Take 12 Stones

"Pick up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests’ feet were standing, bring them along with you, and put them down where you camp tonight."  Joshua 4:3  ISV

This morning I was reading in the book of Joshua.  I read of how God instructed Joshua to take over where Moses had left off, how Joshua sent spies across the Jordan, and how God parted the waters of the Jordan for the Israelites to pass - just as he had done with the waters of the Red Sea when they left Egypt.  As I think of that moment, I realize that after 40 years in the wilderness, there would have been a whole new generation of people that had not been there for the parting of the Red Sea.  God revealed himself to them that day in a way that would verify the stories they had been told and assure them that God was still with them even though Moses no longer was there.

Then, before the priests stepped out of the Jordan, God told Joshua to have the Israelites choose 12 stones from the riverbed.  So Joshua chose one man from each tribe and told them:

"Cross over again in front of the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan River. Then each of you pick up a stone on his shoulder with which to build a memorial, one for each of the tribes of Israel. Let this serve as a sign among you, so that when your children ask in times to come, ‘What do these stones mean to you,’ then you’ll say to them, ‘Because the waters of the Jordan River were cut off in front of the Ark of the Covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan River, the waters of the Jordan were cut off.’ So these stones will become a memorial to the Israelis forever.” Joshua 4:5-7 ISV

This really struck me.  God knows how easily we can forget the way that we've been led, and how hard it can be for our children to understand what we've been through as God led us.  One thing that can help is to take physical reminders of the journey and create an "altar".  I remember that I had started to do this with my most recent journey.  I have had several VERY concrete examples of God's guidance as I've moved into this new career and wanted to remember them.  But I never finished "gathering my stones and building my altar". 

This happened for two reasons that were closely entwined:

1. I wanted to build something that was rather elaborate.  Instead of simply choosing 12 stones and setting them in place, I wanted to make something more beautiful and striking - more like the altars that had been crafted for the tabernacle than a simple pile of stones.  I wanted my experiences documented in a scrapbook that was beautifully crafted and would draw the eye.
2. I was too busy "possessing the land" to finish my memorial.  I DID start it, but never got it completed because I never had time to create the beautiful "altar" that I wanted to create in the midst of following all the guidance I was receiving regarding my new ventures.

At this point, I'm not sure what to do with regard to this "altar" of remembrance.  For me, is there a significance in choosing 12, like there was for the Israelites?  What would the stones represent for me?  The stones in the story would have been ones that weren't ordinarily seen, coming from the depths of the experience and usually covered by water.  Water can represent many things.   What might it represent for me here?  As I think back to the guidance I received as I contemplated the creation story, I remember water as representing emotions.  What "touch stones" might there be in my experiences that are in danger of being hidden by my emotions?  Where were my fearful emotions held back in a powerful way to allow me to move forward more easily?  Perhaps these are the types of experiences I should look for as I seek to build this "altar of remembrance". 

When I re-read the story, I realized something else.  Perhaps I've been too hard on myself in thinking I should have built the altar before now.  Everyone (except the priests carrying the ark) crossed that river.  THEN the 12 were told to go BACK into the riverbed to choose their stones.  Perhaps now is my time to go BACK to the riverbed and choose my stones?

Father, thank you for the way you have been leading me!  I am so amazed at what you have done in and through me!  And your gentleness, Father!  So often when I start to beat myself up thinking I should have done more or different, you step in and ease my mind as you once again did this morning.  Thank you!  Father, I once again seek your guidance as to how I am to memorialize this experience.  Thank you for guidance in this matter as well as any others that may come up.   I seek your will this day, Father.  May your will be done in my life, I pray.  Thank you, my Father!  Thank you!