This is part of a video series covering the entire Bible in 4 years, one chapter at a time. Start at the beginning with Genesis 1 (Youtube link: https://youtu.be/wC2qD4RGOdo) and work through the playlist. Or go to https://www.peace.org.au/bible.html for more information.
In this video listen to Joshua 4 read by David Alley, followed by comments and prayer.
In Joshua 4 After they had crossed over, the water still hadn’t gone back yet, they were able to go in and take twelve big stones and build a monument. Once the blockage upstream was removed it would have still taken a significant time for the water to flow down, giving them ample time to collect the stones. And, they also built a second twelve stone monument in the river, which ended up being covered over.
Some commentators think that the double monument is a picture of the believers' experience in Baptism, both being buried in Christ, and being risen in Christ. That’s probably right because the monument in the water makes no sense at all as nobody would see it.
The book of Joshua notes that these monuments are “there to this day” which is the day that Joshua wrote these words, being within living memory of the event. Today (the year 2021) the monument outside the water no longer seems to be there, but there is no doubt it happened. Other monuments such as the one on Mt Ebal which is large and harder to remove are still there, so this much smaller, easily moved monument could have had any number of things happen to it over time.
Interestingly this chapter mentions the number of fighting men from Rebuen, Gad and Manasseh who crossover, which is about 97000 less than was counted in the second census in Numbers 32. This video explains why.
They finally get across the Jordan and have their first day in the promised land on the 10th day of the month of Nisan, which is four days before Passover, and the day on which the Passover lamb is selected. This video talks about how selecting Christ leads you into promise.
Jul 20, 2021 | Message by David Alley