Ancient Social Media

“that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’”

Joshua 4:6

Social Media is nothing new, as it has been around for thousands of years. Take for instance, twelve stones stacked neatly near a river’s edge that might seem obtuse to some with regard to the purposes of God but none the less the Lord’s intent was clear. God was providing a “Social Media” opportunity for the children of Israel to magnify their God, to let the world know that God rocks! .

In Joshua chapter 4 we read the story where the children of Israel cross over the Jordan River on dry land much in the same way Moses led the children of Israel through the Red Sea. This time however, God wanted the children of Israel to erect a memorial and not in levity or because God is insecure or that He wanted a monument to Himself. Verse 6 reminds us that God had them place a stone representing the twelve tribes so that when they would pass by the spot where the Lord brought them into the Promised Land on dry ground and their children would ask them about the stones being there so that one generation could share with another what the stones meant to them. The rocks couldn’t speak for themselves, so someone who was there was able to share the story with the next generation as an eye witness.

Notice that in Joshua 4:6 it says, “that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you?’” The memorial was an opportunity to tell others what God meant to them. It’s more than historical facts, it’s a personal testimony. More than just wanting us to share information about events in human history God’s desire for all His children is to share with others what He means to us.

As I read Joshua 4:6 I began to personalize questions like, “what does the Cross of Christ really mean to me?” What does Jesus mean to me?” What does my bible mean to me? What does the opportunity to pray to God mean to me? What does knowing Jesus as my personal Savior and Lord mean to me? My response like yours if you ask yourself those same questions will reveal our passions and the depth of our devotion. There is a huge difference between knowing information about someone and actually knowing the person, personally. God wants us to know Him personally and then share what we know personally with others. It’s not academic, its personal experience that means the most.

Most of us have no problem talking about what we love and whats important to us and is why almost every cell phone now has a camera built-in and most even have the ability to send pictures instantly to others in our network. Check out my Instagram feed and you will see immediately what I love most in this world. My wife and my kids and my grandkids are what rock my world! No particular order.

Since camera’s weren’t around in the days of Joshua they erected memorials to serve as the “pictures” of God’s faithfulness so that the children of Israel had opportunity to share about what the goodness of God meant to them personally. Thank God for camera’s so that we don’t have to stack up rocks every time God does something epic in our lives.

Today, when you experience God’s faithfulness in your life (and you will), why not seek to share it with others? Make the most of today by telling others what God’s goodness means to you. People can relate to a God who relates to us. We read here in the Old Testament the rocks stood in worship of God and in the New Testament Jesus tells us that if we don’t worship Him the rocks will cry out. We are God’s favorite kind of rock music you might say as God loves when His children remember just how faithful He is and that we share it with others. Tell someone today how Jesus has rocked your world. It might just rock theirs!



“One generation shall praise Your works to another, And shall declare Your mighty acts.”

Psalms 145:4

I LOVE YOU!