Remembering the covenant

Remembering the covenant Time: 30 minutes Introduction 4:1 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 4:2 Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 4:3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan from right where the priests stood and to carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight. 4:4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 4:5 and said to them, Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 4:6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, What do these stones mean? 4:7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. 4:8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 4:9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant had stood. And they are there to this day." (Joshua 4:1-9) 4:19 On the tenth day of the first month the people went up from the Jordan and camped at Gilgal on the eastern border of Jericho. 4:20 And Joshua set up at Gilgal the twelve stones they had taken out of the Jordan. 4:21 He said to the Israelites, In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, What do these stones mean? 4:22 tell them, Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground. 4:23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 4:24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God. " (Joshua 4:19-24) I was 28 when I started Bible College. One of my friends said to me, man, it is good that you come to the college now, because if you wait until my age, it makes it so hard to study Greek. I think he was 36 when he said that. What he didn t know, is that my memory does not conform to the average. I think my memory probably started deteriorating when I was 23. I struggled big time with Greek and Hebrew at college. Not only so, if you know me enough, you will know I am very bad at remembering names. I can t recall how many times I have asked our deacons, Tammy, Jason and Eric, about people s names. Then I discovered a method, I will record down people s names on my PDA when I go to a small group. Next time when I go to the same small group I will take out my PDA, and identify people s names. I thought I have found my memory stone, which gives me long lasting memory. Except there is one little problem. Due to my bad memory I now have lost my PDA. Then I discovered a different way. Eric has sent me the contact list and after conversations with people I will record on a spreadsheet their prayer points, next to their names. But sometimes I still find it hard to remember some who I seldom talk to. Now, I have recently discovered a great way of learning people s names. Can anyone guess? Facebook!! Don t get me wrong. I am not justifying you should spend the rest of your life on Facebook. In fact, some Gary Hsu Page 1 of 8 Evangelical Formosan Church of Sydney

of you may have spent too much time on it already. But for me, I thank God for tools like Facebook, because people tag each other in the photos, and certainly people having bad memories like me will not complain about it. Often I get on Facebook to greet people, but now I also use it as a means to remember people s names. It becomes my memorial stone. It is there when I want it, and it is sort of long lasting, so long as the company doesn t go bankrupt. 1. The need for Memorial stones In today s passage, God performs a miracle. He leads Israel army across the Jordan River. Alone with some of the other miracles in the bible, scientists try to explain why Jordan River may stop flowing. But no matter how they explain it, we know it is God s supernatural power. This can be seen from both their entrance and exit. 3:15 Now the Jordan is at flood stage all during harvest. Yet as soon as the priests who carried the ark reached the Jordan and their feet touched the water s edge, 3:16 the water from upstream stopped flowing. It piled up in a heap a great distance away, at a town called Adam in the vicinity of Zarethan, while the water flowing down to the Sea of the Arabah (the Salt Sea ) was completely cut off. So the people crossed over opposite Jericho." (Joshua 3:15-16) 4:18 And the priests came up out of the river carrying the ark of the covenant of the Lord. No sooner had they set their feet on the dry ground than the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and ran at flood stage as before." (Joshua 4:18) In the bible we also learned water piled up in a heap a great distance away, probably like a modern Aquarium tunnel, except there is no Acrylic between you and the water. The sight must be extraordinary. How can anyone forget such an event? Why does God instruct them to setup memorial stones? Surely if you have experienced such a miracle, you will never forget about it. You see, people often forget things, but for important events in their life, which involves greater joy or sorrow, it is very difficult to forget. Then why do we need the memorial stones? Well, true it will be hard for this particular generation to forget God s action. But what about their children, or their children s children? Any good memory will become bad memory through the test of time. In the bible we learned the next generations will ask, what do these stones mean? indicating they will forget God s faithfulness and powers. 4:6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, What do these stones mean? 4:7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. 4:21 He said to the Israelites, In the future when your descendants ask their fathers, What do these stones mean? Why does God ask Israel to establish memorial stones? Why stones? Why not wood or other Gary Hsu Page 2 of 8 Evangelical Formosan Church of Sydney

