Pick Up Your Stone

 

I was out running errands the weekend before Thanksgiving and had one last stop at the grocery store. On this particular day I was very sensitive to the Holy Spirit and those who were around me.  As I navigated the busy aisles of the store, I passed a young family of 4 along with their full grocery cart. The first thing that came to my mind was how expensive groceries are now and I wondered if they struggled feeding their family. 

I continued to fill my buggy (as we call them in West Virginia) and then proceeded to the checkout.  As I unloaded my groceries in my car, I began to thank God that Charles and I have never been in a situation where we couldn’t afford groceries.  God led me back to early on in our marriage over 24 years ago. At that time our income combined was less than what one of our incomes are now.  We had a house payment, 2 car payments, child support, and credit card debt. On paper, it seemed like there was no way that we would have anything left over at the end of the week or month. Yet, we were still able to take trips, eat out and buy what we needed. We never went without anything. During this time, we were faithful with paying our tithes and I know that in doing that God was faithful to our finances. 
As I reflected back on those early days in our marriage, I was reminded just how faithful God was then and how HE is still faithful now. This served as a source of encouragement for me, affirming that when we are faithful in obedience to what God has called us to do, He remains steadfast in honoring His word, and His promises hold true.
This led me to the scriptures in Joshua Chapters 3 and 4, recounting the moment when Joshua led the Ark of the Covenant and the Israelites across the River Jordan. In this passage, God held back the flooded River Jordan, enabling the Ark, Joshua, and the Israelites to cross on dry land. As they crossed, God instructed them to pick up a stone once they reached the middle of the river. This command may have seemed unusual at the time, but it held a meaningful significance.

"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.” Josh 4:6-7

These stones held an important purpose. Joshua explained to the Israelites that these stones would symbolize the miraculous event when God held back the River Jordan just as he did the Red Sea. These stones would serve as a lasting reminder to the Israelites and their children of the power of God and the extraordinary miracle He performed on that day.
“He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’  tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea[c] when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over.  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 4:21-24
We will encounter situations in our lives where we question the presence of God, wondering if He hears our cries and when He will answer our prayers. During these moments, we often experience what can be termed as "answered prayer amnesia," where our focus on the current challenges before us causes us to forget the answered prayers behind us. 
The significance of these stones lies in the understanding that the Israelites, like us, would confront numerous challenges ahead. In times of fear, doubt, and disbelief, these stones served as a visible reminder of the miraculous event that happened on the banks of the River Jordan. These stones carry the purpose of providing encouragement not only to the Israelites in their moments of trial but also for us remember the instances where God has intervened in our lives.
Just as God directed the Israelites to gather their stones, we too must collect our own. We need to reflect back on a period in our lives when God performed a miraculous work, whether within us, a loved one, or a situation. I encourage you to write these moments down and store them in your Bible. When navigating through challenging and difficult circumstances, retrieve your "stone" as a reminder of God's faithfulness. Remember He made a way for you back then, and rest assured, He will make a way for you now.
Looking back on the initial days of our marriage, I can clearly see now God's provision for our every need, even in the face of financial challenges. This particular moment stands as one of my "stones," and a tangible reminder that God remains faithful to His word and His people. My hope is that this message encourages you to gather your own "stone" – a memorial that testifies to God's goodness and His power to deliver you from whatever challenges you may be facing, leaving a lasting legacy for both you and your children.