Living Stones and Long Memories

Date: Saturday, March 7, 2026

After the miracle of the Jordan crossing, God doesn’t tell the Israelites to rush off and start a war. He tells them to stop and pick up some rocks. Joshua 4 is all about the “Twelve Stones.” These weren’t just random decorations; they were a sign of remembrance for future generations. When the kids ask, “What do these stones mean?” the parents have a ready-made sermon about God’s faithfulness. We are a people prone to spiritual amnesia, and we need physical reminders of what God has done.

In the grand narrative, these stones point toward the “Living Stone,” Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate memorial of God’s rescue mission. Peter later tells us that we, too, are “living stones” being built into a spiritual house (1 Peter 2:4–5). Our lives are meant to be a memorial to others that draws their curiosity. People should look at our peace and our hope and ask, “What do these stones mean?”

Psalm 56 echoes this sentiment: “In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.” When we remember what God did “in the Jordan,” we lose our fear of what’s waiting for us in Jericho. Memory is a weapon against anxiety. If God did it then, He can do it now.

Devotional Prompts:

What are the “twelve stones” in your own life that mark specific moments where God clearly showed up?
If someone asked you today, “What does your faith mean?” based on how you’re living, what would you say?
Why is it so easy for us to forget God’s past miracles when we face new fears?
How can you create a “memorial” this week to remind yourself (and others) of God’s reliability?

Prayer: Faithful Father, thank You for the ways You have made a path through the impossible in our past. Help us to build altars of remembrance in our hearts so that we never forget Your goodness. May our lives be living testimonies that point others toward Your enduring Truth. Amen.