material? It is because stones may preserve longer, stand the test of time, unchanging up to generations. God is eternal, but we are mortal. There needs to be a way to remember what God has done. Stones are good means to remember. But what are they to remember? The bible states quite clearly the purpose of the memorial stones. 4:24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God. " (Joshua 4:19-24) Notice it is all the people of the earth, not just Israel. And Israel should always fear, not just one generation, but generations. Although Canaan is a foreign land, they are under God s control. These stones are needed not only for Israel, but also for other nations. God is not only the God of Egypt, but God of local Canaanites. In fact, he is the God of all the earth. He is also eternal; therefore all the generations need to worship Him. The memorial stones help Israel to remember, to bring them back to the times of Moses, when Israel passes over the Red Sea, and now Joshua, when Jordan River was stopped. So all the earth will know, the God of Israel is power, universal and eternal. These are remembrances of battles God has won. These are steps of faith taken in His Name. 4:23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over." (Joshua 4:23) Now let me ask you another question? Why 12 stones? You may find it easy; it symbolizes 12 tribes of Israel. But did you notice it is interesting that not all Israel came across Jordan River. Some of the tribes have conquered the eastern side of Jordan and stayed there. But you can still find people from all 12 tribes 4:2 Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe," (Joshua 4:2) The reason is Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, left their family and livestock behind, and went fighting for their brothers. Jordan River did not divide Israel. God is still the God of the entire Nation. God s promise is still fulfilled; despite of geographical separation, Israel still remains one body in one land. Therefore the functions of the 12 stones are clear, to remember God s covenantal promise, that Israel will enter into the Promised Land. These stones are for the next generations to know the God of Israel is powerful, eternal and universal, and at the same time it reminds them the brotherhood that God commands between the tribes of Israel. Gary Hsu Page 3 of 8 Evangelical Formosan Church of Sydney

1:12 But to the Reubenites, the Gadites and the half-tribe of Manasseh, Joshua said, 1:13 Remember the command that Moses the servant of the Lord gave you: The Lord your God is giving you rest and has granted you this land. 1:14 Your wives, your children and your livestock may stay in the land that Moses gave you east of the Jordan, but all your fighting men, fully armed, must cross over ahead of your brothers. You are to help your brothers 1:15 until the Lord gives them rest, as he has done for you, and until they too have taken possession of the land that the Lord your God is giving them. After that, you may go back and occupy your own land, which Moses the servant of the Lord gave you east of the Jordan toward the sunrise. " (Joshua 1:12-15) 4:12 The men of Reuben, Gad and the half-tribe of Manasseh crossed over, armed, in front of the Israelites, as Moses had directed them. 4:13 About forty thousand armed for battle crossed over before the Lord to the plains of Jericho for war." (Joshua 4:12-13) 2. The God who remembers While the need and purpose of these stones are explained, I think there is still one important aspect yet discussed. The stones are there because God remembers Israel. For many generations prior to Joshua s generation, God has always remembered Israel. For the generations to come, these stones become assurance for the children of Israel. Exodus covenant -> Abraham 4:23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan just what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. 4:24 He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God. " (Joshua 4:19-24) We see in verse 23, the God who helped Israel cross the Red sea, now 40 years it is the same God who helps them cross Jordan River. Not only so, if you are familiar with Old Testament, you will know this is also the same God who created human, who saved Noah from the flood, who is the God of Abraham, of Isaac and Jacob, the God of Moses, and now the God of Joshua. Do you know why Israel has to cross to the other side of the Jordan River? Well, they are not there for holidays, they went across to fight, to fight for the promised land that God promised them at the time of their ancestor Abraham. 1:2 Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them to the Israelites. 1:3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses." (Joshua 1:2-3) When was the first time that God promised Israel will prosper in the Promised Land? It may be traced back not only to the time of Moses, but to the time of Abraham. More than 4/500 years ago God has already promised Israel this land. Gary Hsu Page 4 of 8 Evangelical Formosan Church of Sydney

