113 Israel’s Memorial

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the chosen people. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: Now you and all the people will prepare to cross over the Jordan to the land I am giving you. Look up, Joshua, see the land before you across the river. All their lives had led to this moment. With just one step forward, israel Wood shed what she was and become something new. This was no wild escape or desperate flight of deliverance. It was the birth of a nation, intentional, decisive, divine. Follow me, follow the ark, for you haven't traveled. 00:00:46 Speaker 1: This way before. 00:00:49 Speaker 3: Over the river's roar, Joshua heard the faint smash of feet as Eliason and the first of the priests entered the river. Joshua then realized the barrage of the water flow seemed to lessen with each stride. He then felt his arms at his side swing out of the water. That could only mean one thing. The water was starting to go down. Sure Enough, within moments, the water dwindled to his knees, and then his toes felt the morning breeze against the sticky mud that had seeped into his circles. It was only then that Joshua looked down to confirm it. Yes, dry ground was beneath him. The mighty river had been stopped somewhere far upstream and out of sight of him. Joshua grinned from ear to ear and looked over his shoulder at the priest still at the edge of the river. Joshua Wood triumphantly back at Israel and Eliezer, with a face splitting smile, himself, called. 00:01:52 Speaker 4: Back, Behold the Wonders of God. 00:01:58 Speaker 5: Click the link of the description to grow closer to God. There you'll find daily prayers, Bible plans, sleep stories, and so much more, all on the prey dot com app. Click the link of the description to get started. 00:02:12 Speaker 3: The sodden silt beneath Joshua's feet began to crack as it dried. The sun was sinking from its highest point in the sky. Joshua remained back, helping the last of the tribe of Dan cross the river bed. 00:02:27 Speaker 1: To the other side. 00:02:29 Speaker 3: Joshua had called on the Rubenites, Gadites, and half of Manassa to honor their promises made to Moses. They crossed the river first to lead the battle formations and quell any trouble they should meet on the other side. As Israel crossed the river, they quickly established perimeters and secured the plot of land that would become their temporary camp. The land was about two miles from Jericho, and Joshua refused to let the excitement of the moment let down his guard. They hadn't yet taken the territory. They were vulnerable. Joshua surveyed the outcrop. 00:03:06 Speaker 2: This is where our conquest will march. 00:03:09 Speaker 3: Joshua reached up the steep edge of the dry river bank to aid an elderly woman in navigating the drop. Her grandsons then took her hands from Joshua. Joshua released a satisfied sigh. That was the last of them. He walked back up the steep ridge and gazed back at the abandoned camp at Chettien on the other side. The grass of the plains would eventually grow back where it had been trampled good ribbons. He looked forward to where the new campsite was being erected on the plains of Jericho, their new home. Joshua spared one last glance to his left to the east, up at Mount Nebo, the final resting place of their beloved Moses. Twelve figures moving on the diston show caught Joshua's eye. They stood out amidst the slow moving traffic of the remainder of the Israelites as they were going in the opposite direction. 00:04:09 Speaker 6: It was time. 00:04:11 Speaker 3: The representatives Joshua had appointed were heading toward the middle of the river bed and the ark of the Covenant. Joshua reached Eliezer and the other priests standing in the middle of the river as the others approached. 00:04:25 Speaker 4: Brothers, you've done well. I know your arms must be growing tired, but would ask you hold on to your strength for a little longer. What we do now is essential. 00:04:35 Speaker 3: Eliezer gave Joshua a weak smile as he focused on keeping the arc level with his brother and nephew. Finnahaus looked dutiful and kept his eyes fixed on the camp ahead, while Ithamar looked at the ground and seemed to be concentrating on his breathing to keep his hands from shaking. Caleb, representing the tribe of Judah, approached first, but carefully kept his distance from the ark. 00:05:01 Speaker 7: Rather, Joshua, we have come just as you asked. 00:05:05 Speaker 6: What is your command? 00:05:06 Speaker 3: Joshua surveyed the group of men he had brought with him. One man from each tribe had come to the middle of the river, and Joshua approached them where they stood. 