Two Mountains

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Opening Prayer

My Lord, You are life and You give life. Spirit of God, recalibrate my life according to Your will.

Read Joshua 8:30–35

^[30] Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the LORD, the God of Israel, ^[31] as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses-an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the LORD burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. ^[32] There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses. ^[33] All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the LORD, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had formerly commanded when he gave instructions to bless the people of Israel. ^[34] Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law-the blessings and the curses-just as it is written in the Book of the Law. ^[35] There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.

Meditate

“Blessed is the day whose morning is sanctified! Successful is the day whose victory was won in prayer! Holy is the day whose dawn finds thee on the top of the mount” (Joseph Parker, 1830–1902).

Think Further

It is poignant when a dead man’s instructions are carried out. In today’s

reading, the words of Moses (Deut. 2:2–8), who spoke for God, were carefully obeyed by Joshua

(30,31). The people traveled more than 25 miles from Ai to the beautiful valley of Shechem

surrounded by mountains, two of which were Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. The tribes were

divided into two groups, each standing in front of one mountain (33). Blessings were pronounced

from Mount Gerizim, curses from Mount Ebal.

The valley of Shechem was where God first promised Canaan to

Abraham (Gen. 12:6,7). The covenantal blessings of God were connected with two realities:

God’s law and the sacrifice on the altar. Both of these were emphasized. An altar of uncut stones

was constructed and placed on Mount Ebal; on it was written the law (31,32). Burnt offerings

(for the atonement of sins) and fellowship offerings (for the celebration of restored relationship

with God and one another) were made. It is significant that all this took place on Mount Ebal, the

mountain of curses. Why not on Mount Gerizim, the mountain of blessings? It is to remind us of

Calvary and the sacrifice of Christ as he took on himself our curses to bring us God’s blessings.

Joshua read aloud the law and all the blessings and curses that Moses had written (34,35). The

valley was a natural amphitheater and Joshua’s words must have been heard clearly by all. It was

a memorable lesson as they saw bare and rocky Mount Ebal and forested and lovely Mount

Gerizim, representing the consequences of disobedience and obedience respectively. The

Christian life, made possible by Calvary, is to be lived by the “law of the Spirit who gives life”

(Rom. 8:2). We are not saved by the Law but to keep it.

It is poignant when a dead man’s instructions are carried out. In today’s reading, the words of Moses (Deut. 2:2–8), who spoke for God, were carefully obeyed by Joshua (30,31). The people traveled more than 25 miles from Ai to the beautiful valley of Shechem surrounded by mountains, two of which were Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. The tribes were divided into two groups, each standing in front of one mountain (33). Blessings were pronounced from Mount Gerizim, curses from Mount Ebal.
The valley of Shechem was where God first promised Canaan to Abraham (Gen. 12:6,7). The covenantal blessings of God were connected with two realities: God’s law and the sacrifice on the altar. Both of these were emphasized. An altar of uncut stones was constructed and placed on Mount Ebal; on it was written the law (31,32). Burnt offerings (for the atonement of sins) and fellowship offerings (for the celebration of restored relationship with God and one another) were made. It is significant that all this took place on Mount Ebal, the mountain of curses. Why not on Mount Gerizim, the mountain of blessings? It is to remind us of Calvary and the sacrifice of Christ as he took on himself our curses to bring us God’s blessings.
Joshua read aloud the law and all the blessings and curses that Moses had written (34,35). The valley was a natural amphitheater and Joshua’s words must have been heard clearly by all. It was a memorable lesson as they saw bare and rocky Mount Ebal and forested and lovely Mount Gerizim, representing the consequences of disobedience and obedience respectively. The Christian life, made possible by Calvary, is to be lived by the “law of the Spirit who gives life”
(Rom. 8:2). We are not saved by the Law but to keep it.

Apply

Thank God for Calvary, which opens the door to God’s blessings in Christ. How fervently do you seek to obey God’s law in every area of your life?

Closing prayer

Lord, my heart’s desire is to live my life in all the fullness You give to me in Christ.

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