Milestones

In my OT readings I just finished up Deuteronomy and am now onto the conquests of Joshua. Moses, their fearless and wise leader has just died and Joshua is now in command.  After 40 years of rebellion & walking in the wilderness, with manna as their main dish with a large side of grumbling and complaining, its finally time for the people to take the land God promised them.  On the way over the Jordan (crossing over dry ground as God parts the waters for His people yet again) 12 leaders, one from each tribe, are told to pick up a stone. This is in obedience from the command the Lord told Moses (Deut 27) and the He kindly gave instructions and reminded them again when it was time (Joshua 4).

Now it says they carried them over their shoulder, so I am thinking it's probably something a little bigger than whats currently in your driveway.  They are then to place it in a pile  in the promise land.  Pile em up, so that when their kids say, "Um, mom, dad, why is there a mound of rocks there? and can I climb them?" They can say, "Well, boys & girls, your grandma & grandpa were disobedient to God and didn't believe He could do what He said, so they had to walk around for 40 years in a wasteland. After all of that generation died, God allowed us, their children to inherit the promise land.  So don't forget God's commands, His power, and that He will do what He promises!  He is in control of everything, even that river, so that when we came into the land we walked through it with the Ark of the Covenant (God's presence) on dry ground! ...And no, you can't climb the hill of stones."


Some of you might have sang the old hymn "Come Thou Fount", I'm pretty sure we sang it at my wedding.  Anyway, one verse has a strange phrase, which I have grown to love, "Here I raise my Ebenezer", which is a Hebrew word for "Stone of Help".  Samuel knew his history and knew the importance of remembering what God had done.  He dubbed the stone "Ebenezer" after capturing back the ark of the covenant from the Philistines.  This takes place just 4 miles south of the same place they originally celebrated God's provision.  Ebenezer is a word now used to describe something that reminds of God's love, presence & help.

I just celebrated my first milestone of 1 year of marriage!  I too can look back at God's faithfulness, my grumbling, and say God is faithful! :)  I am trusting in His promises that His grace and power are enough for the road ahead and man am I grateful for my husband who is an Ebenezer to me as well.  Thanks for sharing this journey with me sweetheart!

I hope your in the mood for a little African safari.