A. INTRODUCTION
Israel's total annihilation of Jericho and Ai had the strategic military effect of cutting Canaan in two.
There would be a northern campaign and a southern campaign but, as we shall see in our study this
morning, there would be yet another "pause" in the conquest of the Promised Land. This time the
entire nation -- not just the "mighty men of valor" -- would travel some twenty miles north to the city
of Shechem, situated between the "twin peaks" of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim. God had given
His people great victory and, in the midst of this good success, it was important that they keep them-
selves spiritually focused.
God's people today, too, need to remember to remain focused spiritually. Our lives are so busy; our
personal agendas so filled with business, and household chores, and errands, and recreation, and
coming and going that we often overlook our basic spiritual needs, one of the most important of
which is solitude with God -- the stilling of all worldly activity for the purpose of worshipping and
listening to God. Perhaps we can learn some important lessons in this regard from our study of
Israel's journey to the valley of Shechem.
B. NARRATIVE
1. The account recorded here is so matter-of-fact that we might easily miss it. Very simply:
a. The nation of Israel arrives at Mount E __ __ __ and Mount G __ __ __ __ __ __.
b. An a __ __ __ __ is built by Joshua on Mount Ebal.
(1) The altar is made of u __ __ __ __ stones.
(2) B __ __ __ __ offerings are sacrificed.
(3) P __ __ __ __ ("fellowship") offerings are sacrificed.
"These same offerings were offered when Israel first received the Law at Mount
Sinai (Exodus 20:24). The Mount Ebal event was a renewal and reminder of the
covenant made at Sinai.
Burnt offerings were given wholly to God through fire. They were atonement for
unintentional sin in general and an expression of devotion, commitment and com-
plete surrender to God. Fellowship offerings included a communal meal with the
sacrifice. They expressed the relationship of peace and wholeness with God and
fellow Israelites that the atonement sacrifice restored. They were acts of thanks-
giving and joy."
( Navigators' "Life Change Commentary," Joshua, p. 90 )
c. The Law of Moses is written on "the stones."
d. The nation divided itself into two parts -- one half stood on Mount Ebal and the other half
on Mount Gerizim -- while the priests and elders stood between the two mountains with the
a __ __ of the c __ __ __ __ __ __ __, which all the people faced.
e. Joshua stood on Mount Ebal and read "all the words of the Law, the blessings and the
cursings, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law." (v.34)
(1) "Ebal and Gerizim are about a mile and a half apart at the top but only about five
hundred yards apart at the bottom. Gerizim reaches to approximately 2,895 feet
above sea level, Ebal to 3,077 feet. This means that Gerizim stands about 800 feet
above the valley and Ebal about 1,000 feet. The names Gerizim and Ebal have the
same meaning: barren.
There are two interesting things about these mountains. First, from the top of Ebal
or Gerizim we can see a great deal of the promised land. Second, at one place a
natural amphitheater exists and as we stand on the top or on the sides of these
mountains, we can see and hear everything that is occurring on both of the mountains
and in the valley below. Through the years many people have tested this. They have
stood on one of the mountains and had other people stand on other parts of the two
mountains or in the valley. As they read something in a loud voice but without
amplification, the other persons were able to hear all that was spoken. It is God's
own amphitheater."
( Francis A. Scaeffer: Joshua and Flow of Biblical History )
(2) Note that the entire nation is gathered together before the Lord, "...with the women,
the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them." (v.35)
2. V.31 reminds us that all this had been commanded long before by M __ __ __ __, as it is
recorded in Deuteronomy 27-28. Let us turn back to those chapters to learn more details of
this remarkable ceremony.
a. 27:1-8 explains that two structures were to be built on Mount Ebal:
(1) an altar of uncut stones for the sacrifice of two kinds of offerings, and
(2) a plaster-covered stone monument on which was to be inscribed the Law.
b. The peculiar arranging of the tribes is outlined in 27:11-13.
