Joshua 4 (6)

Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What arethese stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the LORD your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the LORD your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the LORD, that it ismighty, that you may fear the LORD your God forever.” Joshua 4.19-24

Reflect.
1.  Why do you suppose Joshua took so long to explain this heap of stones to the people?

2.  How many purposes can you identify for this work of art?

Think about it.
Curiosity and speculation about those twelve stones must have been building. Joshua would not leave the people in the dark for long. By the end of the day, everyone in the camp would understand the meaning of this work of art.

Our text says that the final arranging of the stones was Joshua’s work (v. 20). We’re not sure what the final form of the monument was, but let’s assume a pyramid: five stones on the bottom (one at each corner and one in the middle, touching the other four), then four in the gaps between the bottom four and the middle stone, topped by two more, with perhaps the capstone balanced or wedged between those two on the top?

I don’t know if that was the shape of the heap, and it doesn’t really matter. The important point about the structure was that twelve separate stones were joined into one structure, representing the one nation of Israel made up of the twelve tribes descending from Jacob.

We note three purposes for this structure: first, that it might serve as a monument to recall God’s miraculous deliverance of Israel into the land of promise (vv. 22, 23); second, as a witness of God’s power to the peoples of Canaan and elsewhere who would see it (v. 24); and finally, to teach the people to fear the LORDtheir God forever.

Joshua is both artist and docent here, assembling the work and then explaining it to the people. While this heap is a work of abstract art, that doesn’t mean everyone is free to impose their own meaning on it: “This is what it means to me.” Joshua set the meaning which God had explained to him (vv. 4-7). The work might be admirable for many reasons – the smoothness and shape of the stones, the proportions and the whole, the way light would peak through and around the structure, etc. – but its artistic features were all together intended to the ends God determined and Joshua explained.

God Himself ordained the use of art as a witness to Him and His mighty acts. 

Meditate and discuss.
1.  Christian history contains nearly 2,000 years of a wide variety of works of art celebrating God and His works. Are we wise to remain ignorant of these works? Why or why not?

2.  Why was it important that Joshua explain the meaning of these stones to the people? Why not just leave them to their own ideas about them?  

3.  Should churches teach about Christian art and its place in the mission of making disciples? Explain.

“Moreover, the thing here principally treated of is the monument of twelve stones; for though it was formerly mentioned, a kind of solemn dedication is now related, namely, that Joshua not only erected a mound, but called the attention of the people to its use in enabling fathers to keep the memory of the divine goodness alive among their children. From his introducing the children asking, What mean these stones? we infer that they were arranged so as to attract the notice of spectators. For had they been heaped together at random without any order, it would never have come into the mind of posterity to inquire concerning their meaning. There must therefore have been something so remarkable in their position as not to allow the sight to be overlooked.” John Calvin, Commentary on Joshua (1509-1564AD)

Lord, You have given us Your Supper as a memorial to Your saving work and to bring us more truly and deeply into participation in Your life. As I prepare for Your Supper, help me to…

Pray Psalm 132.
This psalm, a work of poetic art, is a memorial to God’s faithfulness in fulfilling His covenant with David. Concentrate on words that describe or allude to Jesus or His work – “dwelling place,” “tabernacle,” “Anointed,” “provision,” and so forth. Give God specific thanks for what these words suggest about the work of Jesus on our behalf.

Psalm 132.8-18 (Finlandia: Be Still My Soul)
Arise, O Lord, come to Your resting place; 
Your holy presence meet with us in might. 
Clothe us with righteousness in Jesus’ grace, 
And we will shout to Your divine delight!
For David’s sake, turn not away Your face, 
But look upon us in Your holy light.

Remember, Lord, the oath You swore to David; 
Do not turn back, do not deny Your Word:
“One of your sons, with your throne I will favor, 
And He shall keep My cov’nant evermore, 
And walk within My testimonies ever, 
Thus He shall ever rule as Israel’s Lord.”

God dwells among us, and He will forever, 
To meet our needs and clothe us with His grace.
He has to us sent Jesus Christ, our Savior, 
And made us His eternal resting-place.
His foes are banished from His presence ever, 
But we shall reign with Him before His face.

T. M. Moore

Where does the book of Joshua fit in the ongoing story of God’s covenant? Our workbook, God’s Covenant, can help you discover the place in God’s work of redemption not only of Joshua but of all the books of the Bible. God’s Covenant is a valuable resource to guide you in all your studies in God’s Word. To order your copy, click here.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).