Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Dinosaur Bones" for Tuesday, 3 September 2014 - Read Joshua 4:1-9

Nashville, Tennessee, United States - The Upper Room Daily Devotional "Dinosaur Bones" for Tuesday, 3 September 2014 - Read Joshua 4:1-3 When the whole nation was finally across, God spoke to Joshua: “Select twelve men from the people, a man from each tribe, and tell them, ‘From right here, the middle of the Jordan where the feet of the priests are standing firm, take twelve stones. Carry them across with you and set them down in the place where you camp tonight.’”
4-7 Joshua called out the twelve men whom he selected from the People of Israel, one man from each tribe. Joshua directed them, “Cross to the middle of the Jordan and take your place in front of the Chest of God, your God. Each of you heft a stone to your shoulder, a stone for each of the tribes of the People of Israel, so you’ll have something later to mark the occasion. When your children ask you, ‘What are these stones to you?’ you’ll say, ‘The flow of the Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest of the Covenant of God as it crossed the Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are a permanent memorial for the People of Israel.’”
8-9 The People of Israel did exactly as Joshua commanded: They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan—a stone for each of the twelve tribes, just as God had instructed Joshua—carried them across with them to the camp, and set them down there. Joshua set up the twelve stones taken from the middle of the Jordan that had marked the place where the priests who carried the Chest of the Covenant had stood. They are still there today.
Those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name.(Malachi 3:16 (NIV))
We keep a little bowl of rocks on our front porch. These chunks of gravel and flint are nothing special. But to my young grandson, these rocks were dinosaur bones. And our yard was full of these treasures. So we leave the “dinosaur bones” on our porch to remind us of that special little boy with the vivid imagination.
Israel was told to take stones from the middle of the Jordan and set them on the banks of the river as a reminder of their safe passage across the river. Like the Israelites, we can find hope and comfort in remembering God’s watchful care when we face difficult circumstances.
As I remember God’s faithfulness, I know that God remembers me and writes my name in a special book of remembrance (Mal. 3:16).
The Author: Thomas Buice (Tennessee)
Thought for the Day: Today I will remember God’s mercy and faithfulness.
Prayer: Thank you, Lord, for so many reminders of your love for us, as we pray,“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us today our daily bread. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one” (Matt. 6:9-13, NIV). Amen.
Prayer focus: Grandparents sharing their testimony
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