3.9.2025 | Crossing the Jordan River
Joshua 1; 3-4
The Gateway Arch stands 630-feet tall over the city of St. Louis, Missouri. Built in 1963, the arch is made of concrete and steel, and it weighs more than 43 tons! This impressive monument is meant to remember and celebrate the westward expansion of the United States that connected the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. It is known as the “Gateway to the West.”
Monuments like the Gateway Arch are meant to help people remember the past and symbolize important events. The practice of building monuments dates back to ancient history and can be seen many times throughout the Bible. After God miraculously stopped the Jordan River for the Israelites to pass through, He gave Joshua specific instructions for building a monument. The Israelites took 12 stones from the middle of the river, and they built a monument to remember what God had done. Whenever someone asked why those stones were there, the Israelites could retell the stories of their strong and mighty God.
Psalm 78:4 says, “…tell a future generation the praiseworthy acts of the Lord, his might, and the wondrous works he has performed.” Remembering the amazing things God has done helps us trust Him. We can also tell others about His wondrous works—like how He sent Jesus to save us from our sin—so that they might believe in Him.
God’s presence went before the people, and the waters of the Jordan were stopped. God’s people crossed safely into the Promised Land. Jesus went before God on behalf of sinners. All who trust in His life, death, and resurrection are saved from judgment and enter into eternal life.
