Into the Promised Land Part III
Elaine Poproski Download: Audio
Sunday Scripture Reading: Joshua 4:1-18 (NRSV)
1 When the entire nation had finished crossing over the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua: 2 “Select twelve men from the people, one from each tribe, 3 and command them, ‘Take twelve stones from here out of the middle of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood, carry them over with you, and lay them down in the place where you camp tonight.’” Read more…
Looking to Sunday: Preparing to Hear from God
by Elaine Poproski
This Sunday we’ll continue the story of Israel crossing the Jordan river into the Promised Land. Last week we focused on the events of Joshua 3. This week we’ll move into Joshua 4. This chapter is written in a more muddled fashion than the first three chapters. It’s as if the storyteller keeps interrupting himself with previously forgotten/overlooked points or wants to make sure the most important pieces aren’t missed so repeats them again and again. Regardless, the story is still really clear:
The priests carrying the Ark of the Covenant stood in the middle of the Jordan River.
The water stopped and the people crossed on dry land.
A memorial of this event was built on the shore of the Promised Land, using stones gathered from the middle of the river.
As I was reading about this story this week, I came across this quote: “the greatest enemy of faith may be forgetfulness”[1] These words ring true to me. All through the Old and New Testaments of the Bible, every time God’s people stray from God’s ways, they’ve forgotten God’s activity among them. In my own life it is true that faith is most difficult when I forget all the ways God has shown up at earlier times in my own life. When I remember, my faith is strong.
As you prepare for Sunday, I wonder if it might be helpful to spend some time remembering the ways God showed up in your life in the past. For those of you who have been part of Walmer, I wonder if it might be helpful to spend some time remembering how you’ve witnessed God showing up in our church in the past. On Sunday we’ll take some time for remembering and I expect our faith will be stronger because of it.