ESOCS Devotional 9 August 2024 – Leave a Mark Worth of Memorial
MEMORY VERSE: “That day the Lord exalted Joshua in the eyes of all Israel and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses.” Joshua 4:14 NIV
TEXT: JOSHUA 4:1-14
And it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over the Jordan, that the Lord spoke to Joshua, saying: 2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You shall carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you lodge tonight.’ ”
4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 Then you shall answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. And these stones shall be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.”
8 And the children of Israel did so, just as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as the Lord had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 9 Then Joshua 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 stood; and they are there to this day.
10 So the priests who bore the ark stood in the midst of the Jordan until everything was finished that the Lord had commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to all that Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. 11 Then it came to pass, when all the people had completely crossed over, that the ark of the Lord and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. 12 And the men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. 13 About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before the Lord for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, all the days of his life.
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A memorial is set where you can see yesterday in a mark existing today. The confirmation of the miracle of the children of Israel crossing the Jordan river has become an age long reality by virtue of the monument set up with stones from the Jordan riverbed – “And they are there till this day.”
This mark was made by Joshua who devoted his time, energy and resources to serve God in loyalty and sincerity. He served Moses (the anointed and revered man of God) meritoriously and as a reward, God appointed him into the office of his master and exalted him as he exalted Moses. In Joshua 4:14, it is written: “… that the day the Lord exalted Joshua in the sight of all Israel; and they revered him all the days of his life, just as they had revered Moses” (NIV).
God truly takes note of all our activities, particularly those that have to do with the service rendered in obedience to the mandate He has given us. When God sends a man to accomplish a task, it is for God to make a name for Himself and thereby honour the messenger.
The life of the Old Testament prophets and the New Testament apostles are replete with ever living memorial monuments from which we can learn how majestic and mighty God is, and how unique and honourable the servants of God can be. Today, we draw great inspiration from the fire from heaven that consumed the sacrifice at the instance of Elijah; the killing of Goliath by young David; the leadership of Peter over the early Church and the missionary/apostolic extra ordinary exploits of Apostle Paul and the other Apostles. These and many more others, not excluding the prophetic and miraculous exploits of father, St. Moses Orimolade of which the entire world of Cherubim and Seraphim Churches are not only proud but have inspired our growth and multiplication.
The hallmark of it all is that we should be able to continue the flow in building monuments that will tell posterity the kind of God our generation served (Joshua 4:6, 7).
- What are you working on now that will live an indelible mark to give testimony of whom God is to the coming generation?
- Father, empower me for a remarkable exploit, in Jesus name. Amen.
Further Reading: Daniel 5:13-end; Luke 5:1-11, Acts 16:25-end
ESOCS Devotional 9 August 2024
