(1 Corinthians 10:4)
Introduction: Remembering the Works of God
In Joshua 4, God commands the Israelites to take twelve stones from the Jordan River and set them up as a memorial. These stones were to serve as a lasting reminder of God’s faithfulness in bringing them into the Promised Land. Similarly, Jesus is our Rock of Remembrance, the foundation upon which our faith is built. As 1 Corinthians 10:4 tells us, “For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.”
Through this passage, we see Jesus as the ultimate Rock—the one who goes before us, carries us through the waters of judgment, and stands as the eternal memorial of God’s redemptive work.
1. The Stones of Remembrance: A Testimony of God’s Power
After the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground, God instructed Joshua to have one man from each of the twelve tribes take a stone from the riverbed (Joshua 4:1-3). These stones were to be placed at Gilgal as a permanent memorial.
Why did God command this?
- To testify to future generations (Joshua 4:6-7)
- To remind Israel of God’s faithfulness (Joshua 4:24)
- To declare God’s power to the nations
These stones were tangible reminders of God’s deliverance, just as Jesus is the living reminder of God’s salvation. He is the ultimate testimony of God’s love and power—His death and resurrection stand as the permanent evidence of our redemption.
Jesus is our living Stone (1 Peter 2:4-5). The memorial stones foreshadowed Christ, who is the foundation of our faith and the one through whom we remember God’s mighty acts.
2. Crossing the Jordan: A Picture of Christ’s Victory
The Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground just as they had done at the Red Sea (Joshua 4:22-23). This event symbolizes death and resurrection, much like baptism.
- Jordan represents judgment – Just as the waters of the Jordan stood still while Israel crossed, Jesus took upon Himself the flood of God’s wrath so we could pass into eternal life.
- The Ark of the Covenant stood in the waters – The Ark represented God’s presence. Jesus, the true presence of God, stood in the place of judgment so we could enter the Promised Land.
- The twelve stones were taken from the place of death – Christ brings us out of sin and death and establishes us in new life.
As Romans 6:4 tells us, “We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
3. Jesus: The Rock that Stands Forever
The twelve stones in Joshua 4 were physical, but Jesus is the eternal Rock. The Bible consistently presents Christ as our foundation:
- The Rock in the wilderness (1 Corinthians 10:4) – He provides living water.
- The Chief Cornerstone (Ephesians 2:20) – He holds the Church together.
- The Stone that the builders rejected (Psalm 118:22) – He is our salvation.
Unlike the stones of Joshua’s memorial, which could erode or be forgotten, Jesus remains unshakable. He is our enduring testimony of God’s grace and power.
Application: Are we building our lives on the Rock of Christ? Do we take time to remember His works, just as Israel remembered their crossing?
4. Teaching the Next Generation
One of the key reasons for the memorial stones was so that future generations would ask, “What do these stones mean?” (Joshua 4:6). Parents were instructed to use these stones as teaching tools to tell their children about God’s faithfulness.
As believers, we are called to do the same:
- Pass down the faith (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)
- Teach our children about Jesus, our Rock
- Live as living stones, testifying of His grace (1 Peter 2:5)
Jesus told His disciples at the Last Supper, “Do this in remembrance of me” (Luke 22:19). Communion serves as our “memorial stone,” reminding us of His sacrifice and the new covenant in His blood.
Conclusion: Are You Holding On to the Rock?
Joshua 4 calls us to remember and trust in the Rock of our salvation. The stones of the Jordan were temporary reminders, but Jesus is the eternal Rock who remains forever.
- He stood in the waters of judgment for us.
- He is the unshakable foundation of our faith.
- He is the testimony of God’s power to every generation.
Let us build our lives on Him, the Rock of Remembrance and the foundation of our faith.
“For they drank from the spiritual rock that followed them, and the rock was Christ.” – 1 Corinthians 10:4
Call to Action
- Reflect: How has Jesus been your Rock in difficult times?
- Teach: Share with someone today how Christ is the foundation of your faith.
- Remember: Take time to reflect on God’s past faithfulness and trust Him for the future.
Would you like to build your life on the Rock that never fails? Trust in Jesus today!
