Welcome to “Bible Ponderings #3” which finds me in the book of Joshua in the chronological reading plan. Every few weeks or so I hope to toss out there what I’m currently reading and invite you to ponder with me!
Have you ever attended a stadium concert, or a stadium sporting game, or perhaps even a stadium-size worship event? Did you think to yourself at the time “I will never forget this! This is amazing!”
Tucked away in Joshua 8:30-35 is a momentous event involving the Israelites transferring to the promised land the Law of Moses as part of a renewed covenant ceremony. (Think of that stadium event you’ve been to and multiply it…the whole nation of at least one million crossed the Jordan and were gathered for this ceremony.)
As per Moses’ instructions before his death, the Israelites who are now under Joshua’s leadership are to hear and respond to the blessings of obedience, the curses of disobedience, and all the words from the Book of the Law. They are to do this from upon the slopes of Mount Ebal and Mount Gerizim.
At this point the Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary paints the picture better than I can:
“The ceremony might have taken place on the lower spurs of the mountains, where they approach more closely to each other; and the course observed was as follows: Amid the silent expectations of the solemn assembly, the priests standing around the ark in the valley below, said aloud, looking to Gerizim, “Blessed is the man that maketh not any graven image,” when the people ranged on that hill responded in full simultaneous shouts of “Amen”; then turning round to Ebal, they cried, “Cursed is the man that maketh any graven image”; to which those that covered the ridge answered, “Amen.” The same course at every pause was followed with all the blessings and curses…”
Can you get a sense of the expectant atmosphere? The nervous anticipation? What the Israelites must have felt as each blessing and curse was shouted out and they responded in unison?
The Israelites certainly experienced God’s blessings at first. “They served the Lord all the days of Joshua, and all the days of the elders who outlived Joshua, who had known all the works of the Lord which He had done for Israel. ” (Joshua 24:31).
But a quick glance ahead into the Book of Judges and we see that time after time the Israelites will end up forgetting the Law and will worship other gods.
What goes wrong?
It was the responsibility of each generation to pass on the testimonies of God’s wondrous works to the next.
God had mercifully given them so many ways to help them remember. They had the memorial altars, the different feasts, the Levitical Priesthood, the written Book of the Law…all to help them remember how to stay close to God and experience His blessings.
How do the Israelites forget to remember?
How do we forget to remember God?
It’s easy to shout “Amen!” when we’re having a “stadium” experience, but maybe it’s in the every day ordinary, the mundane and small, that faithfulness and obedience are actually forged.
Something to ponder!
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Quietly Roaring 
Such a great post. I am sorry to say that I have forgotten to remember at times. But I am so thankful that the Lord doesn’t give up on us. I pray we can remember to remember His goodness and blessings, and remember to stay close to Him always! Thank you for sharing this encouragement! 🤗
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I am always encouraging myself too with whatever I write Bridget! I forget too but as you say, He always reminds us and never gives up on us!
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What a scene it would be! Nice reflection, Jo!
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I’m always trying to picture the scene when I read the bible, don’t know if my brain always does it justice though! Thanks for reading Mandy.
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I visited the altar in Joshua 8 so this has a special place in my heart. You are a good writer, Jo. I pray you know that! How are your classes so far this week?!
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Wow that would have been amazing Mandy! If you’ve covered Mt Ebal in any of your writing I’d love to read it!
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I haven’t on the blog; however, I may very well write on it. Thank you for your encouragement, Jo!!!!!
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Jo this is such a great post. As you say “God had mercifully given them so many ways to help them remember”, and He has continued to do that for every subsequent generation. And yet, we forget. How does that happen? We really do crave excitement and stadium type energy. I love your words “maybe it’s in the every day ordinary, the mundane and small, that faithfulness and obedience are actually forged.” I truly enjoy reading your posts. Always wisdom to be found in your words. Blessings to you today!
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Thanks so much for being a reader Benita, and for your encouragement!
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Such a good reminder. It is definitely in the daily mundane moments that build and strengthen us as we spend time with God. I always remember that the priority we give the Lord in the mundane everyday moments of our lives is a true reflection of where we are at in our relationship with Christ.
Blessings to you 😊
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Thanks for reading and commenting Manu. 🙂
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Couldn’t agree with you more, Jo. Stadium experiences are wonderful and encouraging, but “it’s in the every day ordinary . . . that faithfulness and obedience are actually forged.” Well said!
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Thanks so much for reading and for your comment Nancy! 🙂
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“Stadium experiences” are great, but we should remember that we are always “surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses,” whether or not we can see or hear them. 😉
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True! That is a great point! 🙂
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Powerful ponderings Jo! Your words, “It was the responsibility of each generation to pass on the testimonies of God’s wondrous works to the next” got me wondering what my generation and I are doing to pass on the testimony of God’s wondrous works to our children.
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Hi Beth it sure is a solemn responsibility, starting with our own households!
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This is a beautiful reflection with great points to ponder. My husband has been seriously ill for over 6 years. As his caregiver, I do believe (as you stated in your last paragraph) that my obedience and faithfulness has been forged in the everyday. I often look back at the ways God has provided and all the blessings he has given us. I have to remember and keep them fresh in my mind to be encouraged on the hard days.
I look forward to reading more from you as a new follower, Jo.
If you get more than one comment from me, It’s because I kept getting notices that my comment couldn’t be posted so I tried a few times …. You can delete the extras if they posted too
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Hi Nancy, lovely to hear from you! I honor you in your role as care giver, I truly do. Care givers do an amazing job, day in day out, and the rest of us could learn so much from your endurance, resilience, and sacrificial loving of your loved one.
I look forward to popping over to your site too. 🙂
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good word, I remember a few years ago in LA the promise keepers and 40,000 men singing…nothing like it ! only thing better is in heaven
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Hi chattingaboutgod thanks for reading and stopping by! What an awesome event that must have been!
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yes it was…we went with our church’s men’s group, I just remembered it was 26 years ago…wow time flies,
God Bless
Dave
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those kind of big events do tend to stick in the mind!
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they sure do…thanks for the feed back,
God Bless you and your family,
Dave
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