3) The end result: fear the LORD!
Some relevant Scriptures (all Scripture references are in ESV)
1) The memorial stones for the people
● Exodus 12:33-34 - The Egyptians were urgent with the people to send them out of the land in haste. For they said, “We shall all be dead.” So the people took their dough before it was leavened, their kneading bowls being bound up in their cloaks on their shoulders.”
● Exodus 13:7-9b - Unleavened bread shall be eaten for seven days; no leavened bread shall be seen with you and no leaven shall be seen with you in all your territory. You shall tell your son on that day, ‘It is because of
what the LORD did for me when I came out of Egypt.’ And it
shall be to you a sign on your hand and as a memorial
between your eyes, that the law of the LORD may be in
your mouth.
● Deuteronomy 6:20-25 -20 “When your son asks you in time to come, ‘What is the meaning of the testimonies and the statutes and the rules that the LORD our God has commanded you?’21then you shall say to your son, ‘We were Pharaoh's slaves in Egypt. And the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand.22 And the LORD showed signs and wonders, great and grievous, against Egypt and against Pharaoh and all his household, before our eyes.23 And he brought us out from there, that he might bring us in and give us the land that he swore to give to our fathers.24 And the LORD commanded us to do all these statutes, to fear the LORD our God, for our good always, that he might preserve us alive, as we are this day.25 And it will be righteousness for us, if we are careful to do all this commandment before the LORD our God, as he has commanded us.’
2) The motive for the deliverance: knowing the mighty hand of God ● Psalm 78:5-7 -5 He established a testimony in Jacob and appointed a law in Israel, which he commanded our fathers to teach to their children,6that the next generation might know them, the children yet unborn, and arise and tell them to their children,7so that they should set their hope in God and not forget the works of God, but keep his commandments; ● Ephesians 1:19-21 -19 and what is the immeasurable greatness of his power toward us who believe, according to the working of his great might 20that he worked in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly places,21far above all rule and authority and power and dominion, and above every name that is named, not only in this age but also in the one to come.
● Psalm 66:16 - Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.
3) The end result: fear the LORD!
● Proverbs 28:14 - Blessed is the one who fears the LORD
always, but whoever hardens His heart will fall into
calamity.
● Proverbs 16:6 - By steadfast love and faithfulness iniquity is atoned for, and by the fear of the LORD one turns away from evil.
● 2 Corinthians 7:1 - Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.
● Acts 9:31 - So the church throughout all Judea and Galilee and Samaria had peace and was being built up. And walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit, it multiplied.
● Psalm 111:10 - The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom; all those who practice it have a good understanding. His praise endures forever! ● Ecclesiastes 12:13 - The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear GOD and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. ● Psalm 25:14 - The friendship of the LORD is for those who fear him, and he makes known to them his covenant.