We tend not to focus on the Old Testament and the law. We call it the Law of Moses; in fact, it is the Law of God. We’re under grace, but God’s moral law is our compass to discern truths. Joshua 8 is a turning point. Israel had crossed over into Canaan. Canaanites were the main heathen tribe in the Promised Land. There was much to do to take over the land, many enemies to overthrow. They were told that their enemies would not bother them as they took time to complete this requirement from God.
They were at the instructed place near Bethel in the valley of Shechem. The approach was from the east. In the south was mount Gerizim; in the north was mount Ebal. Gerizim was the mount of blessing; Ebal was the mount of cursing. The valley was the valley of earthly life. Half the people were put on Gerizim; half were put on Ebal. They were to call the Word of God to each other. The people on Gerizim would recite the blessings; the people on Ebal would recite the cursings of the law—the punishments.
This typifies our dual nature—a Gerizim one and an Ebal one or a blessed one and a carnal one. Ebal cannot please God. The people needed to hear the word recited before they proceeded. Shechem was the place of Jacob’s well. It would also be the place where Jesus would meet the woman of Samaria at the well. Making the Promised Land from Canaan required something. A promised land required a promised living.
Joshua 8: 30 Then Joshua built an altar unto the Lord God of Israel in mount Ebal, 31 As Moses the servant of the Lord commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. 32 And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. 33 And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the Lord, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.
The people of Israel had wandered in the wilderness 40 years. Moses would not enter the Promised Land. Beyond Mt. Nebo was Canaan. God showed it to Moses before he died. Joshua led the people over the Jordon River through the town of Jericho, the oldest and toughest city. The walls fell flat when the people marched around. They went north through Shiloh to Ai. This is where Achan sinned in hiding the spoils of Ai. Due to his sin, he and his family were put to death. That was chapter 7. Now here in chapter 8, God knew that for every Jericho there would be an Ai when they would take matters into their own hands. They needed to stop in the valley and look up. They needed to realize their need of God to make Canaan their Promised Land. We need Jesus to our last breath lest we find ourselves defeated at our own Ai. Joshua learned he had to keep it together. The Promised Land would not be handed to them. They had to fight according to the Word of God.
When we were in Israel years ago, this was a special place. It is a large shepherding community. Imagine the narrow valley in between the two mountains. It reminded me that the way to heaven is straight and narrow. God is still the God of the mountains. He spoke from both of these. We need to go back to Deuteronomy 11 because it is fulfilled here in Joshua.
26 Behold, I set before you this day a blessing and a curse; 27 A blessing, if ye obey the commandments of the Lord your God, which I command you this day: 28 And a curse, if ye will not obey the commandments of the Lord your God, but turn aside out of the way which I command you this day, to go after other gods, which ye have not known. 29 And it shall come to pass, when the Lord thy God hath brought thee in unto the land whither thou goest to possess it, that thou shalt put the blessing upon mount Gerizim, and the curse upon mount Ebal. 30 Are they not on the other side Jordan, by the way where the sun goeth down, in the land of the Canaanites, which dwell in the champaign over against Gilgal, beside the plains of Moreh? 31 For ye shall pass over Jordan to go in to possess the land which the Lord your God giveth you, and ye shall possess it, and dwell therein. 32 And ye shall observe to do all the statutes and judgments which I set before you this day.
Think about your living. The people who occupied Canaan made gods of everything. They got along because they tolerated each other’s gods. At times they even joined together in their forms of worship. Is this not a picture of America today? People don’t know where to turn. In this environment Joshua was to take the words of Moses. The people would still be feeling the effects of Ai. The first thing they were to do was make an altar. God wanted it a certain way in a certain place. You’ll ask yourself why. I did. You would think the altar would have been on Gerizim, the mount of blessing; however, it was on Ebal, the mount of cursing, that God commanded the altar be built. It made Israel stop and think about what God was telling them.
I wouldn’t want to be in the valley of this earthly life without a Gerizim and an Ebal. We must have both sides to know truth. In doing so, we find ourselves living between God’s mountains.
Why did they stop and do this when there was so much else to do? Never be so busy or so caught up in life that you can’t take time for God.
We’ll pick up on this next week.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 