Stones to Remember

Passing God’s Story to Future Generations

The first five chapters of Joshua read like an adventure novel.

God’s deliverance of the Israelites is a saga full of peril, narrow escapes, heroic battles and a rising leader who overcomes all the odds to enter the Promised Land. God’s faithfulness, mercies and provision are evident on every page.

In one particularly epic moment, God instructed the Israelites to wade into the swirling unknown of the Jordan River. The moment their feet touched the water’s edge, the current stopped, and the entire nation crossed on dry ground.

Subsequently, God told them to gather 12 large stones from the riverbed for transport to their camp.

He said to the Israelites, “In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over. He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.” (Joshua 4:21-24, NIV)

Paving the Path

Like the Israelites, we each have stories of God’s abiding presence on this adventure we call life. From the mundane to the miraculous, He is constantly working “all things together for the good of those who love him and are called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Remembering these moments provides more than just peace for today. These accounts of God’s goodness are instructive and inspiring for those who walk in our footsteps.

Ask yourself:

• How have I seen God provide in my past?
• From what swirling waters has He rescued me?
• Where do I see evidence of His mercies today?
• What gives me confidence to follow Him wherever He leads?

Take time to lay down stones of remembrance, then tell the stories to your friends, your family, your community and all who will listen!

Your stones pave the path for future generations to believe in and experience God’s never-ending faithfulness. Your stories make known that “the hand of the Lord is powerful,” so they may “always fear the Lord your God.”

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This content is written as part of Generosity Today (2026, Issue 2).