Tuesday, October 16, 2007

What's with the name?

When Israel crossed the Jordan River into the Promised Land, God gave Joshua the following instructions:

Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, and command them, saying, "Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priest's feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight." (Joshua 4:2-3)

These stones were to serve as a sign to the Israelites.

... that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, "What do these stones mean to you?" Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever." (Joshua 4:6-7)

These stones were to be a reminder of a mighty act of God on behalf of His people.

These stones became a physical marker of a spiritual encounter with God.

These stones provided an opportunity for people to teach their children about the activity of God on behalf of His people.

My scrapbooks serve as these "stones" - tangible reminders, physical memory markers, tools for teaching. Thus, the name Stones of Remembrance.

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