Joel M Bradshaw

When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean to you?’ 7then you shall tell them that the waters of the Jordan were cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD.

15And the LORD said to Joshua, 16“Command the priests bearing the ark of the testimony to come up out of the Jordan.” 17So Joshua commanded the priests, “Come up out of the Jordan.” 18And when the priests bearing the ark of the covenant of the LORD came up from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet were lifted up on dry ground, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks, as before.–Joshua 4

Two cool things about our chapter today and then a piece of Big Rev trivia.

There’s a great conversation between Andy and Red in the movie The Shawshank Redemption. Andy told Red that if he ever got out he was to go to a certain town and to a certain field and find a certain tree. There he would find a rock that by its looks had no business being there and underneath the rock he could dig for something.

Well, that’s the basic scene here. Those rocks would have stood out in the area. People would wonder where they got them. They were a reminder of the journey that God had led them on. They were like a scar that remains after God heals a wound. God was with them and God provided for them. The rocks served as an enduring proof.

Second, the priests with the Ark went in first. They stayed until everyone passed through. And then they came out last. As you journey with God, you definitely follow His leading. But remember that he’s with you through the season. Finally, he sees you through and makes sure you are where he intended you to be. It’s as if God wanted to make sure everyone made it and then he got out himself and started leading again. This is the God who leaves nobody behind. Who cares for the big and smaller details. I like that God’s ark was both present with them during and then got out last.

Yeah, that picture is a younger me. The Jordan River has a tourist spot where you can get in. People were getting baptized there. It was slippery. I almost fell down a couple of times and baptized myself! I also had rolled up my pants and they fell down and got drenched. My wife thought that was hilarious.

The Big Rev trivia is that I played drums in a short-lived college band called Crossing the Jordan. I honestly think I got the role because I had a drum set. We played two shows and I never was cooler on campus.–JMB