Joshua 4 describes the Israelites’ crossing of the Jordan River and the creation of a memorial to commemorate this miraculous event.

1. Verses 1-7: God instructs Joshua to have one man from each of the twelve tribes take a stone from the Jordan’s riverbed. These stones were to be set up as a memorial at their camp to remind future generations of how the Jordan was stopped so they could cross.
2. Verses 8-14: The men took twelve stones from the Jordan, as instructed, and carried them to their camp. Meanwhile, the priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stood in the river until everyone had crossed.
3. Verses 15-18: God commands Joshua to instruct the priests to come up from the Jordan. When they did, the waters returned to their place.
4. Verses 19-24: The Israelites camp at Gilgal, where Joshua sets up the twelve stones. This act served as a sign to all people of the earth about the power of God and that they might always fear the Lord.

Life Applications

1. Remembering God’s Faithfulness (Verses 1-7): Like the Israelites, we should find ways to remember and celebrate God’s past faithfulness in our lives, using these memories to strengthen our faith in current challenges.
2. Unity in Following God (Verses 8-14): The act of each tribe contributing a stone symbolizes unity in following God’s commands. We, too, should work together in our communities and churches, united by our shared faith.
3. Obedience to God’s Timing (Verses 15-18): The priests waited in the Jordan until they were instructed to leave, showing obedience to God’s timing. Similarly, we should trust and wait for God’s timing in our lives.
4. Witnessing to Others (Verses 19-24): The memorial served as a testimony to others about God’s power. In our lives, we should be ready to share our stories of God’s work in our lives to encourage and witness to others.

Joshua 4 teaches about the importance of remembering God’s acts, unity in faith, obedience to God’s timing, and witnessing to others about God’s greatness.