Jordan River Stones

Jordan River Stones - Stones In My Jordan
by Gloria Small

It is a joy to find it true that, if we open our hearts to Him, the LORD continually teaches us. Passages of scripture that have been read over and over suddenly jump out at you and the lesson there is always perfectly timed. Just that sort of thing happened to me. I have been so blessed and thrilled by the application of this truth to my heart that I wanted to share it. The passage is found in Joshua the fourth chapter.

The context of this chapter is, of course, the passing of the children of Israel over the Jordan into the Promised Land. The LORD had instructed Joshua to tell one man from every tribe to pick up a stone from the midst of the Jordan and to carry it to Gilgal. There Joshua was to set up those stones as a memorial of what the LORD had done for them that day and what He had done at the Red Sea (Joshua 4:20-24). The word for this stone is "eban." The Holy Spirit brought to my mind the "stone of the help," Ebanezer, that Samuel had set up when the LORD gave them the victory over the Philistines (1 Samuel 7:9-14).

Yet, there were two sets of stones mentioned in Joshua chapter four! That is something that I had read before but it never really registered. There is also a set of 12 stones that Joshua set up in the "midst of the Jordan" (Joshua 4:9). It is this set of stones that are "there unto this day," that the LORD has used to bless my heart.

Jordan River Stones – What are these Stones?
When the LORD applied the stones as a lesson to my life and heart it seemed everything I heard or read re-enforced the truth. Isn't it a wonderful thrill when that happens? The Spirit asked me, "What means these stones?" My soul had to answer, "these are the stones of the help that the LORD has allowed to come into my life."

As I look back through it now, I can see those stones. They have not been "stones of stumbling." Rather, the afflictions that I have seen have been building material. God has been building upon the foundation He laid in my life with those stones. Not only that, He is the one who carries the burden! What JOY!

Where are those stones? In the midst of my Jordan! I am still traveling through my Jordan, walking upon the dry ground He has prepared for me. Along the way, I see those "stones of the help" that are constant reminders that "He who has begun a good work in me, will be faithful to complete it" (Philippians 1:6).

These are stones of remembrances of battles He has won, of steps of faith taken in His Name. Those stones will remain there until "the day of Jesus Christ" and they are built upon His foundation that is under me and will be until I reach my final home with Him. How my heart filled to over flowing with love and gratitude when this lesson came flooding over me.

Jordan River Stones – Conforming Me
The process that we constantly go through, as the LORD conforms us to the image of His Son, is not always an easy one. It seems we ever learn from the "rocky places." It is the oasis of His Word that refreshes us with springs of living water. These times of encouragement from the Spirit of Christ living with in us help us along the way. The Word that is "spiritually discerned" fills us and gives us His strength to "keep on keeping on" as we journey through our own Jordan, knowing this promise that is sure "I will never leave you nor forsake you." The lesson of these stones has brought me peace and joy in the midst of the battle. So if it looks like the waters of your Jordan are about to overwhelm you, look around for those stones.