Remember 2020: Joshua 4

“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” (Jos. 4:24, NASB).

The year 2020 is known as a year of unprecedented times and uncertain times. In the minds of many people there has never been a time like this before. While many of us have never experienced a time like the year 2020, I disagree with the conclusion that there have never been times like this before. I believe that the preacher is right when he says, “That which has been is that which will be, and that which has been done is that which will be done. So there is nothing new under the sun” (Eccl. 1:9, NASB). The preacher continues with this way of thinking, saying, “There is an appointed time for everything. And there is a time for every event under heaven” (3:1). “I know that everything God does will remain forever; there is nothing to add to it and there is nothing to take away from it, for God has so worked that men should fear Him. That which is has been already and that which will be has already been, for God seeks what has passed by” (3:14-15, NASB).

If Solomon is right, what is the reason that the American people are so overwhelmed with what is taking place? People are expressing that they cannot wait until 2020 is over and they can start toward a better life in 2021. How do we know that things will be better in 2021? Can we control the events that will take place? How can we be sure that things are going to be better in 2021? Many of us think that 2020 is the worst year in their lifetime, but as the preacher states above, what has taken place in 2020 is nothing new.

This article is written in hope that the reader will appreciate the majesty and the sovereignty of God. We must abandon our belief that we can figure out ways to remedy that which God has caused to be. Instead, Christians ought to be aware of what God has done so that they are in the position that they are in. You see, the book of Joshua is the story of the hardships and difficulties that God’s people continually face as they fight to take the land that God is giving to them. We should know that what we are going through others have gone through in the past, and future generations will be confronted by the same problems in the future. Let us get into our scripture passage in hope that we will face each challenge with faith in God. We must learn that God has His own purpose for allowing and yes, even causing the events that we see taking place in the world in which we live.

Joshua 3-4 is the story of the Israelites crossing the Jordan River into the land of Canaan. The Jordan River is overflowing its banks (3:15), but God divides the waters so that the people cross over on dry ground (3:13). Before they cross the river the Lord commands Joshua to choose twelve men, one from each of the twelve tribes of Israel, to take a stone from the river to the other side (4:2-4). Joshua takes these stones and he erects a memorial at Gilgal. What is the purpose of this memorial? Have we failed to take notice of the memorials that our foreparents left for us to remember what has been done in the past and what we can expect tomorrow? What are we to learn from these memorials? How should we utilize them to help us when we are faced with crisis in the future? There are at least four things that the Israelites are to be aware of, and they should pass these to their children.

First, their children will be curious as to what these stones mean. The stones become an object lesson for the parents to use to educate their children. “Let this be a sign among you, so that when your children ask later, ‘what do these stones mean” (4:6, NASB). Notice here that it is the stones that arouse the curiosity of the children causing them to assess their own lives. Now, I am an African American male, seventy-two years old. I believe that a lot of the shock and anger of young Black people is because the African American people are failing to educate their children on their history. Young African Americans are shocked to learn about past atrocities done to Black people in America. Further, they are just as much lacking in knowledge of the many success stories that their ancestors accomplished during the years of slavery, reconstruction period, and the period of Jim Crow laws. In addition, few African American young people are aware that they have European blood flowing through their veins. They may be unaware that the white person that is mistreating them might be a cousin that is Black, but they are passing themselves as a white person.

Secondly, the stones give opportunities to teach the young about their faith history; the history of their faith in God. The white news media highlight the past abuses, but they fail to help educate young Black people that they live in a world marked by cruelties among all people and against all people. The African American church is guilty of emphasizing the responsibility of the government to meet the needs of people. At the same time, even the Black church does little to make the people to know that their ancestor’s successes were realized because of their faith in God. Their faith was not demonstrated in their praise and worship services. The authenticity of their faith was demonstrated in their obedience to God’s commands in their daily walk with the Lord.

Our ancestors depended not on the government, rather they trusted in the mighty power of God. The Black church ought to use their pastor’s anniversaries and other special days not to praise people; rather they ought to be used to emphasize that God has done great things through His people and for His people. “For the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you crossed, just as your God had done at the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed” (4:23, NASB).

Thirdly, our success can become a witness to other people. “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” (4:24, NASB). When I was a child the African American church had a great influence on the community. I believe that the church continues to have great influence in the community. Yet, it seems to me that our communities are suffering more today than I experienced as a lad growing up in the south. What do I attribute this suffering to? I believe that we suffer more because we do not fear the Lord. We worship and praise the Lord, but the Lord does not pay attention to the noise. God desires a people with a contrite heart; and a people that will humble themselves and live according to His commands. The more that we honor the Lord is the more that people will see the power and love of God. When they are no longer the enemies of God, they will stop being our enemies. When they become the friend of God they will become our friends.

Finally, after the Israelites cross the Jordan they prepare themselves to serve the Lord. This is what is being emphasized in chapter five when the sons of Israel are circumcised. They must prepare themselves to serve the Lord because the land is not conquered yet. Chapter six tells us about the fall of Jericho. The book of Joshua tells us about the battles and the wars that the sons of Israel must fight in order to take possession of the land that the Lord promised to give to the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. We cannot forget 2020. We must remember 2020 as a year that we made it through by the grace and power of our God.