After the next generation of Israelites crossed the Jordan River, God commanded Joshua to appoint 12 men, one from each tribe, to choose large stones from the middle of the river to serve as signs of God’s mighty acts on behalf of His people. The priests who had carried the Ark of the Covenant that cut off the waters remained in the river while the men gathered the stones that would be visible reminders to all future generations. When their children would ask, “What do these stones mean?” they’d be told the story of how the Lord dried up the Jordan until His people safely passed through. “He did this so that all the peoples of the earth might know that the hand of the Lord is powerful.” (v. 24).
Peter referred to Christians as living stones and a royal priesthood, chosen to “declare the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Peter 2:9). When people see our changed lives and ask, “What happened here?” our praises can be like reminder stones, declaring that “Jesus Christ happened here!”