Remind Me Again?
Tuesday, November 19, 2013 Posted by Lisa
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Practically every day
I have to remind our children to turn off the lights or brush their teeth or
pick up after themselves. Really? Again? Yes. And we are the same too.
I’ve heard it said, "People often need reminders more than they need instruction". Scripture tells us time and time again to "remember" what the Lord has done and we have numerous examples of places dedicated after God came through on a promise or provided in a time of hardship. I imagine them like pictures on a wall or a birthday calendar on my phone. They are reminders to be thankful, to celebrate.
My favorite account of the Israelites making a memorial is found in Joshua 4. I enjoy it for the sheer brilliance of God's request. As the Israelites were crossing the river Jordan on dry land, just as they had crossed the Red Sea, one representative from each of the twelve tribes had to pick up a stone from the middle of the river and carry them over.
What I know about any stones under a current of water is that they are smooth like glass. The twelve stones carried over would have been no different and would have certainly stood out like a sore thumb in the midst of the harsh terrain. Can you imagine the sight? Twelve highly polished river stones randomly sitting in a neat pattern, seemingly out of nowhere?
And that is exactly where scripture takes us, "in the future when our descendants ask their fathers 'what do these stones mean?' tell them,". God intended the future generations to be told and encouraged. He knew days would come when they would feel far from Him and they would need reminders. He knew you and I would one day need these accounts to remember the God of yesterday is the same God of today. He knew our children would need to see us remembering and celebrating because he is the God of the future too. He is the God of our children.
I’ve heard it said, "People often need reminders more than they need instruction". Scripture tells us time and time again to "remember" what the Lord has done and we have numerous examples of places dedicated after God came through on a promise or provided in a time of hardship. I imagine them like pictures on a wall or a birthday calendar on my phone. They are reminders to be thankful, to celebrate.
My favorite account of the Israelites making a memorial is found in Joshua 4. I enjoy it for the sheer brilliance of God's request. As the Israelites were crossing the river Jordan on dry land, just as they had crossed the Red Sea, one representative from each of the twelve tribes had to pick up a stone from the middle of the river and carry them over.
What I know about any stones under a current of water is that they are smooth like glass. The twelve stones carried over would have been no different and would have certainly stood out like a sore thumb in the midst of the harsh terrain. Can you imagine the sight? Twelve highly polished river stones randomly sitting in a neat pattern, seemingly out of nowhere?
And that is exactly where scripture takes us, "in the future when our descendants ask their fathers 'what do these stones mean?' tell them,". God intended the future generations to be told and encouraged. He knew days would come when they would feel far from Him and they would need reminders. He knew you and I would one day need these accounts to remember the God of yesterday is the same God of today. He knew our children would need to see us remembering and celebrating because he is the God of the future too. He is the God of our children.
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