It is Sunday and I just cannot resist giving a little A little Sunday School lesson this morning.
Let’s talk about Rocks. Not this kind of rock: “Dude you rock” or ” Rock on Garth” or “It’s only rock and roll but I like it” (and I do by the way).
I want to talk about stones, boulders: ROCKS.
My favorite book, the Bible, has something important to say about these commonplace objects. In Joshua chapter 4, the Lord was about to do something miraculous for and with His children, known as the Jews or Israelites. The Lord was about to move over a million people and their possessions through a river that was swollen full due to the season of the year. It is highly probably that few of these people actually knew how to swim, owing to the fact that they had been camping out in the desert for the past 40 years or so.
You probably remember the story- for the second time in their recent history, God parted water. He held it back long and well enough so that over a million people could walk through from one bank to the other on dry land. Imagine how long this could have taken. God must be pretty strong.
The part I want to emphasize this morning is not the miracle of piling up water. That is apparently no big thing for our God. I want to emphasize piling up rocks. God told Joshua that He would hold back the water long enough to have 12 men go back to the middle of the river, pick up 12 stones, as large as they could carry, and stack them up on the other side in an organized pile. The Lord intended (if you will allow me to presume here) for these simple everyday rocks to become the catalyst for many more miracles to come. Miracles far greater than the one Israel just witnessed.
He told them to pile up the stones at the riverbank so that when their children and the children to follow would ask “What do these stones mean?”, the fathers could tell their kids and grandkids about the miracle that God performed that day when He parted water to allow safe passage for those He loved. He anticipated that men’s hearts would be changed as fathers retold the story of God’s faithfulness toward His family.
I know a modern day family that has just such a rockpile at their home, right at the front door. They have written dates on smooth stones and piled them up neatly at the front door. I asked them about the rocks and their writing on them and they began to tell me and my family the long story of God’s goodness to their family, even through difficult circumstances. It stirs emotions in me still today, though we have long since moved from that city and lost contact with those people.
We owe it to our children to build such rockpiles. It is important that we men tell our kids and others of the wonderful acts of our faithful God. We forget so fast. Seems we tend to, over time, shift credit for God’s works into our own account. You know those times when we beg God just to save our sorry heinie from some circumstance of our own doing, then time and pride taint the memory to assign our salvation to our own cleverness . . .
I suppose a literal pile of stones is not necessary, and could be impractical if one lives on the fourth floor. But I do think that is important for us to display clever and mysterious clues that point to God’s goodness to us. It is good to encourage ourselves to speak of the creator in terms of His fingerprints upon us, his children. Imagine parties at your house and how the usual banal discussions of our careers might be redirected as guests discover your clever rockpile and inquire about it.
Our Lord so easily becomes just a concept. Just God. Don’t we all deal with feeling distant from Him from time to time?
Somehow, for me at least, seeing the gospel written on another’s life always draws me back to Him. Hearing of His excellent goodness toward a friend or family member softens my foolish and prideful heart. The challenge here for us all is to pile up rocks where people will see them and ask about their importance. I tend to hide the rocks in my heart.
Does God still do miracles? Yes, every time a dad tells his son or daughter about our Lord’s faithfulness at least one heart loses some hard scales. That is a miracle every time. Miracles are performed in marriages every day when spouses look back and remind each other of how good God has been through the hard and good times. Miracles can happen when friends see the gospel written upon the history and fabric of our lives.
Tags: bible, God's goodness
Stumble It!
June 5th, 2008 at 7:44 pm
Beautiful…Funny, I am wearing my “Courageous Faith” bracelet that I got when our church was studying Joshua. My life, the last few years has been extremely difficult. I had a teen that was out of control due to emotional problems and depression (I had to have him arrested once for attacking my other son and turning on me), my hub and I had become more like room mates, and not very close ones at that, and I was overwhelmed with life. I was attracted to a man and it scared me to death but I was addicted to his faith in me and his comforting words. I remember nights sitting in my back yard sobbing because I just wanted to die.
God was so good to me. He helped me find Corey (Simple Marriage) and took that man out of my life before anything happened. My son settled down and because of Corey’s help I am now closer to my hubby than ever before. I just want our relationship to grow more and more intimate. I am crazy about him. One of the reasons I read your blog is to learn more about men and improve my relationship with the hub even more.
I cannot tell you how in love with Jesus I am. God has saved my life. He gave me strength to keep living and to work it all out. He put the right people in my life. He gave me comfort.
If you asked me before all of this, “Laurie do you love God?” I would have said sure. I had no idea what loving God was really. Now, oh my…I can’t believe that I am so in love with God. I am passionate about him. There was one time I was feeling like I was just an ugly duckling (a long time feeling) and I asked God what he thought of me. The next Sunday at church a man that I don’t know, stopped me and said, “I just wanted to tell you that you are so beautiful.” Wow, I felt like it was God’s reply.
I have had a horrible time this last year at work but God gave me an idea that I am turning into my own business. He is an awesome provider.
The Joshua story, for me the thing I remember is that the Jews had to step into the water before God parted it. I have to step into the water and have faith that God will do his part. I stepped into Corey’s office and God preformed some very big life changing miracles. I quit my job (tomorrow is my last day) and am starting my own business, something I will love).
Before all of the family pain I was ok with dying and really kind of wanted it. I watched buses going by and wondered what it would be like to just step in front of one. Now, I can’t get enough living. Life is a wonderful adventure. My relationships are awesome and work will rock! I not only like sex now, I want it and ask for it. I finally take everything off during it. I feel free.
I feel good, something I can’t remember feeling in such a very long time. I feel joy and peace and I really know that God knows what I have gone through and cared for me the whole way. He used it to bring us closer. I can’t believe the God of everything would take time out of his schedule to notice me, a small insignificant piece of dust but he really, really does. I LOVE YOU GOD! YOU ROCK! Ahhhhh that felt so good. Thanks for listening.
June 6th, 2008 at 6:01 am
@Laurie-
Excellent word for the day!
And freedom washes over us as we realize that it is all His “part”. I dilute His goodness when I endeavor to “help out”. This is what Paul is talking about when he refers to dying to self.
I pray you experience the continued blessings of a Father who loves you, your husband, and your kids more than you could ever imagine.
BTW: I perceive in your writing that you have walked a good and long walk with the Lord. Perfection is not his intent for us- walking with Him is. Isn’t that freeing?
Blessings
June 6th, 2008 at 6:08 am
It is freeing, more than I ever would have imagined! Thanks.