Sabbath: Memorials of Grace
Daily Lesson for Sabbath 11th of October 2025
Image © Pacific Press
Read for This Week’s Study: Joshua 3:1-17, Numbers 14:44, Luke 18:18-27, Joshua 4:1-24, John 14:26, Hebrews 4:8-11.
Memory Text: “ ‘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, so 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’ ” (Joshua 4:23-24, ESV).
The police officer signaled. John had to pull over. The officer asked for his driver’s license, and, at that moment, it dawned on John that he had left his wallet, with his driver’s license, in the office. John explained what happened, and the officer asked about his job. John responded that he was a professor. As the officer gave John a ticket, he told him not to think of it as a fine.
“It’s tuition,” he said. “When people want to learn something, they pay tuition. This is your tuition to learn not to forget your license when driving. Have a good day, professor!”
As human beings, we are prone to forget things that are not constantly in our sight. We forget to return phone calls, respond to emails, water the plants, send birthday wishes, and so forth. The list could go on. Forgetting about our spiritual needs, however, could have more severe consequences than simply receiving a fine, especially because we are dealing with what is, literally, our eternal destiny.
Let’s study the crossing of the Jordan by the Hebrews and see what we can learn from their experiences.
*Study this week’s lesson to prepare for Sabbath, October 18.
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I am actually quite good at remembering things. I came to Australia on February 13, 1963 and stepped ashore at 8:15am. I remember I was baptized on December 5, 1959. Apart from remembering useless facts like that, I can remember seriously important stuff too. Carmel’s birthday is March 9, 19xx (Ok I know the year, but out of deference to Carme’s wishes, I will not reveal it. The issue is that she looks so much younger and relishes telling people her looks lie about her age!)
My problem is this: I know the important stuff and can recite it at will, but acting on it is another thing again. Reciting Carmel’s birthday on request, might be a good trick but acting on it a couple of days before and planning something special – well let me just say that I am glad I have a colour printer and can produce a personalised girthday card very quickly.
This week’s lesson is about memorials – objects that jog our memory about important events that have happened in the past. That is a good thing, but the big question is: does the memorial just trigger a memory, or does it provide a springboard for action. For example, we like to think of the Sabbath as a memorial of creation, but does that trigger a response in our action to do something to look after God’s creation? Memorials should be more than memories
Jeremiah has this to say about remembering the past:
Memorials must be more than symbolic reminders!