I love doing small projects for my office, family, and friends. My rotary tool can help make some pretty cool keepsakes for people. Engraving in rock or stone always make a timeless item. The word rock or stone is often used in the Bible as well. Actually, according to the King James Version, the work “Rock” is used 128 times and the word “Stone” is used 367 times. Obviously, this is used often for great reason, meaning, and teaching. One particular story involving Joshua, really emphasizes this usage. It is a story of “Stacking Stones”, and a unique was to teach us how to lead.

Joshua had just taken over for Moses after the people had been led through Exodus.  Joshua had to lead the people (1 Million People) across the Jordan River to begin taking the land that was promised in Canaan. The Area in which he crossed was more than 100 ft wide and over 10 feet deep. It was spring and the waters were in flood mode, they were turbulent much like whitewater. In 1854, an expert swimmer had even attempted to cross this same area and failed. However, God subsided and calmed these waters and allowed the Israelites to cross. When the Priests feet touched the water; the river dried up and the waters parted. All of the people then crossed over to safe land. Joshua asked one member from the 12 tribes of Israel to go back to the Jordan River. They were to get 12 stones from the bed and stack them in a memorial when they returned. This was to be a memorial, that served as a reminder of the miracle God has done for them. It was also used to give the opportunity for Joshua’s people to explain to others the miracle God had performed. This was to be motivation to future generations to follow the Lord and lean on the past proof of the strength and promises of God. To maintain confidence and build off the past victories from the Lord…

 So this brings the question? How do we Lead??

We Stack The Stones

 Ourselves, Friends, Family, Team

WAYS WE CAN STACK STONES

• Understand that we all represent a “Rock”, think of all the times that God has been there for you. Psalm 18:2 says “The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” Think of all the Victories in your life that God has provided. This could be your path, family, health, work, achievement, etc…
• The ‘Stack of Stones” in Joshua, could not be built by itself, although your stone has a story. He did not ask them to be spread out, laying the 12 stones at random places, he was specific. He asked them to be stacked. To be joined together….
• The stones came from the river, so they had been smoothed over a long period of time. Who in your life are stones ready to be stacked? And who needs more shaping? Family, Friends, Players, Coaches, Staff Members?? Be specific and stack them… Don’t allow them to be spread out…
• The greater the stack, the greater the strength…. The greater the numbers… Get the right people, surround with the right people, develop the right way… The greater the wall, the more people that want to be inside of it… Create the snowball effect!
• We need the biggest stack to create the greatest influence… Be specific, stack the stones of your daily victories, who in your or on your team is immovable and consistent… Who needs shaping… You can either go and get the rocks or you can shape the rocks… Encourage those through past victories, improvements, and celebrate their character.
• Reminders to your spouse, family, friends… that God has always been there and will continue to be. Help continue to shape each other. Build your stack…. Let your life be a legacy that effects people for years after we are gone… Your stack and example is proof to others for God. The Stacked Stones of Joshua was a way of guiding future generations to belief in the Lord. He just wasn’t building a stack of stones.. He was building the Kingdom of God..
• The Coolest thing was: In the book of Joshua, he created this memorial before they had even received the land. He had not conquered Jericho or any of the many battles that where to occur.  This land Canaan, became the Holy Land… Which today is Israel, Lebanon, and parts of Syria/ Jordan. He was motivating and building the people even before the Greatest Victory. He knew that Victory had been claimed in advance and so it has been in your life as well through Jesus Christ.

As you move forward know that you already have a “Stack of Stones” that creates an opportunity for you, an opportunity to be all that you were born to be. God Is Your Foundation, Your Cornerstone and Because Of This, We Have The Ability To Be Strong and Courageous. This Courage Allows Us To Have The Faith To Move Mountains.

“‘The stone the builders rejected
    has become the cornerstone.” – Luke 20:17

 ^“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”  –Joshua 1:9

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” -Matthew 17:20

Challenge: Write on an index card all the times God has been there for you… or how certain people came into your life… The fact you were born is a miracle in itself.

The Stone is not only a reminder of the Rock God is for you… But for the need to be Stacked and to help Stack other Stones… Our Rock is never just for US…

#STS = Stack The Stones

References:

Zavada, Jack. “Crossing the Jordan Bible Story Study Guide.” Learn Religions, Feb. 11, 2020, learnreligions.com/crossing-the-jordan-river-bible-story-700081.

Todd Bolen. Seven Fascinating Facts about Crossing the Jordan River. August 17, 2016

Search “Rock”, “Stone”. https://www.kingjamesbibleonline.org