00:05:16 Speaker 4: You will each take up a stone, one representing each tribe of Israel, and lifted on to your shoulder. You will carry the stones to our new camp and arrange them there as a memorial. We will gather the people together to mark this historic moment in our history. 00:05:33 Speaker 3: With that, the twelve representatives found stones from the muddy river bed. They duved their hands into the damp earth to pry what otherwise would have been permanently buried stones from their resting places. They struggled there in the stones on their shoulders to shore as Joshua watched them labor to remove the rocks. An idea drifted into Joshua's mind. On his way back to where the still stood with the Ark and the rest of the tabernacle components, Joshua stooped to pick up smaller riverstones. 00:06:08 Speaker 1: By the time he reached the priests, he had three in his hands. 00:06:12 Speaker 3: He tucked them under one arm to free the other to continue his search, as Eliezer called out to. 00:06:18 Speaker 8: Him, Joshua, when the last of the representatives reaches the shore, would you like us to continue our march. 00:06:26 Speaker 3: Joshua followed Eliezer's gaze to the shore and saw that three of the men had already reached the shore. He smiled to himself as he noted that it matched the amount of stones currently under his arm. 00:06:39 Speaker 4: Yes, brothers, prepare to move forward and cross the rest of the way. 00:06:43 Speaker 1: One of them have. 00:06:43 Speaker 6: Reached the shore. 00:06:45 Speaker 3: Eliezer gave him a tight knot, and the men stretched their limbs under the poles and handles, tapping into their reserve of strength as they prepared to move. The Levike priests had performed a staggering feet today stand for almost an entire day laden with heavy cases and instruments without resting was truly remarkable, but they had obeyed their commands and honored the presence of the Lord. Joshua pressed into their ranks and drew closer to the covered arc of the covenant itself. He could almost feel the radiating holiness of the presence of the Lord within. He ignored the curious looks from the liezon Ishamil and Finnahas who were holding it between him. 00:07:31 Speaker 1: He stooped and place the three stones he had gathered beneath the ark on the river bed. 00:07:37 Speaker 3: He pressed down on the stones to lodge them into the fact sediment. Satisfied, he then turned and went together more. The priests seemed to glean the importance and lightly the symbolism of this task, and remained focused on watching the representatives make their way across the river ahead of them. Joshua drew up another five stones and repeated the process from before. He crouched beneath the arc and again pressed the stones into the ground. Iana broke his concentration by announcing the completion of the representative's task. 00:08:14 Speaker 7: Joshua, you want to watch your head as we move out. 00:08:18 Speaker 6: Thanks to the warning. 00:08:18 Speaker 3: Esmar, Joshua wiped the grainy mud off his hands as he stood to his full height and backed away from the ark so the priests could complete their march toward the shore, a distance of about fifty feet. They didn't rush forward, but their relief at being able to move again was palpable. Joshua imagined they would collapse once they got the holy objects into place in the center of camp. Joshua couldn't say he'd blamed them. He had had a long day on his feet, going back and forth, overseeing everything himself their task was almost complete as the priests moved past him. Soon only Joshua's little semicircle of stone remained in the place where the Ark of the Covenant had stood. Joshua craned his neck and strained his eyes, trying to see as far as he could upstream. He could not determine where the water had piled up, but he guessed it was miles upstream, judging by how long it had taken for the remaining water to reside that morning. He would still need to hurry, though Eliezer and the three clans would close the final stretch across the river quickly. He knew he had been faithful, but he knew the waters would return once the priests reached the side, and he had no desire to swim the rest of the way. Joshua quickly secured the remaining five stones and brought them to the others. He completed the circle and tamped them all down again into the sediment for good measure. 00:09:49 Speaker 6: I suppose I never know if the Curate takes them, but I'll always think of them as resting here for all eternity, marking the place where the Jordan ran dry. The Lord again performed as wonders. 