Cairns are man-made pillars of stone erected to serve three different purposes. The pillar of stones can provide direction, boundaries, and famously used for remembering events occurring at that location.
Throughout Biblical history, cairns provided a physical location for the remembering and the teaching of monumental events. Today, I will provide 4 biblical examples of cairns.
#1 Cairns Honor God
Jacob’s Dream
Throughout the ages, there have been countless interpretations of Genesis 28. Today, the story is commonly referred to as “Jacob’s Ladder.” Instead of focussing on the commentary and interpretations, let’s read Jacob’s response to God’s generosity and his building of a “cairn.”
After waking from his dream and hearing of the countless blessings God will bestow upon Jacob, he praises God! Jacob silently thinks to himself, “16 Surely the Lord is in this place, and I did not know it.” 17 He was afraid and said, “How awesome is this place! This is none other than the house of God, and this is the gate of heaven.” (Genesis 28:16-17)
“20 Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me and will watch over me on this journey I am taking and will give me food to eat and clothes to wear 21 so that I return safely to my father’s household,…
…then the Lord will be my God. 22 This stone, which I have set up as a pillar, will be God’s house, and of all that You give me I will surely give a tenth to You.”
Genesis 28:20-22
The cairn built by Jacob served as a wonderful reminder of God’s goodness and provision. God was indeed continuing the covenant made with Abraham now with Jacob. Thus, Jacob chooses to honor God in erecting in that place a means for posterity to remember.
#2. To Not Forget
The Story of Moses at Mount Sinai
Almost every church-goer knows the story of the Ten Commandments. Moses climbs to the top of Mount Sinai and receives the commandments from God himself. While communing with God for 40 days and 40 nights, Moses is unaware of the debauchery and idol worship of the Israelites. In the short period Moses spent learning from God, the Israelites forgot their “first love.” They quickly fall into despair, neglected wise council, and shamefully worshiped a man-made golden calf.
BUT… The story does not begin with Moses receiving the Ten Commandments. The story must begin even before he climbs up the mountain.
Let us begin in Exodus 24. Before Moses and Joshua climb Mount Sinai, Moses erects an alter of 12 pillars made of stone to represent the 12 tribes of Israel. Next, “he took the book of the covenant and read it in the hearing of the people; and they said…”
… “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient!”
Exodus 24:7
As we know, in less than two months, the Israelites had indeed forgotten. While Moses was communing with God, the Israelites were partaking in savage sin. They did NOT do as the Lord had spoken and they were NOT obedient. The cairns did not achieve the purpose of helping the Israelites remember. Truly, we are fickle beings. Even when presented with all the means to remain faithful, we fall short! Thankfully God’s mercies are new every morning!
#3. Cairns Serve as Memorials
Crossing the Jordan River
Another wonderful story of endurance and faith is about Joshua and the nation of Israel crossing the Jordan River.
While in the middle of the parted Jordan River, God commands Joshua to choose twelve men from the twelve tribes of Israel. Each man must pick up a stone from the middle of the river and carry it over them. Upon reaching the other side, God further commands them to put them down where they camp for the night. Joshua was to then assemble the twelve stones.
Joshua said to the Israelites, “ 21 In the future when your descendants ask their parents, ‘What do these stones mean?’ 22 tell them, ‘Israel crossed the Jordan on dry ground.’ 23 For the Lord your God dried up the Jordan before you until you had crossed over. The Lord your God did to the Jordan what he had done to the Red Sea when he dried it up before us until we had crossed over…”
24 that all the peoples of the earth may know that the hand of the Lord is mighty, so that you may fear the Lord your God forever.”
Joshua 4:21-24
Their cairn will serve as an illustration to bring to memory the wondrous power and provision of God. God once again opened up the waters for Israel to safely cross! It is vital to remember the good and mighty ways of God, especially during storms. And a cairn provides a simple symbol to bring back memories.
#4 Cairns Hold Us Accountable
Joshua Renewing the Covenant
Israel’s brave and wise leader, Joshua, knows his passing is quickly approaching. He thus gathers all the people together for one last time. Joshua proceeds to remind the Israelites of all the good God has done for the descendants of Abraham. With each point, he reminds the people that they have a choice. They must choose to serve the LORD or the idols of other cultures. Over again, the people cry out that they will serve the LORD.
Joshua then commands they throw away any idols and only obey God.
He then made a covenant for the people and reaffirmed the decrees and laws. These things were then recorded. Finally, he took a large stone and placed it near the holy place of the Lord.
27 Joshua said to all the people, “Behold, this stone shall be for a witness against us, for it has heard all the words of the Lord which He spoke to us; thus it shall be for a witness against you, so that you do not deny your God.”
Joshua 24:27
In this example of a cairn, Joshua uses the rock to not only remind the people of their choice to serve God but to admonish them and convict them. Every time Israel passes this place, the rock was a “witness against” them.
Family Challenge: Build a Cairn
As fickle humans, we so easily forget. In the highest of highs, we forget God is our source of life and has brought us to the mountain top. In the lowest of lows, we easily forget past times of comfort, provision, and guidance given by God. In the steady portions of everyday life, we forget to continually praise the goodness of our LORD. We are indeed a fickle people in need of cairns in our own lives.
Take a few moments as a family and look for specific mountains, valleys, trials, triumphs, or even ordinary and simplistic provisions from our Heavenly Father. Is there a place in your home or backyard to build a little cairn?
Your cairn could be a framed picture of a news clipping, lovely calligraphy of a meaningful verse, the display of track shoes in which God performed a miracle through your feet, or even a prayer journal for the family to look over and praise God in the storms and sunshine. In a way, it’s like a couple saving love letters or movie tickets. When we return to the little “cairns,” we are reminded and redirected for our future to serve the one and only God Almighty!
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Share7Pin4Tweet11 Shares Cairns are man-made pillars of stone erected to serve three different purposes. The pillar of stones can provide direction, boundaries, and famously used for remembering events occurring at that location. Throughout Biblical history, cairns provided a physical location for the remembering and the teaching of monumental events. Today, I will provide 4 biblical […]
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