1. Don’t Get Stoned Again!  A Stone in Genesis

The title of this article could mean a lot of things. Some might think it’s a warning about using drugs (but it’s not).  Others might catch the wordplay on the song, “Won’t Get Fooled Again” (The Who, 1971).  But to ancient Israel, those words had a different meaning. They would have evoked thoughts about capital punishment. Stoning was lawfully imposed for specific offenses (sins) in Israel, and it was done with the intent to kill the person.  If anyone escaped death, the words, “don’t get stoned again” would have conveyed a message of admonition to “go and sin no more.”

Another Use of Stones

This is the first in a series of articles that will be a study of significant stones in the Bible.  We’ll “journey” through the Bible and “pick up” stones as we go.  Instead of stones to be used as a weapon of judgment and punishment, our “stones” will be stones of instruction.  The “stones” will “speak” to us (Remember Jesus said (in John 19:40) that the stones could cry out.) We’ll listen to what the stones have to “say” and we’ll learn some valuable lesson as we gather “stones” to create a stone memorial to the Lord. 

Stone #1 — A Stone in A Garden and a Stone with Names

Throughout the Bible, God used stones in special ways to grow His people in relationship with Him.  Our first stone is found in Genesis. It is the first mention of a stone in the Bible. It is a precious onyx stone, pure, and perfect, found in the Garden of Eden that God had prepared for and given to man.  

Genesis 2:12  And the gold of that land [Havilah, a land in Eden] is good: there is bdellium and the onyx stone.

We read of this stone again, in Exodus, when God gave instructions for the High Priest’s apparel. God said that two onyx stones were to be set in the ephod of the High Priest (Exo 25:7) and upon these stones were to be engraved the names of the children of Israel (the twelve tribes).  The names of six of the tribes were to be engraved on one stone and the other six on the other stone. (Ex 28:9-10)  God was very clear about the purpose of these stones:

Exo 28:9  And thou shalt take two onyx stones, and grave on them the names of the children of Israel: Exodus 28:12  And thou shalt put the two stones upon the shoulders of the ephod for stones of memorial unto the children of Israel: and Aaron shall bear their names before the LORD upon his two shoulders for a memorial.

The onyx stone is mentioned 11 times in the Old Testament — seven times in Exodus in reference to the High Priest’s ephod and once in 1 Chron 29:2, Job 28:16, and Eze 28:13.  In the New Testament, the onyx stone is not mentioned at all.  

What Color is Onyx?

Onyx is a banded variety of the oxide mineral chalcedony. Agate and onyx are both varieties of layered chalcedony that differ only in the form of the bands: agate has curved bands and onyx has parallel bands. The colors of its bands range from white to almost every color (save some shades, such as purple or blue). Commonly, specimens of onyx contain bands of black and/or white. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Onyx)

So what color was the onyx stones on the High Priest’s ephod? Was it black? Black would represent sin.  White? White would be symbolic of righteousness.  Could the stone have been bands of black and white, representing both sin and righteousness in believers? Or was it another color?

The answer is, we don’t know what color the onyx stones on the ephod were, but we do know the color of another stone in the New Testament.

A Stone with a Name

It is a white stone that Jesus promised in His letter to the church at Pergamos, and, just as the onyx stones on the shoulders of the High Priest bore the names of the twelve tribes, Jesus spoke of this white stone on which the names of overcomers will be written.

Revelation 2:17  He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches; To him that overcometh will I give to eat of the hidden manna, and will give him a white stone, and in the stone a new name written, which no man knoweth saving he that receiveth it. 

Now understand that we don’t exactly know the significance of the white stone upon which a new name is written, but we do have records of ancient Israel’s use of white stones that might give us a clue

Stones were:

• used in trials for jury voting.  A white stone indicated an innocent verdict and a black stone meant guilty.  As Christians, we know that we have already been judged at the cross of the Lord Jesus Christ.  Our sins were paid for by Jesus and He has saved us and given us His white robe of righteousness.  We have therefore been judged innocent, so perhaps an “innocent verdict” is the significance of a white stone with a new name for overcomers.
• served as admission “tickets” to banquets.  We know that one day we will feast at the marriage supper of the Lamb.  The “white stone” with our new name might symbolize our admission “ticket” to that glorious feast.
• used as memorials. When the nation of Israel passed over the Jordan, they were instructed to set up a stone memorial and whitewash (plaster) the stones (Deut 27:2). On those stones were written the words of the law.  (Deut 27:3)  On our white stones will be our names written, for we have already been judged and made “white as snow” (Isa 1:18).

A Stone Memorial 

Just as Joshua did as he was commanded to do, and set up a memorial of whitewashed stones (Josh 8:30-35), we also will gather “stones” (from the Bible) to create a memorial.  Our stone memorial will be a reminder of the precious promises of God and our hope in Christ until the day when we receive our white stone and our new name.  

Take this first stone and place it as a foundation stone in the memorial we are going to build.
Stone 1:  A Stone and a Name—in Genesis and Exodus

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Memorial Stones

1:  A Stone and a Name—in Genesis and Exodus
2:  A Stone of Rest—a pillow of comfort in Genesis
3:  A Stone Covered Well in Genesis
4:  A “Mizpah” Stone of Blessing—and God’s faithful watch in Genesis
5:  A Stone of Precious Promise—Jesus, My Rock
6:  A Stone of Foundation and Victory—Jesus, My Banner
7:  A Stone of Deliverance and Memorial—Jesus, My Saviour
[12 stones you can’t pick up, but you need to know are there]
8:  A Stone of Help in 1 Samuel–an Ebenezer Stone—Jesus, My Hep
9:  A Stone of Remembrance of God’s Power and Provision—Jesus, My Provision
10: A Stone of Praise—Jesus, My King
11 & 12: A Lively Stone in a Living Stone —Jesus, in whom we live, and move, and have our being.