Remembering what God’s done.

Scripture:
So the men did as Joshua had commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan River, one for each tribe, just as the Lord had told Joshua. They carried them to the place where they camped for the night and constructed the memorial there. –  Joshua 4:8

Observation:
The nation of Israel had crossed the Jordan River bed on dry ground because God had walled up the water and pushed it upstream until all had crossed over. Then God told Joshua to have one man from each tribe to gather a stone to be erected at the campsite as a memorial to the crossing.

Application:
Because of the pride of our hearts, especially when God provides us with material possessions, we tend to forget that what we have would not exist without God’s blessing. It is so easy to think that we provide for ourselves when times are aplenty. However, when the rough times and patches hit, we go running to God and cry out for his mercy and provision. The nation of Israel was no different in OT times. They’d get themselves in a bind and then cry out to God for salvation and redemption, and of course, he’d rescue him out of his love for them, as his people. Because it’s so easy to forget what God’s done for us, it necessary to erect a memorial to him and his graciousness. It doesn’t have to be a physical memorial as was the 12 stones from the Jordan River, but we can log all that God has done for us in a book of remembrances, just as Moses had done in his day. Why? Because we need to remember not only what God has done for us but to remember that it was (and is) God who provides.

Prayer:
Father, you are Jehovah Jireh, the LORD God my provider. I have nothing in life without you. You own everything on earth and the fullness thereof. We are YOUR creation. We have over time rebelled and created in our minds worlds that of which we think we are in charge. However, you’ve proven to us time and again that YOU ALONE are the Master of the universe and that we must rely upon you. The day that we forget where our provision comes from is the day we have become proud and arrogant and are in danger of destruction. LORD, I never ever want to forget all the great and marvelous things which you’ve done for me starting with salvation and ending with the fact that I am alive at this very moment. Each breath is a gracious gift of life from you. May I never take for granted one thing that you’ve done for me. Thank you, and I love you. In Jesus’ name, Amen.