Thursdays with Joshua

Read Joshua 4:4-7 – Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” (NKJV)

What do your children know of your personal journey with God? What about other family members? Have they heard the stories that have taught you to depend on God? Sadly, many parents compartmentalize their lives in such a way that their local church makes a greater effort to teach their children about God and His goodness. What a tragedy when parents have so much greater influence. When Joshua’s generation celebrated God’s miracle, they set up twelve stones as a “talking point” for conversations with their children. Those stones were a personal illustration of God’s power and faithfulness, and the stories had the potential to stir faith in their descendants. Your stories do too. Tell them more often.

– Dr. Mike Clarensau serves as Senior Director of the Healthy Church Network of the Assemblies of God.