00:10:00 Speaker 3: With that, Joshua hurried to catch up to the priests. The last of the Mirrorrite clan was stepping over the far side river bank when Joshua heard the deafening sound of the water being released from miles away. He broke into a run. There, Joshua was about twenty feet from the shore when he chanced to look over his right shoulder. A wall of muddy water plummeted toward him. So forceful was the barrage that the high banks containing the river were crumbling and pulling shrubs and trees into the oncoming wave ten feet and Joshua could almost imagine the force of the tree, lives and debris spearing him clear through which he was too slow five feet and the roar of the water was deafening in his ears. It drowned out all thoughts, and without thinking, he dove head first toward the river bank. The velocity of his dive carried him up the slope, and he rolled to a stop as the water crashed past where he had been running only milliseconds before. Joshua let out a cry of relief and lay back, panting from his sprint. When he opened his eyes. Caleb stood above him with a dead evil smile and a helping hanne to pull him to his feet. 00:11:14 Speaker 7: Ha ha bo having it offfully close there, brother, aren't you getting up a little old for such a robics? 00:11:24 Speaker 4: I could sing the same for you. 00:11:25 Speaker 7: Run ah, you know I'm as strong as I ever was. My boat will only grow Brettel when we've conquered the land promised to us, and you'll. 00:11:34 Speaker 4: Never let us forget it. 00:11:35 Speaker 2: Ha ha ha oh. 00:11:37 Speaker 7: I imagine you have an inspiring speech to deliver to us. The people are gathered and the stones are placed. 00:11:44 Speaker 3: Joshua approached the gathered people of Israel about two miles from the shores of the river, its rushing current. 00:11:51 Speaker 1: In a distant roar. It was now evening. 00:11:55 Speaker 3: Most of the camp was settled and the tabernacle reconstruction was well away. The air was filled with the comforting smell of cookfires, and the excited energy in the air was electric and contagious. The representatives Joshua had selected earlier that day arranged the twelve stones into a rough circle, mirroring the smaller version he had placed at the river's bottom. 00:12:20 Speaker 1: As he watched, a smile typed at his lips. 00:12:24 Speaker 3: Israel would now have a. 00:12:26 Speaker 1: Last in the morning that have reflected his own. 00:12:29 Speaker 3: His council stood at his side, and the other elders and representatives of the tribes pressed in around. Joshua cleared his throat and projected his voice so all of those who were gathered could hear him. 00:12:43 Speaker 8: Israel, today we have indeed seen wonders, wonders like your fathers and grandfathers and great grandfathers told you about. Today we stand in the land that was promised to them. Tomorrow marks the beginning of our conquest. Tomorrow and begin the preparations that will lead. 00:13:02 Speaker 4: Us to our destiny. 00:13:04 Speaker 3: The crowd cheered and exclaimed our discipled to God. When they quieted to your horsecope in more thoughtful tone, they leaned in, breathless to hear what he had to say. 00:13:16 Speaker 8: But first we must mark what we have come, so we will remember what the Lord has done. 00:13:21 Speaker 4: I would not have us forget. 00:13:23 Speaker 8: These stones you have brought will be a sign among you. Someday when your children ask what do these stones mean to you, you will tell them. The Lord cut off the water of the Jordan in front of the ark of his covenant and as the ark crossed, the water ceased, and. 00:13:40 Speaker 6: We crossed on dry ground. 00:13:42 Speaker 8: You will remind them that just as the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Red. 00:13:47 Speaker 4: Sea, he did the same here. Until we had. 00:13:50 Speaker 8: All crossed safely. These stones will forever be a memorial, so that all the peoples of the earth may know the might of the Lord's. 00:14:00 Speaker 4: And so that we His people will. 00:14:03 Speaker 8: Always fear the Lord, Oh God. 00:14:08 Speaker 3: Again, the crowd erupted, pound in their feet, staffs and spears. 00:14:14 Speaker 1: They were ready for what would come next. 00:14:20 Speaker 5: If today's reading moved you, the prey dot com app is where you can go deeper with daily prayers, Bible plans and more. Downld it free link in the description. 00:14:30 Speaker 1: This prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max Bard, Zach Shellabager and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People, narrated by Paul Colter Fianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Cotton, Aaron Salvato, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and Mitch Leshinsky. 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