Directions

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise Dt 6:6–7 (ESV)

From the initial writings of the Old Testament to the conclusion of the New Testament, God’s Word is full of directions. The giving and receiving of directions is nothing new. Just today, I gave some directions to my children. I have also received a set of directions from my wife and a couple of committee members. It’s simply a part of the day, the giving and receiving of directions. 

In the reading of Joshua 3, there are five messages or sets of directions given to the Israelites. When reading Joshua 3, my takeaway is unless you step out by faith and “get your feet wet,” you’re not likely to make much progress in living for God and serving Him. So Chapter 4 begins with following the directions; it was time to step out on faith.

The Israelites crossed the Jordan River onto dry land, just as their ancestors crossed the Red Sea. They entered the promised land in power, with God’s presence going before them. But they had one more set of directions to complete before beginning their conquest. They were to memorialize what the Lord had done so that they would be reminded of the Lord’s goodness to share with future generations. They were encouraged to do the same thing that Moses shared in Deuteronomy 6, “teach them diligently to your children.” The directional teaching of future generations is the foundational reminder of Joshua 4:24. When we hear the Word of God and receive it into our hearts (1 Thes. 2:13), then the Holy Spirit can use the truth to transform us from within (2 Cor. 3:1–3; John 17:17). God “writes” the Word upon our hearts, and we become “living epistles” that others may read, and our lives can influence them to trust Christ. How we live is important because it backs up what we say. Moses admonished parents to discuss God’s Word in the home. To teach it among the children and allow the Word to guide their minds and hands as they work throughout the day. Joshua was doing the exact very same thing.

The memorials that were to be built, the building of the 12 stones, were to be a reminder of God’s provisions for the nation of Israel during their quest to inherit the land promised to them. The visual of the stacked stones would establish a conversation with children, family, and anyone curious. The biggest hurdle for the Israelites then and for us today is to make sure that a memorial serves as a reason to worship and not become our source of worship. For example, I rejoice in my baptismal date because it was the day that I confirmed my dependency on Christ (worship and acknowledgment) and his guidance rather than recalling the day as a moment that made my family proud. There is nothing wrong with memorials, provided they don’t become religious idols that turn our hearts from God. Glorifying the past is an excellent way to stalemate the present and rob us of our worship. The next generations need reminders of what God has done in history. Still, these reminders must also strengthen their faith and draw them closer to the Lord.

As you ready yourself for our worship gathering this Sunday, do so in prayer. Read Joshua 4. Then ask the Father to bring to mind His work in the past that you might worship Him presently. Pray for help in daily remembrance of the deeds of the Lord in praise to Him. Thank God for His most significant work for His people in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus.

Serving Him while serving with each of you,
Pastor Jeff