Joshua, 4
5. and Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel,
5. and Joshua said to them, "Pass on before the ark of the LORD your God into the midst of the Jordan, and take up each of you a stone upon his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the people of Israel,
Joshua chapter 4 reports the moment when the people of Israel crossed the Jordan River on foot, while the waters were dammed by the power of God. For the memory of this event to be preserved, Joshua ordered twelve men, one of each tribe, to caught a middle stone of the river and put it as a memorial in Gilgal. Below is five verses related to topics covered in Joshua 4, excluding verses from the chapter itself:
Psalm 78:13: "He made the sea from, and made them pass through his midst; and made the waters stop as in a heap." This verse refers to the moment God made the Red Sea open so that the children of Israel would walk a lean foot. As in the case of the Jordan River, this event was an act of divine power to rid the people of the Egyptian captivity.
Psalm 111:4: "He made his wonders to be remembered; godly and merciful is the Lord." This verse highlights the importance of remembering the wonders God performs, such as the opening of the Red Sea and the damage of the Jordan River, so that faith and trust in the Lord are strengthened.
Isaiah 43:16: "Thus saith the Lord, who has prepared a path in the sea, and a path in the impetuous waters;" This verse refers to the opening of the Red Sea, but can also be applied to the Jordan River crossing, showing that God has the power to open paths in impossible situations.
1 Corinthians 10:1-2: "Now, brothers, I do not want you to ignore that our parents were all under the cloud, and all passed by the sea. And they were all baptized in Moses, the cloud and in the sea." This excerpt from the New Testament recalls the episode of the Red Sea crossing, but also applies to the Jordan River crossing, emphasizing that these events were important to the identity and faith of God's people.
Hebrews 11:29: "By faith, the Red Sea passed, as by dry land; which intended the Egyptians drowned." This verse is part of the chapter of faith in Hebrews, which highlights examples of men and women who lived by faith. The reference to the passage through the Red Sea shows that faith was what allowed the children of Israel to cross the waters, not human strength.
“Como é belo esperar!” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
