Joshua 4 - Don't forget we crossed a river without getting our feet wet

Synopsis

With the priests holding the ark of the covenant in the middle of the river Jordan and with the waters parted as a result, the Israelites cross the river bed and don’t get their feet wet. However, one man from each of the tribes is told to stop and get a rock from the river bed right where the priests are standing. These rocks are to be placed at their campsite that evening to remind everyone about the miracle at the river Jordan. Joshua then stacks up 12 rocks where the priests are standing in the middle of the river bed to make a monument where the crossing occurred, these rocks are supposed to still be there, according to the Bible anyway. And when all this is done, the priests leave the river bed and the river flows once more. We are told this show of Godly force was done to make sure that all the people of the earth fear God.

Or to put it another way:

They managed to cross the river and they collected rocks as souvenirs.

Favorite bit

I don’t have one.

What’s annoying

It’s a bit repetitive. This chapter basically tells the story of the stones collected three different times. I’m not even going to provide you with a quote.

Verse most likely to be quoted out of context

(Joshua 4:24)" That all the people of the earth might know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty: that ye might fear the Lord your God for ever." If you are leading an army that is claiming to have God on your side, this is a quote you will want to consider putting on your uniforms or in your logo somewhere. However, in context, it comes off as God boasting a bit.

Moral Lesson

Keeping reminders of special events is important.