Purpose of Memorials Joshua 4

A bust of General Nathan Bedford Forrest is on display in the Tennessee State Capital in Nashville, Tennessee. There have been efforts by legislations and community proposals to have the bust removed from the state capital and moved to a museum. To this day all legislations to remove the bust have failed to pass in the legislature of Tennessee. What is the fuss all about? Who is General Nathan Bedford Forrest? Why does the bust exist, and why does it need to be removed?

Nathan Bedford Forrest was a General in the Confederate army during the civil war. Forrest owned slaves, and when the war ends he becomes one of the founders of the Ku Klux Klan (KKK). Thus, a bust of this man on public display is offensive and hurtful to descendants of African slaves. Those who oppose removal of the bust claim that they want to keep the bust because the general is an important central person in the state’s history. Now, this statue is one of many on display throughout southern states in our country. In the past several days there has been an increase in efforts to remove these statues; and even pull them down as civil rights groups such as Black Lives Matter are demanding that significant and effective changes be made in social injustices to end systemic racism, structural oppression, police brutality, discrimination, and prison reforms.

In this article and the next article I want to address the issue of statues and memorials. In this article I want to address the purpose of memorials. I will draw upon the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the Promised Land as recorded in Joshua 4. Next week, I will address the issue of removal of these statues and symbols. We will draw upon the story of Hezekiah King in Judah as recorded in 2 Kings 18:1-6 along with the reign of his son and successor Manasseh as recorded in 2 Kings 21:1-9.

What is the purpose of erecting a memorial? The crossing of the Jordan River is recorded in Joshua 3. The Ark of the Covenant is carried by the Levitical priest and the people follow. Now, there is a sense in which the ark is similar to a military battle flag. Its presence seen tells the soldiers that that they are still in the battle and there is hope for victory. In this story, the ark is a message of hope for the people that God is successfully leading them across the Jordan River into the land that the Lord promised to their forefathers. The ark means that the people can have faith in their God. Victory is certain.

In Joshua 4 the writer records that Joshua command that a memorial be set up. Obeying the commands of the Lord, Joshua selects twelve men, one from each of the twelve tribes. These men are to take up a stone from the river (4:5). The Israelites led by Joshua obey the command of the Lord and cross the Jordan River. Then Joshua explains the purpose of the stones set up as a memorial in Gilgal (v. 20). Let us examine the words of Joshua.

“He said to the sons of Israel, ‘When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ Then you shall inform your children, saying ‘Israel crossed this Jordan on dry ground. For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed just as the LORD your God had done to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed; that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the LORD is mighty, so that you may fear the LORD your God forever” (Josh 4:21-24, NASB). The memorial serves to remind a people of their history. What can we learn from the memorial that Joshua erects and the words that he gives to the Israelites?

A memorial tells of an event that has significant meaning to a people. In this case, the memorial is erected to commemorate the successful crossing of the Jordan River into the Promised Land by the Israelites. When this story is told it will include the fact that the Lord had caused the deep waters to stop flowing. This allowed the people to cross on dry ground. This is not the first time that the Lord has acted on behalf of His people. For, forty years earlier, He had done the same thing at the Red Sea when the people crossed to freedom out of bondage in Egypt.

A memorial pays homage to one that has a significant role in their history. It tells of the accomplishments of the people under the leadership of a significant person. In this story the significant personality is the Lord. It is the Lord that parts the Red Sea. It is the Lord that leads them through the wilderness for forty years. It is the Lord that feeds them with quail and manna during their wandering years. The Lord leads them to fresh water. The Lord provides them water in a dry land. The Lord keeps their shoes and clothes from wearing out.

A memorial means there is victory ahead. The people will take possession of the land that God promised to their forefathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob that He would give to their descendants. They did not make it thus far on their own strength. Rather, they have come this long way over this long time because the Lord honored the faith of Abraham. If they are to continue to make progress in taking the land and possessing the land it will be because of their faith in the Lord their God.

Finally, it is a message to other people of what the memorial means to them. The Israelites will live in a land among people that do not know the Lord. The memorial will remind them to tell their story to other people. The memorial is a witness to the awesome power of God, His good will toward His people. It is a witness that the Lord is gracious and compassionate. He shows mercy to the one that trust in Him.

Therefore, when we, the America people look upon the statures of persons that lived for and fought for white supremacy, discrimination, abuse, and yes murder of other people, we must ask what the purpose is for honoring men like General Nathan Bedford Forrest? What is being celebrated? Does it not mean celebrating slavery? Does it not mean celebrating white supremacy? Does it not mean that the goal of those celebrating this man as a hero that they are holding on to white supremacy at any cost. Discrimination, systemic racism, structural oppression, and police brutality are all tools used to maintain the doctrine of white supremacy. Let America think seriously about the purpose of memorial and statures that honor men that have hearts of stone.