Bible Verse: “‘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, to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, “What do these stones mean?” 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.’” Joshua 4:5-7
Scripture Reading: Joshua 3:1–5:15
How far back can you tell the stories of your family? How confident are you in the ones that you can tell?
There are at least a few stories in my family that I’m now unsure if I actually heard or if I am making them up…like the ancestor who was supposed to be on the Titanic, but his alarm clock didn’t go off that morning. Or the idea that our family’s name used to be Johnson, but when they emigrated from Sweden to the U.S.A. and located themselves in Minnesota, there were too many Johnsons, so they changed their name to Hudberg. I do know that there are no Hudbergs I am not related to, but that doesn’t necessarily mean anything.
It is true that modern society is not an “oral tradition” society, like Israel was, so perhaps it’s more understandable that we don’t know our own stories so well.
But that doesn’t make our stories any less important.
Ancient Israel had a more oral tradition. They passed on their stories from generation to generation, word for word, so that everyone would know who they were and where they came from.
Passing along their stories was vital to their identity. It kept the knowledge of God close, and in keeping the knowledge of Him and His deeds close, it helped the people remain close to Him.
After the people crossed the Jordan River (where the water piled up to let them pass, much like the Red Sea crossing), they set up a memorial of stones so that future generations could learn what happened there—what God had done for the people of Israel at that point.
But the stones could not speak. They were a reminder. It was the people who were to pass on the knowledge. The stones were simply props.
It is vitally important that we pass along the stories of God’s work to those who will come after us. If it is our children, then as fathers, we sit with them to instruct and to guide. If it is our spiritual children or our spiritual brothers and sisters, we share our stories, and we listen to theirs.
No matter who it is, the call is to raise our voices to share the story of what God has done.
Prayer: God, thank You for Your constant work in my life and in the long story of Your creation and redemption. Help me to share those stories with those who come after me. Amen.
Reflection: Where could you set up a memorial to God’s work in your life so that others might ask what it means so that you can share the story?
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