It’s where we live, and it’s illustrated here in Joshua. God’s direction through Moses was to cross the River Jordon. They immediately came upon the city of Jericho. Afterward they traveled north with a struggle at Ai. It should have been an easy city to conquer, but Achan sinned; Israel was defeated. The people then went west and Gerizim was on the south and Ebal was on the north. The valley between them was Shechem, the places their forefathers traveled. To inherit the Promised Land they had to live worthily. There was a purpose for these two mountains with a valley in between. This represented the life they had. They were constantly under threat of the enemies in the land. Our enemy, Satan, is always a threat to our spiritual well-being.
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.
Joshua brought the people to the place. What was to be read was already written down. At that time the scriptures consisted of the five books of Moses, Genesis through Deuteronomy, and the book of Job. The people were to stop. They were to pause. They may have thought an ambush possible, but their fears were not voiced. They were commanded to do this by God; they would be safe in doing it. No matter what kind of day we find ourselves in, the Word is there, and God is the same.
The presence of God was with Israel. They carried the Word of God and the Ark of the Covenant. The pillars of cloud and fire were gone. They still had all they needed. One half of the people went to each mountain. Splitting up may not seem like a good tactic, but God is the one who works. “All the words” would be spoken as a reminder they were not on their own; they had rules to go by.
Joshua built an altar of whole, pure stone that man had never worked. It was built on the mountain of cursing not blessing. The cursing of the law was the consequence of disobedience. The reward of obedience was the blessing. Set before them was life and death. They could live by the path that led to life or one that led to death.
God tells us the whole truth. He means what he says. We are responsible for our sins; there are consequences. I found out the hard way you don’t sit on a hot stove. Things like that hurt the parent and the child. The consequence to my disobedience was being burned.
The Bible was written for all of us. We need the whole Word of God with its cursing and blessing. Sin is sin, and it brings consequences. We’re told that the soul that sinneth shall die. The people heard the blessing from obedience and hearts were lifted. I’m glad for both mountains. Ebal keeps us praying. Gerizim keeps us encouraged. Ebal was the mountain where the altar was needed. When we realize the consequences of sin as well as the tendencies of our sinful nature, remember God has provided an altar. It is in Jesus. He fulfilled the Law. We’re unworthy of the blessings; on our own we would be cursed. On the mountain is the altar, the cross of Calvary.
Joshua offered burnt sacrifices as atonement for sins. Jesus did not burn, but the flame of his life was extinguished as he gave his blood. He took Calvary, the place of cursing, and hung there as the sin offering. After the burnt offerings were made, peace offerings were made indicating the peace that comes when sin is taken care of. This would be how they would live and be identified as God’s people. It was their instruction, their salvation, and their victory.
Lots of battles happened in the book of Joshua. When they followed the leadership of Joshua and obeyed God, they were blessed with victory. When they tried on their own, they suffered the consequences. When the book closed, the land of Canaanites was the nation of Israel. One country was divided into tribes for the people of God to live. It became their Promised Land. To get there, they had to go through this valley.
What are we to do? Avoid disobedience at all costs. To claim a promised land, a promised life must be lived. We have peace with God through the blood of Jesus. (And we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. If we walk in the light, the land will be ours.
Adwolfe Freewill Baptist Church 