Count the Victories – Dr. Hona Amer

Scripture:

“Joshua called out the twelve men whom he selected from the People of Israel, one man from each tribe. Joshua directed them, ‘Cross to the middle of the Jordan and take your place in front of the Chest of God, your God. Each of you heft a stone to your shoulder, a stone for each of the tribes of the People of Israel, so you’ll have something later to mark the occasion. When your children ask you, ‘What are these stones to you?’ you’ll say, ‘The flow of the Jordan was stopped in front of the Chest of the Covenant of God as it crossed the Jordan—stopped in its tracks. These stones are a permanent memorial for the People of Israel’.’” Joshua 4:4-7 (MSG)

Perspective:

During a baby’s first year, parents are often involved in creating “baby” books for their children. The books are created from special memories, keepsakes, and monumental moments in the baby’s first year. When we are in school, we are given yearbooks to document the people in our class and events throughout the school year. When people die, we remember them through a type of memorial stone at their grave. When significant moments happen, we like to remember them.

After the Israelites had miraculously crossed through the Jordan River, God instructed the people to do something to remember it. They were to take a stone from the middle of the Jordan River and create a memorial to remember how God parted the waters of the river. Interestingly, God did not ask them to just pick up a stone from the banks of the river as a token. He wanted them to remember the impossibility of the situation. The large stones came from the bottom of the river. Without God intervening, they would have never crossed the expanse of the river. Do you have any memorials set up to remember how God has miracuolous intervened on your behalf? After God provides the finances, the job, the healing, it is easy to celebrate that victory. But, a few weeks, months, or years later, the chasm of time tends to separate us from the wonder and awe we first experienced. Quite frankly, it is too difficult to remember all the ways God has been specifically good to us. So, what do you do to count the victories God has given you? Maybe you record them in a journal, hang a picture in your office, or have some other reminder. God wanted the Israelites to remember the miracle of crossing on dry ground forever. He wanted them to tell their children and grandchildren about it. He wanted the godless nations to see the memorial and recognize God’s power. And He wants to do the same in your life. Make sure to count the victories God has given to you so that you can proclaim God’s goodness for generations to come.