(1) On Mount Gerizim, the "mount of b __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __:"
- S __ __ __ __ __
- L __ __ __
- J __ __ __ __
- I __ __ __ __ __ __ __
- J __ __ __ __ __ (the half-tribes of M_______________ and E_______________)
- B __ __ __ __ __ __ __
(2) On Mount Ebal, the "mount of c __ __ __ __ __:"
- R __ __ __ __ __
- G __ __
- A __ __ __ __
- Z __ __ __ __ __ __
- D __ __
- N __ __ __ __ __ __ __
(3) "In the valley between the two mountains stood the priests and Levites with the ark,
surrounded by the elders, officers and judges of the nation. The people were all facing
the ark, which represented the presence of the Lord among His people. When Joshua
and the Levites read the blessings of the Lord one by one (see Deuteronomy 28:1-14),
the tribes at Mount Gerizim responded with a loud united 'Amen!' which in the
Hebrew means 'So be it!' When they read the curses (see Deuteronomy 27:14-26), the
tribes at Mount Ebal would respond with their 'Amen' after each curse was read."
( Wararen W. Wiersbe: Be Strong )
c. 28:1-14 promises great b __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ to Israel if God's commandments
are obeyed.
Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe
carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the Lord your God will
set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you
and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the Lord your God." ( v.1-2, NKJV )
d. 28:15-68 promises catastrophe to Israel if God's commandments are ignored or disobeyed.
But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the Lord your God, to observe
carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all
these curses will come upon you and overtake you. ( v.15, NKJV )
3. What was God's purpose in all this?
a. To again remind His people that this conquest was s __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __, and not
military, in nature.
b. To renew His c __ __ __ __ __ __ __ with His people.
(1) It had been given at Mount S __ __ __ __ ( Exodus 19-20 )
(2) It had been repeated and explained by Moses in the plains of Moab at the border of
Canaan ( Deuteronomy 11:26-32 )
(3) It was now being affirmed by Joshua in the Land of Promise.
c. To stake His claim on the land.
The large, plastered monument on which was inscribed the Law of Moses served notice to
the entire world that God was establishing His presence in the earth through a people He had
chosen and would lead.
4. And why was the altar built on Mount Ebal, the "mount of curses," instead of on Mount Gerizim,
the "mount of blessings?"
a. "God had commanded that Mount Gerizim be marked the mountain of blessing and that the
taller mountain, Mount Ebal, be marked as the place of warning, or the place of the curse.
God was giving the people a huge object lesson: What happened to them in the land was
going to depend, as it were, on whether they were living on Mount Gerizim or Mount Ebal.
The people were to hear from Mount Gerizim the blessings that would come to them if they
kept God's law and from Mount Ebal the curses which would fall upon them if they did not."
( Francis A. Schaeffer: Joshua and the Flow of Biblical History )
b. "It is significant that the altar was not built on Gerizim, the mountain of blessing, but on
Ebal, the mountain from which was declared what would happen when the people sinned.
This was a strong reminder to the people that they were not going to be perfect and that they
would therefore need an altar. In this we should hear God saying, 'You shouldn't sin. But
when you do sin, I will give you a way to return to me, through the altar.' So while the
people were warned of what would occur when they sinned, they were also taught from the
very beginning that there would be a way of return."
( Schaeffer: Ibid )
C. APPLICATION
1. Like the tribes who faced the ark of the covenant on that morning near Shechem, we need to
gather deliberately amidst the presence of God for worship and to hear His Word read and/or
spoken to us. And we need to respond to His Word: "S __ b __ I __!"
2. We, too, have the need to be reminded of our "new creatureliness." We need to hear again and
again the truths of God's priority for our lives.
2 Corinthians 10:3-5 [ NIV ]
For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we
fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to
demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up
against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to
Christ.
Colossians 3:1-3 [ TLB ]
Since you became alive again, so to speak, when Christ arose from the dead, now set your
sights on the rich treasures and joys of heaven where he sits beside God in the place of
honor and power. Let heaven fill your thoughts; don't spend your time worrying about
things down here. You should have as little desire for this world as a dead person does.
Your real life is in heaven with Christ and God.
3. It is important that we remember why God had the altar built on the place of warning, the
"mount of curses." Sinful men and women have but one way to reach God -- through the
sacrificial altar. The burnt offerings and fellowship offerings of Israel were replaced -- once
and for all -- by the atoning sacrifice of the Perfect Lamb of God, Jesus Christ, who was
offered at Mount Calvary.
All the world's religions except for Christianity are organized around the belief that mankind
must make itself acceptable to God through religious ceremony and codes of conduct. They
believe that it is possible for people to be deemed "good enough" by God to be admitted into
His presence. This is an attempt to approach God by way of Mount Gerizim. IMPOSSIBLE!