12:1 The Lord had said to Abram, Leave your country, your people and your father s household and go to the land I will show you. 12:2 I will make you into a great nation and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. 12:3 I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you. " (Genesis 12:1-3) The memory of man is short. Therefore they need the stones to remember God s act. But God s memory is everlasting. Ark of the Covenant Another hint to see God remembers Israel is the Ark of the Covenant. This Ark was originally given at the time of Moses during Exodus. It contains two tablets of the Ten Commandments, the pot of manna and Aaron s rod. But the real significance of this Ark is the meeting place in the inner sanctuary where the Lord revealed his will to his servants. Therefore, it serves as the symbol of the divine presence guiding God s people. The Ark of the Covenant serves an important role in this miracle. The priests carry the Ark of the Covenant and walk in front of the Israel army, and as long as the priests touch the water, the river parted and revealed dry land. This Ark of the Covenant indicates the presence of the Lord. All Israel needs to do is to follow with faith, obey the leader appointed by God. The ark served (i) as receptacle for the two tablets of the Decalogue (Ex. 25:16, 21; 40:20; Dt. 10:1 5) and also for the pot of manna and Aaron s rod (Heb. 9:4 5); (ii) as the meeting place in the inner sanctuary where the Lord revealed his will to his servants (Moses: Ex. 25:22; 30:36; Aaron: Lv. 16:2; Joshua: Jos. 7:6). Thus it served as the symbol of the divine presence guiding his people. The ark was made at Sinai by Bezalel to the pattern given to Moses (Ex. 25:8ff.). It was used as a depository for the written law (Dt. 31:9; Jos. 24:26) and played a significant part at the crossing of Jordan (Jos. 3 4), the fall of Jericho (Jos. 6) and the ceremony of remembering the covenant at Mt Ebal (Jos. 8:30ff.). 1 Obey and enter the Promised Land Do you still remember Moses, who obeyed nearly all of God s commands, but once he failed to obey and he was not allowed to enter the Promised Land, alone with his generation. God remembers Israel but God also wants Israel to obey his command in order to enter the Promised Land. When they listen to the leader God has appointed, obey the words God has said, and follow the Ark of the Covenant that symbolized God s presence, the river of Jordan will part, the city of Jericho will collapse and many enemies will be conquered. God remembers us and gives Israel his commands, when they obey the command, God will fulfill his promise for them to enter the Promised Land. Well, often we want to hurry things. We want to conquer the things in our life. If you are an Israelite at the time, wouldn t you ask everyone to attack the enemies the moment you came across Jordan River? That ff and the following (verses, etc.) 1 D. R. W. Wood, New Bible Dictionary, 80 (InterVarsity Press, 1996, c1982, c1962). Gary Hsu Page 5 of 8 Evangelical Formosan Church of Sydney

way they can take their enemy by surprise, and Israel themselves would have strong morale because they have just crossed the Jordan River. But it is not God s plan. God s plan is better. He does not only want them to conquer the land. He cares more about their spiritual heritage. He wants to establish a relationship with them, a long lasting relationship. That is why God asks them to establish memory stones. I think spiritual wellbeing should take priority over physical needs. You see, often we have our own picture of success. But God s picture may be different. He may want us to wait, to seek his will, to establish deep and lasting relationship with him. He remembers his covenant. Israel needs a step of faith. Not only the Jordan River, it is also those enemies at the other side of the river. Sometimes, when we come across difficulties, it is time for us to remember, how God has saved Israel from Egypt, and how he saves them from Jordan. While the miracles of Jordan and Red Sea may not be repeatable, but they stand as good testimonies, that God can do it again. When you step on the river bed, what will be on your mind? The water will be piled up like a wall, so you will see a lot of fish therefore you should go fishing? I like fishing, but I often wonder where they are in the water. If the water piled up like a wall, surely I can see fish inside. Then I will know exactly where to cast my bait. That will be nice. But I don t think Israelites have the mood to go fishing. I think they may rush up because they do not know when the river will fall back. Each step is a step of faith. The Ark of the Covenant leads in front of you, the leaders of Israel carrying the ark. They must follow, until they reach the other side of the river. God has a plan for Israel, to enter the Promised Land. God helps them when they obey his commands given through his leader. They must sanctify themselves. Israel must remember her tradition and devise means to teach it to her children. Thank God at Joshua s time people obeyed, and they entered the Promised Land according to God s plan. 3. Our Memorial Stones What is God s plan in our life? Westminster Confession states, the purpose of life is to glorify God and enjoy him forever. We have now believed in Jesus. Our sins forgiven, so do we glory God and enjoy him everyday? You may say, not so simple. Otherwise how come I still feel lots of Jordan Rivers in front of me? The rest that Jesus has promised, 11:28 Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest." (Matthew 11:28) Yes, life is difficult. Perhaps it is more difficult than some of you may imagine. When we see our relatives suffer from terminal illnesses? Or when the stock price falls like free fall, we know life is not simple. There are hurdles for us to come across, even though we are Christians. The difference is we have full assurance of salvation through the blood Gary Hsu Page 6 of 8 Evangelical Formosan Church of Sydney

