I am always asking why do we do the things that we do? And what is its purpose and is there any reference in the Bible that sets a precedent? Let us see what The Word illuminates to us in our query.

4 When the whole nation had finished crossing the Jordan, the Lord said to Joshua, 2 “Choose twelve men from among the people, one from each tribe, 3 and tell them to take up twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan, from right where the priests are standing, and carry them over with you and put them down at the place where you stay tonight.”

4 So Joshua called together the twelve men he had appointed from the Israelites, one from each tribe, 5 and said to them, “Go over before the ark of the Lord your God into the middle of the Jordan. Each of you is to take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, 6 to serve as a sign among you. In the future, when your children ask you, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 7 tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the Lord. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever. 

8 So the Israelites did as Joshua commanded them. They took twelve stones from the middle of the Jordan,according to the number of the tribes of the Israelites, as the Lord had told Joshua; and they carried them over with them to their camp, where they put them down. 9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood. And they are there to this day. Joshua 4:1-1 

          Isn't it interesting that the Lord commanded the leader Joshua to assemble the twelve leaders and each was to choose a stone from where the priests stood in the middle of the river? They were to bring these stones to the other side of the river and put them together with the others to create a memorial for future generations to remember the Awesome miraculous power of their God to provide a way for His People! The purpose was to document this miracle and to remember what God did for His People. This memorial was not just for the people to remember what God did in their midst, but specifically to document for future generations who were not witnesses to this event, establishing a track record of their God and His Faithful Care of His People as well as His Miracles demonstrated for his people. I am also mindful of another command the Lord gave Moses and Aaron 

12 The fire on the altar must be kept burning; it must not go out. Every morning the priest is to add firewood and arrange the burnt offering on the fire and burn the fat of the fellowship offerings on it. 13 The fire must be kept burning on the altar continuously; it must not go out. Leviticus 6:12-13 

          This is the purpose of the Afteglow...to keep the fire of the event burning continually before the Lord, a remembrance for us but for the Lord as well.

The Faithful Remnant

16 Then those who feared the Lord talked with each other, and the Lord listened and heard. A scroll of remembrance was written in his presence concerning those who feared the Lord and honored his name. Malachi 3:16 NIV

16 Then they that feared the Lord spake often one to another: and the Lord hearkened, and heard it, and a book of remembrance was written before him for them that feared the Lord, and that thought upon his name. Malachi 3:16 KJV

          Let us remember all that the Lord has done in our midst and for His People! And let us keep the Fire burning continually before the Lord! For He has remembered us, and He has remembered His promises to Houston!

See you in the After Glow!

Raelynn Parkin, Bride Song Ministries