The Christian faith does away with all such pretense.
Romans 3:23 [ NKJV ]
...for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God..."
Romans 3:10-11 [ NKJV ]
As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one;
There is none who understands;
There is none who seeks after God."
Romans 6:23 [ NKJV ]
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
John 14:6 [ NKJV ]
Jesus said to him, "I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father
except through me."
4. Finally, we must remember that the quality of spiritual life of the Christian is connected directly
to his or her obedience to God. God's commandments for Christians include the Law, of course,
but also extend to the commands of Christ and the doctrines set forth by the Holy Spirit in the
books of the New Covenant. If we obey, blessings will "overtake" us; if we do not, catastrophe
will "overtake" us.
This is not to say that the life of even the most obedient believer will be without difficulty. In His
great teaching on obedience (Matthew 7:24-27) Jesus made it clear that the house built by the
wise man -- the one who both hears and obeys His teachings -- would stand firm and strong even
while being buffeted by the winds and rains of life's storms!
Our obedience is to be explicit; not creative. When Moses first declared the blessings and curses
in the plains of Moab, his language was clear:
"...if you diligently obey the voice of the Lord your God..."
"...observe carefully all His commandments...."
Most Christians today will agree that blessings come from obeying God, but they have uniquely
non-biblical notions about what happens when God is not obeyed. Most believe that the worst
possible consequence for not being explicit in obedience to God is the slowing or diminishing of
the blessing. BE CAREFUL! What God promises for disobedience is CURSES -- the witholding
of His mercy! That, dearly beloved, spells CATASTROPHE!
Here's the good news. God has seen to it that, for His "new creatures," His commandments are
a comfortable fit!
Matthew 11:27-30 [ TLB ]
Everything has been entrusted to me by my Father. Only the Father knows the Son, and the
Father is known only by the Son and by those to whom the Son reveals him. Come to me and
I will give you rest -- all of you who work so hard beneath a heavy yoke.
Wear my yoke -- for it fits perfectly -- and let me teach you; for I am gentle and humble, and
you shall find rest for your souls; for I give you only light burdens.
1 John 5:1-3 [ NKJV ]
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ is born of God, and everyone who loves Him who
begot also loves him who is begotten of Him. By this we know that we love the children of
God, when we love God and keep His commandments. For this is the love of God, that we
keep His commandments. And His commandments are not burdensome.
Is there some disobedience in your life right now that is creating havoc in your family? your business
dealings? your personal relationships? What better time than now to re-focus yourself and your
family spiritually, to confess your disobedience, to repent of it, and to determine to obey God
explicitly.
Are you making plans right now that you know in your heart are not in accordance with God's will?
Would you dare test God in this way? The outcome of such plans are pre-determined: they will fail
and will cause a great catastrophe in your life and in the lives of those around you. Stop in your
tracks! Set aside a time of solitude that you may confess those plans as sin, repent of them, and be
restored to fellowship with the God who desires that you be blessed.
D I S C U S S I O N G U I D E
1. The list of curses recorded in Deuteronomy 27:14-26 is a contains mention of specific sexual sin
which seems bizarre, even by today's standards. For this reason, it is probably best if you read this
passage in private; not aloud in public.
a. Why such an odd list? What could God have possibly had in mind by naming such heinous,
revolting acts?
b. Why is it that sexual sin gets so much attention from God, not only in this passage, but
throughout Scripture?
2. Read John 4:1-26. It is the familiar account of Christ and the woman at the well, and it took place
near Shechem, the site of the events discussed in this morning's sermon. In v.19 the woman asks
Jesus a religious question: where should one worship? The "mountain" she refers to is actually
Mount Gerizim, where the Samaritans set up their center of worship.
a. Based on this morning's message, what might be inappropriate in making Mount Gerizim a
worship center?
b. What do you make of Jesus' answer to her question? How (where?) does one worship God "in
spirit and truth?"
3. Read Genesis 4:1-6.
a. What was wrong with Cain's gesture of worship?
b. Note that God "respected" both Abel and his offering. Are the worshipper and his/her offering
inseparable? Why, or why not?
c. Re-read v.6-7. What did God mean when He said, "And if you do not do well, sin lies at the
door." ?
4. Read 1 John 2:3-6.
a. According to this passage, is it possible to "know" God and yet not obey Him? _____ Explain.
b. How is the love of God "perfected" in obedient Christians?
