Memorials

“He (Joshua) said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?....that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.” Joshua 21-24

In the book of Joshua, many changes were taking place. Joshua was appointed by God to take the leadership after the death of Moses, a new generation in place from the ones that had left Egypt that are now deceased, another new sea crossing on dry ground, renewal of circumcision covenant, but one thing remained the same—the all-powerful God they served. Joshua had each of the 12 tribes of Judea take a large stone and set it up as a memorial to the faithfulness, powerfulness of a God that demands our deepest honor, respect and reverence.

This is not only true of Joshua’s day, but true of our day as well. We are the one that should be rehearsing to our children what God has done in our lives, to give glory to God, testify to His greatness, to remind ourselves of His faithfulness to us, to teach and encourage the next generation of the faithful and powerful God they serve. Point to the memorial stones in your life and share them with your children and grandchildren. Remind them that we serve a God that is same yesterday, today and forever. God has not changed, nor His Word or works in our life.

It continues to build faith as my mom tells of pastoring a storefront church and how God supernaturally supplied needs, or remind me of the many healings God has given me, or how she experienced being baptized in the Holy Spirit as a young lady and how God has led her faithfully all these years—events big and small. This is a testimony that I not only read about in the scriptures, but have witnessed myself and encourages me in the awesomeness of the powerful, faithful God I serve.

It’s time to tell the next generation, “that the hand of the LORD is powerful and so that you might always fear the LORD your God.”

Pastor Ruth Kaunley