Joshua 8

New Hope Daily SOAP: Joshua 8

Pastor Vicki Harrison

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Joshua 8:30-33, Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, 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.  There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses.  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.

Earlier in the chapter, the Israelites thoroughly demolished the town and people of Ai.  Be sure to read through the chapter to learn the specifics of the battle.  Next, Joshua took a brief break from battle.  He leads the people from their camp at Gilgal northward, until they reach the mountains around Shechem.  Joshua then builds an altar of uncut stones on Mount Ebal and on it, offers sacrifices to the Lord.  He takes large stones and writes down the Law of Moses on them.  We don't know how much of the Law was written; certainly, it included the ten commandments but there could have been more.  Then, he reads the Law aloud to the people.

Joshua is declaring here that the Law of God will be the Law of the land.  While the law had been taught to the people earlier before they entered the promised land, it is really important to review (remember, repetition is critical to learning).  From this point forward, the people need to understand that obeying the law will bring blessing and disobeying the law will bring curses. 

Let's pray...Dear Jesus, How thankful we are that we live on this side of the cross.  How amazingly grateful we are for your sacrifice and that our sins have been taken care of.  But we know that doesn't absolve us from following your Word.  Help us to fall in love with your Word, learn it and live it, so that your name will be glorified and others will come to know the greatness of our God.  In Your Name, Amen.