Tuesday: Remember
Daily Lesson for Tuesday 14th of October 2025
Read Joshua 4:1-24. Why did God ask the Israelites to build a memorial?
The purpose of these stones is to become a “sign.” The Hebrew term ‘ot is often associated with the word “wonder” and can refer to miraculous acts done by God (see yesterday’s study), such as the plagues on Egypt (Exodus 7:3, Deuteronomy 4:34).
Image © Lifeway Collection at Goodsalt.com
crossing of the Jordan River on dry land.
It also can carry the meaning of “symbol” or “token,” as an outward sign of a deeper or transcendent reality. For example, the rainbow is a “sign” of the covenant (Genesis 9:12-13); the blood on the doorposts and lintels of the Israelite houses also is called a “sign” (Exodus 12:13); and most significantly, the Sabbath is a “sign” of Creation and of God’s sanctifying presence (Exodus 31:13,17; Ezekiel 20:12).
Here, the sign functions as a memorial, reminding each subsequent generation of the miracle of the crossing. The term “memorial” (zikkaron) comes from the word zakar, “to remember,” which denotes more than a passive act of recalling something. It implies a remembering followed by a proper action (Deuteronomy 5:15, Deuteronomy 8:2). The setting up of stone memorials (Genesis 28:18-22) and rituals that triggered questions (Exodus 12:26-27; Deuteronomy 6:20-25) was common in the Old Testament. Instead of repeating the miracles again and again, God establishes monuments that evoke the memory of His great acts and prompt meaningful answers. Therefore, the sign is to be there “forever,” implying the need to keep this miracle of the Lord in the collective memory of His people perpetually.
The potential question of future generations is significant because it is formulated in a personal way: “What are these stones to you?” Each new generation must internalize and understand the meaning of these stones for themselves personally. The faith in a miracle-making God can be kept alive only if each generation rediscovers the significance of the mighty acts of Yahweh for themselves. Such a faith will make a major difference between living out faithfully Bible-based traditions and traditionalism, the dead religion, deprived of its original value and fervor, of the living generation. In the end, we need to make our Bible-based faith our own. No one, especially our ancestors, can believe for us.
|
What are some of the memorials, personal memorials, from your own walk with the Lord that help you remember what He has done for you? |
(15)
We have a lot of memorials dotted around Australia. Most of them were created with great enthusiasm at the end of the great wars and then to a large extent, forgotten. Seventh-day Adventist have their own memorial to Ellen White. It is her house, Sunnyside, here in Cooranbong. Typically, the only time I visit it is when we have overseas visitors who want to see it. Usually, they wander through the rooms and say the usual things spiritually minded tourists say when they visit historical memorials.
But I want to retell a story. We were in outback Queensland 2000km from home and we had a conversation with a woman. She had been a highflier, an executive in the TV business, managing celebrities but she was also a deacon in the Church of England. During our conversation, we mentioned we were Seventh-day Adventists and lived in Cooranbong. Her eyes lit up as she had read a Seventh-day Adventist book by an Adventist author. It was “Steps to Christ” by Ellen White. She was so taken with the book that she visited Sunnyside and was deeply moved by the experience. She sat in Ellen White’s chair and prayed that the Holy Spirit would move her as it at moved Ellen White. She said that within one week of doing that she felt the urge to do something for homeless folk in Sydney. She could not understand it and had no idea of how she was going to accomplish that. A few days later she was offered the lease of an unused city motel for $10 a week, and so began her ministry for working with the homeless folk in Sydney.
I mentioned earlier this week that memorials should not just be reminders of God’s leading in the past, but rather springboards for action in the present. Sometimes we spend so much time memorialising Ellen White and defending her with words and arguments. This non-Adventist woman in outback Queensland was honouring Ellen White in a way which nobody could argue with.
There are several significant memorials in the Bible, like the 12 stones from the Jordan (Joshua 4), the Passover (Exodus 12), and even the rainbow after the flood (Genesis 9). But the greatest and most significant of all memorials in scripture is the memorial of the Lord’s Supper (Holy Communion).This is the ultimate memorial that carries the eternal and salvific significance of Christ’s sacrifice on the cross. Jesus Himself instituted it and commanded it to be remembered until He comes.
"And he took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, ‘This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me.” (Luke 22:19, NIV)
Paul echoed the same words of Jesus by reminding his listeners at Corinth to do likewise.
"…and when he had given thanks, he broke it and said, ‘This is my body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of me.’ In the same way, after supper he took the cup, saying, ‘This cup is the new covenant in my blood; do this, whenever you drink it, in remembrance of me.” (1 Corinthians 11:24–25, NIV)
Unlike all other memorials of stones, objects or locations, the memorial of the Lord’s Supper commemorates the act of salvation, which is the ultimate hope of all believers. Other memorials point to the past only, but the Lord’s Supper also reminds us what He is still doing and what He will accomplish for us when He comes. This is a living memorial. Jesus not only wants us to remember His sacrifice on the cross, but He also wants us to live the life of humility that He lived. He set a tangible example for service and fellowship.
"Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another's feet. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you."(John 13:14-15 ,NIV)
“That this may be a sign among you, that when your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What mean ye by these stones?’ then ye shall answer them…” — Joshua 4:6–7
The memorial stones served a powerful purpose — to preserve the memory of God’s miraculous acts.
God knew that human beings quickly forget divine interventions once life returns to normal. By commanding Israel to build a tangible memorial, He ensured that future generations would hear firsthand testimonies of His power and faithfulness.
