Memorial Monuments at the Jordan

Rev. Luke Zimmerman, pastor at Calvary Evangelical Lutheran Church in Mechanicsburg, PA, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Joshua 4:1-24.

The account of Israel’s crossing the Jordan continues to reveal more details. The LORD commands Joshua to take twelve stones from the Jordan River bed in order to build a memorial monument so that their children can be taught what the LORD had done. Joshua carries out the LORD’s instructions faithfully and also builds a monument within the river itself. The people cross the river in haste, including the warriors from the two and a half tribes whose land would be on the east side of the Jordan. Once all the people have crossed, the priests carrying the ark leave the river, and the water returns to its place. The memory of this event will serve to teach not only the children of Israel but all nations the might of the LORD to save.

“The Promised Land Delivered” is a series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Joshua. After the death of Moses, the LORD remains with His people to bring them into the Promised Land under Joshua. Throughout the book, the LORD proves that not one of His Word falls unfulfilled. Today, the Church has the same confidence that all of God’s promises find their “Yes” in Christ.