Joshua 4:20-24: a reflection

20Joshua set up those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, in Gilgal. 21He spoke to the children of Israel, saying, “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22Then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. 23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan from before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up from before us, until we had crossed over, 24that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD’s hand is mighty, and that you may fear the LORD your God forever.’”

After Israel crosses the Jordan on dry ground, God has them set up twelve stones taken from the riverbed as a memorial at Gilgal. And Joshua explains their purpose: When your children ask in time to come, What do these stones mean? then you shall tell them how the LORD dried up the Jordan before you, so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the LORD's hand is strong, and that you may fear the LORD forever. The stones were set up so that future generations would ask, and be told, the story of God's great deeds.

Notice the purpose of the memorial: to prompt the children to ask, and the parents to tell. The stones were a deliberate teaching device, a visible reminder that would provoke the young to ask their meaning, giving the older generation the occasion to pass on the story of God's faithfulness. The point was that the next generation would know what God had done, so that they too would fear and trust him. The memory of God's works was to be deliberately passed on.

That gives us a task: to pass on to the next generation the story of God's faithfulness. It is not enough for us to remember God's works ourselves; we are called to tell them to our children, to the generation coming after, so that they too will know and fear God. This requires deliberate effort, creating occasions, telling the stories, answering the questions, so that the memory of God's faithfulness is not lost with our generation. Take up that task. Tell the next generation, your children, those coming after you, the story of what God has done, so that they too will know his faithfulness and fear him. Do not let the memory of God's works end with you; set up the stones, and tell the children their meaning.

Lord, you had Israel set up memorial stones so that when their children asked their meaning, the parents would tell them of your great deeds, that the next generation would know and fear you. Give me a heart to pass on your faithfulness to those coming after me. It is not enough for me to remember your works myself; help me tell them to my children and to the generation coming after, so that they too will know and fear you. Give me the deliberate care to create occasions, tell the stories, answer the questions, so that the memory of your faithfulness is not lost with my generation. Do not let the story of your deeds end with me. Help me set up the stones and tell the children their meaning, passing on to the next generation the story of what you have done.