Parenting by Design - March 13

Stones of faith

Josh. 4:9: Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the Ark of the Covenant had stood. And they are there to this day (NIV).

When Joshua finally led the Israelites across the Jordan into the Promised Land, the water was held back so the people could cross on dry ground. Priests carrying the Ark stood in the middle of the river bed while the people walked across. At that time, two sets of stones were gathered from the river bed to remember the Lord's deliverance. They set up the first set of stones in the middle of the Jordan River before the Ark was carried to the other side and the water resumed its flow.

The second set of stones was set up at Gilgal, the first Israelite camp in the Promised Land. One set symbolized the old life that was now buried and the other set symbolized the new life that was beginning.

When children asked about the stones at Gilgal, their parents could tell them about God's victory, but they could also tell them about a similar set of stones in the middle of the Jordan. These stones could not be seen; they had to believe they were there.

What stories of faith can you pass on to your kids?