Remember God!

19 The people crossed the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month. Then they camped at Gilgal, just east of Jericho. 20 It was there at Gilgal that Joshua piled up the twelve stones taken from the Jordan River. 21 Then Joshua said to the Israelites, “In the future your children will ask, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 Then you can tell them, ‘This is where the Israelites crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the river right before your eyes, and He kept it dry until you were all across, just as He did at the Red Sea when He dried it up until we had all crossed over. 24 He did this so all the nations of the earth might know that the Lord’s Hand is powerful, and so you might fear (reverence, respect, or worship) the Lord your God forever.” Joshua 4:19-24 (NLT).

The crossing of the Jordan River was a miracle! Joshua reminded the people to remember that the Lord God had dried up the flooding Jordan River right before their eyes. Israel crossed the river while the river was overflowing and at flood stage. To memorialize this miraculous event, Joshua directed Israel to build a memorial of twelve stones taken from the riverbed. God wanted the people to never forget who was guiding and giving them the Promised Land (see also Joshua 4:6, 21). In this crossing, God demonstrated to Israel and the other surrounding nations His great power and a witness to His faithfulness. Most important, God revealed that He was the living, true, and powerful of heaven and the whole earth that cares for His people (Joshua 2:10-11; Joshua 3:10; Joshua 4:24). 

The crossing of the Jordan River occurred the tenth day of the first month.  On the ancient Hebrew lunar calendar, this event occurred in late March, April, or early May and a few days before Passover. The miracle of the Jordan River crossing on dry land (Joshua 3:14–17) recalled the miracle of the Red Sea crossing forty years earlier by Israel escaping Egyptian slavery (Exodus 14:21–31). Israel had its first Passover in the Promised Land signifying God’s faithfulness to keep His promises (Joshua 5:10). Thus, God can always be trusted! So, tell everyone to remember God and His great faithfulness (Lamentations 3:21-26).