Joshua (4)—The Work of the Lord Jesus - All The LORD is near Daily Devotionals for 2025

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 … and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged, and laid them down there. 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.
Joshua 4:8–9

Joshua (4)—The Work of the Lord Jesus
The long-awaited day had come! Although it was overflowing all its banks, Israel had crossed the Jordan. By God’s command the ark, borne on the shoulders of the priests, had passed on at a distance of 2000 cubits before the people. When the priests had come to the Jordan and stepped into the edge of it, the waters flowing down from above had stood and risen in a heap very far upstream, so that all Israel had crossed over on dry ground.

Never should the people of Israel forget this marvelous event! God instructed Joshua to have one man from each tribe take a stone from where the priests had stood still with the ark in the middle of the streambed. These stones were to be piled up as a memorial at the place where Israel would lodge that night. God expected that in time to come children would ask for the meaning of this heap of stones. Their parents were then to tell them how God had brought their ancestors across the river into the land.

This should speak to us, too. It is important for us to tell our children of God’s great salvation, how He has brought us from death to life through the work the Lord Jesus accomplished on Calvary’s cross. His work should ever be fresh in our minds.

Before the priests came up out of the streambed, twelve stones were also set up where they had stood. These would not be seen by man, but would ever be visible to God. The work of the Lord Jesus is ever before the eyes of God. It will always be precious to Him. He delights too to hear us remind Him of it in worship.

Eugene P. Vedder, Jr.