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Day 204 – Instructions Joshua 4:1 It happened, when the people had crossed over the Jordan, that JEHOVAH spoke to Joshua, saying, 2 “Take for yourselves twelve men from the people, one man from every tribe, 3 and command them, saying, ‘Take for yourselves twelve stones from here, out of the midst of the Jordan, from the place where the priests’ feet stood firm. You will carry them over with you and leave them in the lodging place where you will lodge tonight.’” 4 Then Joshua called the twelve men whom he had appointed from the children of Israel, one man from every tribe; 5 and Joshua said to them, “Cross over before the ark of JEHOVAH your Elohiym into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, 6 that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’ 7 Then you will answer them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of JEHOVAH; when it crossed over the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones will be for a memorial to the children of Israel forever.” 8 The children of Israel did so, as Joshua commanded, and took up twelve stones from the midst of the Jordan, as JEHOVAH had spoken to Joshua, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel and carried them over with them to the place where they lodged and laid them down there. 9 Then Joshua set up twelve stones in the middle of the Jordan, in the place where the feet of the priests who bore the ark of the covenant stood; and they are there to this day. 10 The priests who bore the ark stood in the middle of the Jordan until they finished everything JEHOVAH commanded Joshua to speak to the people, according to everything Moses had commanded Joshua; and the people hurried and crossed over. 11 Then it came to pass, when the people had crossed over, that the ark of JEHOVAH and the priests crossed over in the presence of the people. 12 The men of Reuben, the men of Gad, and half the tribe of Manasseh crossed over armed before the children of Israel, as Moses had spoken to them. 13 About forty thousand prepared for war crossed over before JEHOVAH for battle, to the plains of Jericho. 14 On that day JEHOVAH exalted Joshua in the sight of Israel; and they feared him, as they had feared Moses, every day of his life. 15 Then JEHOVAH spoke to Joshua, saying, 16 “Command the priests who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan.” 17 Joshua therefore commanded the priests, saying, “Come up from the Jordan.” 18 It happened, when the priests who bore the ark of the covenant of JEHOVAH had come from the middle of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, that the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed its banks as before. 19 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. 20 Those twelve stones which they took out of the Jordan, Joshua set up in Gilgal. 21 Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ 22 then you will let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; 23 for JEHOVAH your Elohiym dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as JEHOVAH your Elohiym did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, 24 that the peoples of the earth may know the hand of JEHOVAH, is mighty, that you may fear JEHOVAH your Elohiym forever.” God’s names: JEHOVAH – Self-existent, Eternal Elohiym – Supreme God Yeshuwa – Jesus God’s character: Instructor Did you ever do something you needed a precise set of instructions for, or it wouldn’t work out? It wasn’t one of those projects where you could look at it and know what you needed to do without looking at the instructions. JEHOVAH told Joshua what the children of Israel needed to do to cross the Jordon River and enter the Promised Land. When they crossed the river, JEHOVAH then told Joshua to have twelve men gather stones from the middle of the river to set up as a memorial of what JEHOVAH did for them when they crossed the Jordon River on dry ground. As soon as they completed the task given to them, the priests came out of the Jordon River and the river returned to its full strength, overflowing the banks as it did before. Without Elohiym instructing them in the way they needed to cross over the Jordon River, they could not have accomplished what Joshua told them to do. Precise instructions and obedience to JEHOVAH caused the Israelites to cross the Jordon River. When you accepted Yeshuwa as Savior and Lord, you committed your life to Him to obey Him in everything He told you. Yet, many Christians fail to read the instructions, their Bibles, to know what Elohiym requires of them. What did Solomon say about instructions? Proverbs 1:1 The proverbs of Solomon the son of David, king of Israel: 2 To know wisdom and instruction, to perceive the words of understanding, 3 to receive the instruction of wisdom, justice, judgment, and equity; 4 to give prudence to the simple, to the young man knowledge and discretion. Proverbs 2:1 My son, if you receive my words, and treasure my commands within you, 2 so that you incline your ear to wisdom, and apply your heart to understanding; 3 yes, if you cry out for discernment, and lift up your voice for understanding, 4 if you seek her as silver, and search for her as for hidden treasures; 5 then you will understand the fear of JEHOVAH, and find the knowledge of God. 6 For JEHOVAH gives wisdom; from His mouth comes knowledge and understanding; 7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly; 8 He guards the paths of justice and preserves the way of His saints. 9 Then you will understand righteousness and justice, equity and every good path. You won’t understand what you need to do if you don’t read the instructions. JEHOVAH didn’t give You His Word so it will lie on a shelf unread. He gave you His instructions so you will live. Micah 6:8 He has shown you, O man, what is good; and what does JEHOVAH require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your Elohiym? Only when you follow His instructions will you know His will for your life. Israel couldn’t cross the Jordon River without instructions. When they obeyed Elohiym, they crossed over on dry ground. JEHOVAH will do the same for you when you read and obey what He tells you in His Word. Let’s pray: Father, help me to read, study, and know what Your will is for my life. Help me follow Your instructions every day of my life. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen. Copyright © 9 August 2024 by Valerie Routhieaux The image belongs to me.