Memorialized deliverance

So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, [5] and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the LORD your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, [6] to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ [7] tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.” Joshua 4:4-7

Here we find the Israelites waiting on the banks of the Jordan River during the harvest when the river would be at its highest levels. Perhaps much like when God waited until the last moment to part the Red Sea, he pauses until the river is at flood-point. He seems to wait until situations are the most dire before showing his hand, which would undoubtedly increase his glory once he moves. I believe that this also should elevate the level of gratitude that we extend toward him. By way of comparison, if where much is given, much is required (Luke 12:48), then it would seem appropriate that where the deliverance is greater, the praise should also be.

While we should be thankful for God showing his hand in our lives, both great and small, most would agree that there are times when he shows up compellingly. When we rise in the morning, it is appropriate to say, “Thank you, Jesus, for another day.” But when he breaks the stronghold of anxiety in our lives, for example, an elevated level of appreciation is merited. This is when we need to search out some spiritual stones in our lives and give God something more befitting of what he has done for us. The Israelites also carried the rocks on their shoulders [v5], indicating they were heavy. Sometimes, God moves so powerfully that we must put additional effort into being thankful.

But what if you are still standing on the spiritual banks of the Red Sea or the Jordan River? What if you are still waiting on God to show his hand in your life and are still actively struggling with your issues? As it turns out, this is the perfect time to build your memorial for your impending deliverance. You are about to have a collision with the provision of God! Imagine God sitting upon his throne as he watches you build a memorial to the victory he hasn’t delivered yet. You are thanking him for stuff he hasn’t even done! That is the type of faith that motivates the heart of God to show himself strong in your life, so delivered or not, begin memorializing your victory and show God that you trust him with your life, and you will put meaningful effort into being thankful for his presence.