of Jesus. Therefore we Christians, like those Israelites, need our own memorial stones. But what are they? God has directed Israel to setup those stones, what about us? There are definitely many memorial stones around us, but in our context, I can think of three. First memorial stone maybe our combined service. Normally it occurs at the first week of the month, but next week we have one because of election of deacons. I know combined service can be difficult for some of us. I know if I am not good at Chinese I will struggle big time there, since most of the items except the sermon are not translated. But at the moment it is in the combined service we perform the church sacraments. What are they? The baptism and the Lord s Supper. While the leaders need to think about the need of the congregational members, we as members need to change our mindset. We still need to treasure the memorial stones of our time, the Lord s Supper and the baptism. Last week when Catherine and Robert were baptized, I am not sure if you are there. But baptism is to remind us we are now baptized into his death and resurrection of Jesus. It reminds us we now belong to God. When we see people baptized, it should also remind us who we are, and how god has changed us. The Lord s Supper is also a constant remembrance of what Jesus has done for us. The bread and the drink remind us how Jesus died for us on the cross. In our church these church sacraments are done during the combined service, and I think it is important for us all to attend, to remember God s covenantal grace together. The second memorial stone is the reminder of faith from our family members. It is interesting to note that while there are priests and leaders around, it is the job of the parents to pass down what has happened, not the leaders of Israel. When their children ask their fathers, their fathers need to remember what happened and pass on to their children. I guess a number of us here are 2 nd or 3 rd generation Christians. I have been doing one-on-one meetings with Tony Wu from the mandarin service, who is a 5 th generation Christian. I am a first generation Christian; I do see people who are raised in Christian households are blessed in many ways. It is a blessing that you may naturally inherit from our parents a Christian value system. But I have found out some of these next generation Christians no longer take this faith personally. It becomes a family faith, not personal. We have lost our Christian heritage. If you are in such a family, perhaps it is for you to remind your parents about the faithfulness of God. You may suggest to have a family service, or a time for all of you to pray together. This may sound trivial, but when you face your Jordan River, you will see the whole family walk across it together with you. Gary Hsu Page 7 of 8 Evangelical Formosan Church of Sydney

The third memorial stone can be the reminder of our friends. I thank God we have brothers and sisters who try to live a godly life. Recently I have discovered a trend in our church, when we gather we just gather for fun. Don t get me wrong, I am not against Fun. In fact, I love Fun!! The thing I am against is fun without deepening our understanding of God s words, or fun without constant praying to our God. I enjoy the companionship with my spiritual leaders and partners, because it is not only fun. It reminds me who God truly is. When I hear my spiritual partner praying for my problems, I know God is taking both us to cross the Jordan River together. Are you an influential person? But is your influence positive or negative? When people meet up with you, are they reminded God s love? Do you remind each other God s words? If your influence is negative, please consider how you may change. We want positive peer pressure, to remind each other to come back to God. I believe coming back to God is the only way to find true peace. Conclusion Now let us help one another. The 12 stones tell us Israel take the step of faith together. Brothers and sisters, may we also take steps of faith together. To say Yes to things remind us God s love, and say No to things that drag us away from God. True victory can then be found. Let s pray. Gary Hsu Page 8 of 8 Evangelical Formosan Church of Sydney