Not a Word Unread

I enjoy baking and cooking. Sometimes I deviate from the recipe or create something on my own, but I most often I stick with a recipe. A recipe has specific ingredients and directions designed for a tasty result. If you don’t know what you are doing, a missed or added ingredient can lead to disastrous results. Once for a youth group lock-in, I made cinnamon rolls. After letting the dough rest for a bit, I noticed they hadn’t risen like usual. I thought maybe the water temperature for the yeast hadn’t been right. I went ahead and baked them. They still didn’t rise, and they certainly didn’t taste as yummy. I wasn’t going to serve less-than-yummy cinnamon rolls, so I started over. In the process, I realized that in the first batch I had forgotten the sugar that goes in the dough. It wasn’t much sugar, but it made a noticeable different in the taste and ability to rise. Even if unintentional, skipping a step in the recipe ended up bad.

Today’s account was a reminder for not “skipping” steps when it comes to God and His Word. I have read this account several times without ever considering the details or implications. When I slowed down and really studied it, I found there were many good truths to glean.

30 At that time Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, on Mount Ebal, 31 just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the people of Israel, as it is written in the Book of the Law of Moses, “an altar of uncut stones, upon which no man has wielded an iron tool.” And they offered on it burnt offerings to the Lordand sacrificed peace offerings. 32 And there, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written. 33 And all Israel, sojourner as well as native born, with their elders and officers and their judges, stood on opposite sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded at the first, to bless the people of Israel. 34 And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel, and the women, and the little ones, and the sojourners who lived among them. [1]

Joshua 8:30-35

Joshua and the Israelites defeated the city of Ai, bringing the city and all its inhabitants to total destruction. Now, in our verses, Joshua is building an altar to the Lord. You may be wondering what the big deal is. People in the Old Testament often built altars to God, but this altar was not a spontaneous reaction after a military victory. Joshua was being careful to exactly follow the instructions God gave through Moses to the Israelites (Deuteronomy 11:29; 27-28).

I looked up a map to get a feel for what is being described in this passage (see the map pictured below). Mostly I was curious how far apart Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal were (1.66 miles at the peaks, the bases being closer), but I also discovered that Joshua and the Israelites had to travel about twenty miles from Ai to reach this site between the mountains near Shechem. Joshua could have decided to build an altar at Ai. After all, he and the Israelites were probably weary from battle, but Joshua did not skip a step in God’s commands.

This location had significance. The city of Shechem (modern day Nablus) was at the opening of the corridor between the two mountains. This corridor was an important route through central Israel. More importantly, Shechem is the first city mentioned when Abraham arrived in Canaan, and where God promised Abraham that He would give him the land. There Abraham built an altar to the Lord. (Genesis 12:6-7). Later, Jacob made his home at Shechem and dug a well, and the Israelites buried Joseph’s bones here (Joshua 24:32).

This corridor between the two mountains is also a natural amphitheater. In 1879, J.W. McGarvey conducted an acoustic test at this site and found that men standing on both mountains could hear him speaking from the center where the ark, Levitical priests, and Joshua would have stood. God had a purpose in commanding Joshua to go to this site between Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal, and Joshua obeyed.

“an altar of uncut stones, upon which no man has wielded an iron tool” (vs 31) – Did you notice this description? I never had. Again, God had purpose in His instructions. Uncut stones symbolized that the victory was God’s work not man’s. God used Joshua and the Israelites to defeat the city of Ai, but it was all by God’s power, plan, and sovereignty. In offering burnt offerings to the Lord and sacrificing peace offerings, the Israelites worshipped God for the victory He won. (Note: Recently an altar of uncut stones was found in the Shechem area.)

The altar was built on Mount Ebal. If you turn in your Bible to Deuteronomy 11:29, you read that God established the blessing on Mount Gerizim and the curses on Mount Ebal. One commentary I read noted that by placing the altar on Mount Ebal, it was a sacrificial covering for the curses. This brings to mind the mount of Calvary where Jesus was sacrificed for our sin. “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree” (Galatians 3:13). Jesus bore the penalty for our sin and the wrath of God in our place, so that we could receive His righteousness.

“And there, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written” (vs 32) – I thought it was interesting that Joshua wrote on the stones in the presence of the people of Israel. I can imagine being exhausted at this point, wanting to set up my tent, and crash for a long nap. We don’t have a minute-by-minute account to know exactly what transpired, but it does say “in the presence of the people of Israel.” Following God’s commands was important for all of Israel. The copying of God’s Word was important for all of Israel. This was not just a ceremony between God and Joshua or even the Levitical priests.

This is furthered detailed in verses 33 and 35. As the people were divided, half of them in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, all of Israel was included – men, women, children, and the sojourners who lived among them (foreigners like Rahab who had come to trust in Yahweh).

“And afterward he [Joshua] read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded that Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel…” (vs 34-35) – Joshua didn’t skim through God’s Word. He didn’t jump ahead to the “good” parts. He didn’t bypass the curses. Not one word went unread. Joshua took seriously God’s Word to him in Joshua 1:8:

This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.

Some commentaries suggested that those on Mount Gerizim spoke the blessings to those on Mount Ebal, and those on Mount Ebal spoke back the curses. Our verses say that Joshua read all the words of the Law, but Deuteronomy might suggest that the two groups were speaking back and forth. Regardless, with the acoustics and all the people gathered for the reading of God’s Word, it would have been an incredible experience to hear God’s Word being spoken and in that setting among all the Israelites.

Why were all these details important? Why did Joshua need to completely obey God’s commands? It was a physical enactment of the covenant God had established. It renewed the covenant now that Israel had begun to take possession of the Promised Land. It reminded the Israelites of God’s faithfulness in keeping the covenant. It encouraged Israel to continue placing their faith in God alone as they continued to conquer the Promised Land. Joshua set an example by his obedience to everything God had commanded. It established the importance of God’s Word at the onset of their occupation of the Promised Land.

Joshua obeyed God in going to the place God commanded. Joshua obeyed in following all the instructions for the altar, the writing of God’s Word, and the proclaiming of God’s Word. In Joshua’s obedience, God was glorified and made known.

Reflection

1. In what ways are you committed to God’s Word? Joshua etched God’s Word on the stones. How are you etching God’s Word on your heart (Psalm 119:11)?

2. Are you hearing and speaking God’s Word in community? This involves not only the public reading of His Word, but we can speak God’s Word to each other by sharing what we are learning from God’s Word or sharing verses that have challenged, encouraged, or convicted us. We can pray God’s Word for others. What can you do this week to hear and speak God’s Word?

3. You can hear God’s Word. You can even speak God’s Word, but are you obeying God’s Word? We can look for short cuts or live differently when we aren’t being seen. We can twist Scripture or pick and choose what we think is relevant. Where might you be skirting obedience?

4. If there are things you need to confess from today’s study, take time to do that, but also take time to thank God for Jesus’ perfect obedience that is yours in Christ.

[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Jos 8:30–35.