What does the assembly at Mount Ebal teach about obedience to God's commands? The Setting: An Assembly Between Two Mountains “And all Israel, foreigners and citizens alike, with their elders, officers, and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the LORD. Half of these stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded to bless the people of Israel first.” (Joshua 8:33) • The nation has just tasted victory at Ai. • Before taking another step, Joshua pauses to obey the long-standing instruction of Deuteronomy 27. • Two natural amphitheaters face each other—Gerizim (blessing) and Ebal (curse)—turning the landscape into a living classroom on obedience. Immediate, Unquestioning Response • Joshua does not delay. The command given through Moses is treated as current, non-negotiable truth. • Compare Joshua 1:7-8—Israel’s success hinges on doing “all that is written.” • The lesson: timely obedience honors God; delayed obedience erodes trust (see Psalm 119:60). Obedience Is Anchored in the Written Word • 8:32 notes that Joshua “copied the Law of Moses on stones.” • Deuteronomy 27:2-3 required the same. • Writing the law in stone underscores permanence and objectivity—God’s standards are neither private nor fluid. • Obedience begins with clarity; no one can obey what he has not read or heard (Romans 10:17). Whole-Community Participation • Verse 33 lists elders, officers, judges, natives, foreigners, men, women, and children. • God’s commands bind every generation and every resident within the covenant people. • Acts 2:39 echoes the same inclusiveness: “the promise is for you and your children.” • Obedience is never a private hobby; it is a shared, generational calling. Blessings and Curses Make the Stakes Clear • Gerizim announced the blessings (Deuteronomy 28:1-14); Ebal announced the curses (28:15-68). • The people physically occupy both spaces—symbolizing a choice set before them (Deuteronomy 30:15-20). • Obedience is not an abstract virtue; it is the doorway to tangible blessing and protection. Sacrifice First, Then Commitment • Joshua 8:30-31 records an altar of uncut stones and burnt offerings before the reading. • True obedience flows from atonement; sacrifice covers sin so that covenant commitment can be renewed (Hebrews 9:22). • The order matters: forgiven people are freed to obey. Scripture Read Aloud—All of It • Joshua reads “all the words of the Law, the blessings and the curses, according to all that is written” (8:34). • Selective obedience dies here; God’s people do not curate His commands. • James 1:22-25 calls hearers to be doers, likening full obedience to looking intently into “the perfect law of freedom.” Living the Lesson Today • Treat every biblical command as present-tense truth; do not wait for ideal circumstances to obey. • Keep Scripture visible and central—post it, memorize it, discuss it. • Invite the whole household into obedience; no one is too young or too new to the faith. • Remember that obedience is relational—“If you love Me, you will keep My commandments” (John 14:15). • Expect blessing, protection, and clarity when God’s word is heeded; expect loss and confusion when it is ignored. The assembly at Mount Ebal stands as a timeless reminder that obedience to God’s commands is urgent, communal, comprehensive, and inseparable from both blessing and reverent worship. |
    |