God’s power in parting the Jordan and the tangible reminder of the memorial stones displays His desire for us to never forget His faithfulness.
“Then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.’” (v.7)
In Joshua’s day (circa 1400 BC), the Jordan River served as a major geographical boundary between the wilderness and the Promised Land. By a divine miracle, the LORD caused the flow of the Jordan to stop “when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off” so that the Israelites, led by Joshua, could pass on dry ground. The Jordan River runs from the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea, and was known to flood its banks during harvest season (Joshua 3:15). Stopping the rushing current allowed the people to experience God’s power firsthand as they entered Canaan, fulfilling the promise first given to Abraham and later carried on by Moses. Joshua, who had succeeded Moses, provided leadership during this pivotal crossing, guiding Israel to set foot in the land God had sworn to give them (Joshua 1:10-11).
Afterward, the LORD instructed Joshua to have twelve men take stones from the riverbed. These stones were set up as a visible reminder “so these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” Placing a memorial in a prominent location showed that God’s intervention was to be remembered by all generations. Each time the children of Israel saw the stones, they would recall and share the story of how the LORD’s hand had halted the waters “before the ark of the covenant of the LORD.” Joshua, whose name in Hebrew means “Yahweh is salvation,” stands in a long line of covenant leaders chosen by God, demonstrating that salvation comes through dedicating oneself to the LORD’s ways and trusting His power Hebrews 4:8-9).
This miraculous crossing foreshadows the spiritual deliverance later fulfilled in Jesus, who likewise provides a passage from the wilderness of sin into new life (Romans 6:4). The stones in Joshua’s day echo the Christian practice of remembering Christ’s work—just as the Israelites looked at the memorial to recall their crossing, believers look to the cross and resurrection to remember their redemption. Physical memorials and rituals can be gifts from God to keep hearts aligned with His faithfulness and persevering love.
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Joshua 4:7 meaning
“Then you shall say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD; when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. So these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.’” (v.7)
In Joshua’s day (circa 1400 BC), the Jordan River served as a major geographical boundary between the wilderness and the Promised Land. By a divine miracle, the LORD caused the flow of the Jordan to stop “when it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off” so that the Israelites, led by Joshua, could pass on dry ground. The Jordan River runs from the Sea of Galilee down to the Dead Sea, and was known to flood its banks during harvest season (Joshua 3:15). Stopping the rushing current allowed the people to experience God’s power firsthand as they entered Canaan, fulfilling the promise first given to Abraham and later carried on by Moses. Joshua, who had succeeded Moses, provided leadership during this pivotal crossing, guiding Israel to set foot in the land God had sworn to give them (Joshua 1:10-11).
Afterward, the LORD instructed Joshua to have twelve men take stones from the riverbed. These stones were set up as a visible reminder “so these stones shall become a memorial to the sons of Israel forever.” Placing a memorial in a prominent location showed that God’s intervention was to be remembered by all generations. Each time the children of Israel saw the stones, they would recall and share the story of how the LORD’s hand had halted the waters “before the ark of the covenant of the LORD.” Joshua, whose name in Hebrew means “Yahweh is salvation,” stands in a long line of covenant leaders chosen by God, demonstrating that salvation comes through dedicating oneself to the LORD’s ways and trusting His power Hebrews 4:8-9).
This miraculous crossing foreshadows the spiritual deliverance later fulfilled in Jesus, who likewise provides a passage from the wilderness of sin into new life (Romans 6:4). The stones in Joshua’s day echo the Christian practice of remembering Christ’s work—just as the Israelites looked at the memorial to recall their crossing, believers look to the cross and resurrection to remember their redemption. Physical memorials and rituals can be gifts from God to keep hearts aligned with His faithfulness and persevering love.