Stones at Gilgal and Ebenezer

Joshua 4:20-24 (ESV)

20And those twelve stones, which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up at Gilgal. 21And he said to the people of Israel, "When your children ask their fathers in times to come, 'What do these stones mean?' 22then you shall let your children know,  'Israel passed over this Jordan on dry ground.' 23For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan for you until you passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which he dried up for us until we passed over, 24 so that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever."

1 Samuel 7:12 (ESV)

 12Then Samuel took a stone and set it up between Mizpah and Shen and called its name Ebenezer; for he said, "Till now the LORD has helped us."

As we look back over the last year and especially the last few months, we clearly feel the mighty hand of the LORD in the process.  Metaphorically speaking, we are collecting mile stones along the way and setting up a monument so that when our children ask, when people wonder and even when we may have times of doubt, we will be reminded of his presence and provision.

Most of the 'stones' are unique people and specific relationships that God has been placing before us.  At times it is circumstances that unfold in supernatural ways. There are several marks or tokens that God has deposited into our lives, some that we have been carrying over our lifetimes that only now we can look back and see how he has been preparing the way.  The people of Israel carried the 12 stones from the river Jordan to about another ten miles to Gilgal so that they would have them close to where they would end their journey.  They did not want to forget God's faithfulness.  Samuel's Ebenezer stone was a symbol for Israel of God's protection and how he subdued their enemies.

We carry these 'stones' in our hearts as monuments of his faithfulness.

John 20:21 (ESV)

21Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you."

The world will hear God speak and see God act.  It is for us to be - it is for Him to do.


*We have a growing list of 'stones' on the left column of this blog page.

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