We too should build “spiritual memorials” — journals, testimonies, acts of gratitude — that remind us and others of God’s faithfulness in our lives. Remembering what God has done fuels our faith for what He will do. Forgetting leads to doubt; remembering strengthens trust.
I like the fact that they were instructed by God to place it there for a memorial because God saw the significance and importance of that memory.
There are certain things I hang onto and set out on display because they are meant to serve as reminders of my past. I imagine this is true in everyone’s home. We all have certain items that are treasured and stand out because they remind us of something significant in our life story — for me my childhood memories are all in a photo album that I have religiously kept, in this album my late father's photo carries my memories with a man who continues influencing my decisions to date because of what he stood for in my journey of faith, my PhD graduation portrait hangs in both my rural and city homes as a reminder of a significant milestone, there is also a piece of art that portrays continues supply that I have for keepsake. These reminders tell me of my story, they tell me who I am, they represent a summary of what matters most to me. They connect me to my past and help me remember the people and events that continue shaping my identity.
These things we all hang onto as reminders of our faith as well. In Joshua 4, when the Israelites crossed the Jordan River, God commanded them to take twelve stones from the riverbed and set them up as a memorial. Joshua said, “In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord… These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever” (Joshua 4:6–7). Those stones served as a visible reminder of God’s faithfulness and power — a way for future generations to remember the story that shaped their identity as God’s people. Like the Israelites the crossing of the Jordan river and indeed Gods deliverance through these stones, we, too, are called to hold on to the reminders of God’s faithfulness in our lives. The cross, Scripture, worship, and even personal moments of God’s provision are our “stones of remembrance.” When we look back and remember what God has done, our faith is strengthened for what lies ahead. Forgetting leads to wandering, but remembering anchors us in God’s story, a story that continues to shape who we are today.
Every country that was once a colonial state has an often celebrated as a public holiday, commemorating freedom from colonial rule and marking a significant chapter in nationalism, patriotism, and self-governance. However, when the purpose behind these celebrations fades, they become mere holidays without meaning, function and purpose. Similarly, the 12-stone memorial in Israel held profound significance, serving as a reminder of:
1. God's might, guidance, and providence
2. A teaching tool for future generations
3. A sign of God's presence and action
4. An act of communal worship
5. A remembrance of God's gracious deliverance
As Joshua 4:6-7 states, "When your children ask their fathers in time to come, 'What do these stones mean?' you shall tell them, 'Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land.'" These stones were meant to be a reminder of God's wonders, but when the purpose and meaning behind them "got lost", they became mere relics.
Likewise, church rituals like risk becoming routine and losing their purpose. As Maurice said, or else they will be forgotten. It's essential to revisit the purpose and meaning behind these practices, ensuring they remain vibrant, relevant, informative and transformative, rather than mere formalities. Ask a Gen-Z or Gen-α today why we observe these practices, and the answers might surprise you.
God has done many miracles in my life. He has rescued me from a free fall and placed me in a safe place—by His side, where I can follow Him closely.
Without a living connection to God, even the most sacred symbols become hollow routines. The danger of traditionalism is replacing living faith with lifeless formality. Christianity thrives only when it remains centered on a personal, dynamic relationship with Jesus.
"I can say, Praise God! As I see what the Lord has wrought, I am filled with astonishment, and with confidence in Christ as leader. We have nothing to fear for the future, except as we shall forget the way the Lord has led us, and His teaching in our past history." Christ’s Counsels to the Church, Ellen White, p. 359.4
I believe that it's important to remember significant events in life; birthdays, anniversaries, baptisms, major life accomplishments, both spiritual and material. It reminds us of the workings of God in our lives. It helps us keep things in perspective, especially when we might feel fearful of the future, or disappointed with the present. We need to remember that what God has done in the past he can do today, or even in the future. We must not look back to lament our failings for that would only pull us down. When we look back we should do so only to marvel and praise God for what he has done, even in the hard and bad times of our lives. Then we will be empowered by the Holy Spirit to go boldy into an uncertain future knowing that we aren't going alone. God is with us, if we consent to let him walk with us on this pilgrim pathway called life. We need to have faith in the Father instead of fear of the future. Then we will have joy in the journey as we sojourn on towards our real home. Heaven is our home, and our Heavenly Father is getting us there. Praise him all along the way.
If biblical stories become ritualistic performances only, they are dry and lifeless. Having a new and intensive look at the biblical account, may bring new discoveries.
Now the case of children and their question as to the meaning of stones, taken from Jordan.
Children were given bible instruction very early in life (Deuteronomy 6:7). Most of them alreay knew the stories on crossing of the Red Sea and the Jordan. In later generations, these may have become ritualistic questions with expected answers they already knew, intended to remember what God had done in salvation history.
Looking at the crossing of Jordan, I thought, I knew all that, until I studied the miracle in detail, finding out that the upper part of Jordan was changed into a wall. As the lower part did not get any water, it was flowing down toward the Salt Sea continually diminishing until there was dry ground only. The wall of water was far off (Joshua 3:16). There was an immense expanse of dry ground for thousands and thousands and thousands of people crossing the Jordan.
God`s heart is so big, that He has room enough for everybody, even for me. That the character of God is to be testified, becomes obvious. I had overlooked this before. But now it has become a new discovery on the character of God, which leads me to thanksgiving, praise and worship inviting others to join.
Winfried Stolpmann