STACKING STONES
God says, "Remember the former things of old, for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like Me," Isaiah 46:9.
The photo of stacked stones above was beside a river outside Skagway, Alaska. A number of people had stacked stones in this very stony area. Stacked stones can mean a number of things, but one of them is as a memorial for something. That's what God meant when He had Joshua take 12 stones from the center of the Jordan River after God had miraculously pushed the waters back so that the Israelites could cross over to the other side. Those 12 stones were set up in Gilgal as a memorial of remembrance to remind the people what God had done for them.
God knows how quickly we humans tend to forget so many things. Not only do we forget names and birthdays, but we forget more important things like how God rescued us from a dangerous situation or worked a miracle in our lives in the past. It only took a month for the Israelites to forget what God had done for them when He brought them through the Red Sea and delivered them from slavery in Egypt. They began to complain that things weren't running smoothly at the moment and they were ready to turn back.
God had to remind them, "beware, lest you forget the Lord who brought you out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage," Deuteronomy 6:12. Two chapters later, He said, "And you shall remember that the Lord your God led you all the way these forty years in the wilderness, to humble you and test you, to know what was in your heart, whether you would keep His commandments or not," 8:2.
The first time I ever saw stacked stones was on a trip to Utah way back in 2007. There on a trail were several places where people had stacked stones. You can see me adding a rock to the stack.
In her Bible study workbook, "One Thousand Gifts," Ann Voskamp writes, "The people of Israel had a tradition of stacking stones as a memorial to remind them of something great that God had done. Cross the Jordan ... stack some stones. God delivers us from our enemies ... pile up some stones. Then, when children and grandchildren saw a stack of stones and asked, "Mama, what does that stack of stones mean?" She could tell the story of God's faithfulness again."
Ann goes on to say, "When we get moving too fast, we no longer collect memories, stack stones, or write journals. We don't have time to gather our thousand gifts and revel in God's goodness. We no longer tell the stories of God."
The latest stack of stones I came across was in Savannah, Georgia, in March. This short stack was
atop a granite memorial with a plaque that read, "Original 1733 burial plot allotted to the Savannah Jewish Community, with the name James Edward Oglethorpe." I wonder who put the stack and the surrounding rocks on top of the memorial?
The Apostle Paul knew the importance of remembering and he applauded his Corinthian friends, saying, "Now I praise you, brethren, that you remember me in all things and keep the traditions just as I delivered them to you," 1 Corinthians 11:2. These were Christians who walked the walk and followed the teachings of Paul - a man who followed the teachings of Jesus.
"I will remember the works of the Lord; surely I will remember Your wonders of old. I will also meditate on all your work...Who is so great a God as our God?" Psalm 77:11-13
Let's stack some stones in our heart this week and remember all the good things God has done in our lives -- beginning with His greatest gift of all -- His Son Jesus Christ. Let's praise God from whom all blessings flow!
