RPG Adults
THE MEANING OF THE MEMORIAL SET UP IN GILGAL
FRIDAY, OCTOBER 20
Joshua 4:19-24
John 8:31-36
“And ye shall know the truth,
and the truth shall make you free.”
THE MEANING OF THE MEMORIAL SET UP IN GILGAL
Gilgal was the first stop of Israel in Canaan. It was a city between River Jordan and Jericho. It was the tenth day of the first month that Israel encamped in Gilgal. “The name means rolling a wheel in a circle. The special association which Israel had with the name was the rolling away of their reproach by their circumcision after long neglect of the ordinance in the wilderness” (Davis Dictionary of the Bible).
Joshua pitched the twelve stones there. He did this by the express command of God. This was meant to be a testimony to future generations that God dried the waters of River Jordan and also the Red Sea earlier when they came out of the Land of Egypt. These were the words of Joshua, “When your children shall ask their fathers in time to come, saying, What mean these stones? Then ye shall let your children know, saying, Israel came over this Jordan on dry land. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of Jordan from before you, until ye were passed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red sea, which he dried up from before us, until we were gone over” (Josh 4:21-23).
This was a testimony to pass on to the generations to come. They would then learn more about God, His attributes and how He related to them. A visible memorial would be an object lesson to the future generations. There were many wonders in the Exodus that were not repeated, but the memorial would testify of those wonders.
God has a cloud of witnesses, as the book of Hebrews calls such testimonies. The promises of Scripture are true and the salvation that has been offered to us freely will truly lead us home. Jesus makes a call to all who are needy to go to Him and find rest for their souls (Matt 11:28-30). He promised to go and prepare a place for His own and to come to take them home (John 14:1-3). Come to Jesus today, and live. His offer gives you a sure hope of eternal life.
THOUGHT: A memorial is a landmark that testifies for the truth. This truth is found in the perfect Scriptures today.
PRAYER: Father, may I be part of the witnesses for the truth.