The other day while reading Deuteronomy, I felt a prodding to pause and consider the instructions of Moses to the Israelites just before reaching the Promised Land. As they listened, anxiously awaiting their river crossing, Moses had a list of assignments for them:
When you cross the Jordan River and go into the Promised Land — a land flowing with milk and honey — take out boulders from the river bottom and immediately pile them into a monument on the other side…and build an altar there to the Lord your God. Use uncut boulders, and on the altar offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God. Sacrifice peace offerings upon it also, and feast there with great joy before the Lord your God. Write all of these laws plainly upon the monument.
Deuteronomy 27:2-8
It drew me to consider the boulders of our lives, those obstructions which stop the flow from Heaven, restricting the ferocious, mighty water of Christ’s love and healing power.
Take Out Boulders from the River Bottom
This indicates that some boulders could be unseen, as they lie on the bottom of the river. Yet, clearly they hinder the current. We can ask ourselves what is hindering the flow in our lives. What is beneath the surface? How would the current of God’s power be affected by the removal of these hindrances?
Immediately Pile Them
There is no requirement to scrub the boulders clean, to make them more presentable. Boulders are, in fact, ugly. They are rugged and raw. Rather than instructing the Israelites to hide or dispose of them, the urging is instant redemption. It is an encouragement to take the boulders just as they are, piling them up to show the glory of the Lord. He is calling for real-time restoration.
The boulders weren’t to be sculpted or formed, but to remain rugged. The Lord could have asked for an altar of precious jewels, ornate carvings — materials which would reflect His lordship. But instead, the Lord calls for the beauty of authenticity and potential.
Our very obstacles point to His glory. Where the Lord has started the flow of freedom in our lives, where He has begun to bring us across a challenge not yet finished, we need not wait a second to testify to it. We are to use the freshly moved barriers to create a place of worship!
By definition, boulders require more than one person to move them. This urges the community aspect of healing, as the removal cannot be done alone. Let us not hesitate to share our need for help. Let us not wait to jump into the water, aiding others to remove boulders in their lives. It will probably be a bit uncomfortable and will take some strength, but the effort is shared with another.
Feast There With Great Joy
I really love the thought of inviting friends over to celebrate freedom from a barrier in life. How faith-building would it be to share a meal with the sole purpose of testifying of this?
Write All of These Laws Plainly Upon the Monument
Moses gives a closing instruction to the Israelites to write what they had learned. It is always inspiring to record how the Lord has shown His love for us over a span of time. There is power in gathering the boulders together, looking at them in awe, and giving glory to the Lord for all He has taught through the process.
