Read: Joshua 3:1-4:24; Luke 14:7-35; Psalm 80:1-19; Proverbs 12:27-28
Once again, God parted the waters and let his people pass through on dry ground but his commandments to Joshua were different from his commandments to Moses. God told Moses to stretch his rod over the Red Sea but God told Joshua to step into the Jordan. Since the Jordan represents the spirit, it was fitting that Joshua had to step into it. When the priests with the ark stepped into the water the waters would part. The inhabitants of the land had spies watching. I can’t imagine the fear they must have experienced seeing the power of the Israelite’s God.
One man from each tribe was to pick up a stone from the floor of the Jordan and carry it across the river and set it in a pile on the other side. This was to be an everlasting memorial for what God had done for them.
Our rocks that we set in place are our memories of what God has done for us. They are our answered prayers and surprise blessings that God gives us all through our lives. We need to write them down and have them to remind us when we need more faith.
In Luke, Jesus teaches against entitlement. He said that even if you feel entitled to have the best place, take the least, then God can exalt you in front of your friends instead of demoting you in front of them.
Verse 26 says that if you don’t hate your father, mother, etc. you cannot be his disciple. The word “hate” is from the Greek word “miseo” meaning “to love less”. It means that we are to love God more than any human being. Jesus went on to say that to be a follower means that you have counted the cost of following him and you are willing to love Him more than anything on earth. You don’t become a Christian on a whim, you have to first consider the cost. If someone asked you to marry them, you would think about it first and not be hasty. That is the same way with becoming a Christian.
Lord, may we remember the wonderful things you have done for us and may they be stepping stones for our faith to grow.
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