It was on this day that Israel, under the leadership of Joshua, the son of Nun, crossed over the Jordan River and erected the twelve-stone monument at Gilgal. This is recorded in the 4th chapter of Joshua:
Now the people came up from the Jordan on the tenth day of the first month, and they camped in Gilgal on the east border of Jericho. And those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever.” (Joshua 4:19-24)
These twelve stones taken from the river bed were to serve as a testimony of what God had done for Israel, from the time they left Egypt until the day they crossed over into Canaan. Later, people would look at these stones and reflect on all that God had done. One would assume that this monument would provoke later generations to serve Him out of awe and gratitude. In other words, these stones spoke to those who would listen.
Centuries later, in the same area where these stones were set up by Joshua, John the Baptist came preaching repentance and baptizing those who responded to his message. His preaching also provoked the religious people of his day to pay him a visit. They didn’t come looking to be baptized but inquiring about his mission: “Are you a Elijah?” “Are you that prophet that should come?” “Are you the Messiah?” And to all of these queries, John said:
“Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:7-10)
He was telling these religious people that, being born into the right family doesn’t guarantee entrance into God’s family of faith. If He wanted to, God could raise up children to Abraham from stones. The question then is, what stones was John referring to? Was he referring to stones that were scattered upon the ground or was he was referring to the stones that Joshua and the children of Israel had set up as a memorial for future generations? If the latter is the case, what was John’s point in calling attention to these stones? The memorial stones were intended to speak to those who would listen, bearing witness to God’s goodness and, consequently, our need for repentance.
That now brings us to another event that occurred on the 10th of Aviv. When Israel was preparing to leave Egypt, the 10th of Aviv was the day they were to bring a spotless lamb into their homes and inspect it and make sure that it was spotless. On the 14th day it was to be slaughtered and its blood placed upon the doorposts of their home. That blood would be the sign between them and God, prompting Him to pass over their homes and protect them from the destroyer.
We should not be surprised that, 1500 years later and on the same day, the Rabbi from Nazareth, Yeshua, came riding into Jerusalem on the foal of a donkey and as He did, the people cried:
Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest! (Matthew 21:9)
And so, on this day, Yeshua as was hailed and Savior and King by many of His disciples. That declaration, however, provoked the religious elites to anger. They chided Yeshua and demanded that He rebuke those who were proclaiming Him as king. His response was, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40). God has used stones in the past and has alerted us to the fact that, if we do not declare that Messiah is King, He will use stones again. Let us purpose within our hearts that no stone will speak in our stead. Let us declare Him as King in our lives, our homes and nation. Be blessed.
Shalom.
And also it says in I Peter 2 that “we are living stones being built into a spiritual house.” It all fits together. Beautiful teaching! We love all your teachings.
Wow. You have posed some interesting questions.
This is what comes to mind at present.
Brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Therefore bear fruits worthy of repentance, and do not think to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I say to you that God is able to raise up children to Abraham from these stones. And even now the ax is laid to the root of the trees. Therefore every tree which does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” (Matthew 3:7-10)
Regarding the above passage, and the question, what stones if Yahshua referring to, the twelve stones piled up after Joshua and the children of Israel crossed the Jordan, or stones on the ground.
I guess it could be either.
Thinking about the 12 stones piled up.
You might say those 12 stones represented the entire house of Israel, everyone who crossed over, from all 12 tribes.
Now the Bible also calls us living stones.
1 Peter 2:5
New International Version
you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.
The Bible also says that all the future decendents of a person live inside their loins/womb. ?
Hebrews 7:9-10
9 And as I may so say, Levi also, who receiveth tithes, payed tithes in Abraham.
10 For he was yet in the loins of his father, when Melchisedec met him.
So if those twelve 12 stones piled up, that represented the whole house of Israel, and each person who crossed over were also carrying all their descendents in their loins (or womb),
Then perhaps Yahshua was saying that from all the descendents of the people who crossed over the Jordan that day, he can change them into living stones, which can, literally, cry out!
Regarding Luke 19:40, where it says that Yahshua told them that if the people kept silent, the rocks would cry out,
I think YHVH/Yahshua could make actual, hard rocks cry out, if YHVH wanted to do that.
And I read a scientific article that said, that when rocks are hit with a laser, they emit sound.
With man things are impossible, but with YHVH all things are possible.
The other thing that comes to mind are some interesting passages about witnesses.
The Bible calls the sun and moon witnesses.
Psalm 89:36-37
36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me.
37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah.
And here is another interesting passage that mentions witnesses:
1 John 5:5-8
5 Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?
6 This is he that came by water and blood, even Jesus Christ; not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit that beareth witness, because the Spirit is truth.
7 For there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost: and these three are one.
8 And there are three that bear witness in earth, the Spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three agree in one.
I heard you on Glen Beck today re: the Ark of the Covenant.
Are you familiar with the many verified findings of Ron Wyatt who has graduated to his reward? In the 70 – 80’s he verified where Mt/ Sinai is and the Red Sea passage to it with evidence of chariot wheels etc. He said later that he ALSO found the Ark under where Jesus was crucified and had the blood on the Ark that had dripped from the Cross (from a crack left by the earthquake) analyzed by local scientists who said it only had one male Y chromosome – besides the female 26 chromosomes. The Jewish authorities KNOW where it is. Also the Shroud of Turin has been PROVEN – beyond all doubt – that it covered Jesus’ crucified body. Much evidence re: its authenticity. (I also have 3 free books and Grace-based original music on my Blog site below.) Enjoy Jesus!
Leonard;
Yes, I am familiar with Wyatt’s findings. Shalom.