Memorial Stones

Get ready. We are moving out. The interesting thing in this chapter is the fact that if you where not ready you could easily have missed the crossing.

Twelve stones are taken out of the Jordan at the command of Joshua. A sign that we have been raised to new life in Christ. Twelve more stones are erected in the middle of the Jordan river as a sign that our old life has been left behind.

Also what we find is that both sets of stones were erected by Joshua. Jesus is the only one, as the redeemer, who can take our punishment. Our sin was buried once and for all by Christ on the cross. As the river returned to “cover its banks” it buried the stones forever. In the same way the stones carried out of the Jordan were then erected as a memorial on the west bank at a place called Gilgal (Rolling as Israel's previous existence had been rolled away) . A sign that Israel had passed through from the old into the new, a sign that a miracle had taken place and that God had prepared the way but also that the Israelites had been prepared to heed the call and move out, bags packed and every thing ready to go.

That morning they would have gathered the manna for the last time, although they did not know that then. God is gracious in that he keeps certain things from us otherwise we might decide not to go with Him if we knew the outcome.

Are we still prepared to follow "the ark", the dwelling place of God and embark on a "New Start", a fresh experience of God Almighty? There will be a cost and at times it may hurt but the blessings far  out way the costs. Lets go and experience "The New Start."