College Press Bible Study Textbook Series
Joshua 4 - Introduction
A DIGEST OF CHAPTER 4
The memorials of the crossing. The purpose for the selecting of twelve men from among the tribes of Israel was finally demonstrated as each man took a stone out of the midst of the Jordan River and carried it to the western shore. Joshua himself set up twelve stones in the midst of the Jordan in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the Ark of the Covenant had stood.
The crossing completed. Joshua was shown to be God's appointed leader as the crossing was successfully completed. After all the people had crossed the Jordan, the priests themselves came up out of the Jordan. When the priests came up out of the Jordan River valley, the water returned to its place and flowed over all its banks as it had done before.
The purpose of the memorial. God did not perform a miracle simply to make the expedition of the Israelites an easy matter for them. What He did was accomplished in order that the Israelites might fear God and all the people of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is mighty (Joshua 4:24).
LESSONS FOR LEARNING
1.
The fathers are teachers. God had commanded Joshua to select twelve men from among the tribes of Israel to bear stones up out of the Jordan valley. These were to be set up as a memorial of the crossing of the Jordan River. God foresaw the day when their children would say, What mean ye by these stones? (Joshua 4:6). The ancestors of the Israelites would be able to remind them that this was a memorial of God's great miracle in allowing Israel to cross the Jordan on dry ground.
2.
God honors His leaders. When Joshua did what God had commanded him to do, the Lord magnified him in the sight of all Israel. As a result of this honoring of Joshua, the people of Israel feared him as they had feared Moses all the days of his life. If Joshua had not kept God's commandment, he would not have had this honor. Similar honor will be given to all of God's servants as they live lives of faithfulness for Him.
3.
All men should know about God. The memorial which the people of Israel erected near Gilgal on the west bank of the Jordan reminded Israel of how God had blessed them. It also stood as a testimony to all the people in the earth that the hand of the Lord is mighty (Joshua 4:24).
TEN QUESTIONS ON CHAPTER 4
1.
How many men did Joshua select to carry the memorial stones?
2.
What were the names of the three eastern tribes who crossed over Jordan with the main force of Israel?
3.
What day of the month was it when they crossed Jordan?
4.
In what month was the day of the crossing?
5.
What was the name of the place where Israel first camped west of Jordan?
6.
What was the purpose of the memorial for all people?
7.
What was the purpose of the memorial for Israel?
8.
Did Joshua put up a second memorial?
9.
How many stones did Joshua put in the memorial which he erected where the priests stood?
10.
Where did the men who carried stones out of the Jordan set up their memorial?