“The Stones of Shechem… and the Rock of Ages”
The story of God’s people is marked by stones—silent witnesses that speak loudly of God’s presence, power, promises, and purity. From the wilderness to the Promised Land, these stones are not merely physical markers but spiritual symbols. As we trace them—from Jacob to Joshua, from the Jordan to Shechem—we finally arrive at the greatest Stone of all: Jesus Christ, the Rock of Ages.
We begin with Jacob’s stone at Bethel, where a lonely fugitive laid his head on the ground and encountered heaven. A simple stone became a pillar of revelation. God met Jacob at his lowest, turning a cold rock into a monument of grace. So does God meet us in barren places, turning our fears into faith and our wandering into worship.
Next comes the dramatic moment at the Jordan River, where twelve stones were set up after God led Israel through on dry ground. These stones were memorials of miraculous deliverance—signposts reminding future generations, “God brought us through the impossible.” They testify that faith is not just personal but generational; we must remember God’s works and tell them to our children.
We then move to Joshua’s covenant stone at Shechem, where Israel renewed their loyalty to God. It stood under the great oak as a witness: “We will serve the LORD.” This stone calls us to return again and again to covenant faithfulness, laying aside idols and choosing obedience over convenience.
In contrast stands Abimelech’s stone, stained by the blood of seventy brothers. A symbol of leadership corrupted by ambition and a reminder that God sees every injustice. The God who honors covenant also judges wickedness. Abimelech’s story warns us that power without character brings destruction.
But all these stones—holy, historic, and haunting—point forward to something greater. They prepare us for the arrival of Christ, the Stone the builders rejected (Psalm 118:22; Matthew 21:42). Though rejected by men, He became the Chief Cornerstone, the foundation upon which God is building His Church. He is not merely a stone—He is the Rock of Ages, unshakable, eternal, and life-giving. All other stones find their meaning in Him; all memorials find their fulfillment in His finished work.
And then we come to Peter, whose name means “stone.” Jesus said, “On this rock I will build My church” (Matthew 16:18). Not on Peter’s personality, but on Peter’s revelation—that Jesus is “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” On this rock-solid confession, Christ builds an unstoppable Church, one against which the gates of hell will never prevail.
And at the center of it all stands Jesus—the rejected stone who became our Cornerstone, the Rock of Ages who never fails. May our lives be anchored on Him, our faith built on His revelation, and our journey marked by reminders of His faithfulness. For when Christ is our Rock, every stone in our story becomes a testimony of His grace.
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