Stones of Remembrance
- Jul 11, 2025
- 5 min read
Psalm 105: “Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. Remember the wonders he has done.”
The meaning of these stones of remembrance is simple: GOD IS ABLE.
For the children of Israel, it was 'God is able' to get them across a river of impossibility. For Abraham it was 'God is able' to give us a child when we are long past childbearing age. For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego it was 'God is able' to deliver us from the fiery furnace. For Daniel it was 'God is able' to shut the mouths of hungry lions.
For some of you it is 'God is able' to give new strength for today; 'God is able' to answer my prayers; or 'God is able' to heal our marriage!
We must not forget the blessings of the past, because they serve as powerful reminders that whatever we face now or in the future, GOD IS ABLE!
Charles Swindoll said, “God is able to take your life, with all of the heartache, all of the pain, all of the regret, all of the missed opportunities, and use you for His glory.”
We said last week that the memorial stones were to be a means of remembering God’s goodness and His faithfulness to us, and to help renew our commitment to Him. The stones were a permanent reminder of God's power, promises and presence.
Richard Rohr wrote, “What is the source of your spiritual power? It’s radical union with God, not just doing good things or holding a role or function. Often we make the basis for ministry professionalism, education, and up-to-date-ism, which are all good in themselves. But in the end, the only basis for fruitful Christianity is divine union.”
We must also note that when the Israelite's children ask, "What do these stones mean?" (v6), their parents can declare the glorious truth of how God worked, and how they entered the Promised Land and got to experience the promises of God.
God wanted something to make the children ask questions, and for the adults to have the right answer (see v7)! The purpose of the stone memorial was not only so that THEY might remember God’s goodness, but so that the stories of victory would be passed onto the next generation.
It’s made me wonder - What will my children, grand-children remember most about me? What would they think mattered most to me?
Will they remember activities of a life of joy and fun, or of boring times sat in front of a computer or TV? Did I make time for them and give them that time to truly share precious life with them? Will they remember real and meaningful communications, or of those just
through WhatsApp or text messages? Will they see and know of a loving relationship that gave out, or of one that retracted and became full of excuses? Would God’s goodness be included in their story about me?
So, the stones are to be a reminder to their children!
But also, please note the end of verse 7: "memorial to the people of Israel forever.’" They are a memorial to all the people!
J Beeke and P Smalley say, “God’s faithfulness is His reliability in doing what He has promised… Therefore, God’s faithfulness means that he is completely worthy of our faith.”
You see, God doesn't change. What He accomplished at the Jordan, where He invaded time and space and overcame impossible circumstances, He can accomplish again.
How many of you today know He is a forever God and He can do far more than we can ask or imagine? See Ephesians 3:20-21.
In our culture, which is so often characterised by controversy, conflict and chaos, it’s so easy to lose sight of our faith in the faithfulness of God?
Martin Luther said, “Faith is a living, daring confidence in God’s grace, so sure and certain that a man could stake his life on it a thousand times.”
Lastly, the testimony of the forever memorial is not just for themselves!
Note that in verse 24 it says, “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful and so that you might always fear the Lord your God.”
You ought to know and live accordingly, and then the entire world ought to know!
That call has not changed. We are to know the story, live the story, and take that same story of God’s faithfulness to the world - or try the family or your neighbour first!
At a place called Cave of the Winds near Colorado Springs, there’s a narrow passageway between high rock walls through which it looks as if a car couldn’t possibly go. But facing you is a sign which says: "Yes, you can! Millions of others have!" And so, driving carefully through, you soon come to a wider road.
So many times, we face seemingly impossible situations. But we can know God is able to open ways before us which are now hidden from our view. We may hear God's message to us: "Yes, you can!"
Maybe it is an attitude that needs to be changed, or a relationship that needs mending, or a commitment to holy living that needs to be made. This is your day-to-day response to Father God's faithfulness to you. God does not intend for our relationship to stop after a 15 minute read and quick prayer on a morning, or after a 90-minute session on a Sunday.
Our God is omniscient. He is omnipotent. He has unlimited knowledge and infinite power, and He is able to change that which is unchangeable. Hallelujah!
We can face what is ahead of us when we know Who is with us. Just as the people of Israel could look at the memorial stones and be reminded of what God had done, we too can look at what God has done and be reminded that our trust in Him is not in vain.
Remembering God’s faithfulness in our lives gives us that deep assurance in our spiritual walk to live as a new creation, and because of His love and grace we are free, forgiven, redeemed and reconciled – amazing!
Stop and praise God
Richard Baxter wrote, “Let the truth and faithfulness of God engage you to be true and faithful to Him, and to each other. You have promised Him to be his servants; be faithful in your promises…”
When was the last time God did something amazing in your life? Where was it that God brought you through and enabled you to stand in that wide open space and you came into something so wonderful that life will never be the same again?
Don’t forget how God’s power can work in your life, and in the lives of others. He can stop the raging rivers of bitterness, and dry up those tears of regret in our lives. This story tells me that even after 40 years, God can still make a way through.
Let Him do His work!
The song states, ‘ I believe He's here now; Standing in our midst. Here with the power to heal now, and the grace to forgive.’
He’s a God of the possible and impossible!
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