Keeping Perspective

Joshua 8:30-35

You are on a roll. Jericho has fallen, sin dealt with, more victories follow as you trust in the Lord. You destroy Ai and now the whole land lies before you. What do you do? You capitalize on the fear of the rest of the city-states and you attack, right? Not if you are Joshua.\r
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Here at the end of a brilliant military campaign where Joshua employed some pretty sophisticated maneuvers and saw God work incredible victories Joshua has the people break from military action. This is stupid from a larger military campaign perspective. Taking a break means the forces aligned against you can marshal their resources and change the tide of the war. It doesn't matter when God is fighting the war for you. \r
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Right in the midst of enemy territory Joshua has the people go on a pilgrimage of about 30 miles to two mountains, where they sacrifice, worship, declare God's Word, and hear promises from God for faithfulness and consequences from God for being unfaithful.\r
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Why? First and foremost it was because Moses commanded it in Deuteronomy 27. \r
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There in Deuteronomy 27, Moses told them to set up stones to declare the Word of God and an altar for sacrifice and worship and rejoicing. While this might seem silly and even foolish it was vitally important because it helps them keep perspective, and rededicate their lives to Yahweh.\r
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For us, when we have achieved a certain level in our maturity and we see victories, we too sometimes need to stop from the battle and take stock of who God is, what He has done for us and acknowledge that it is only in Him that our lives are blessed.\r
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The valley between Mt Ebal and Mt Gerizim formed a perfect amphitheater for the priests and Levites to declare the Word of God. From these two peaks you could see most of the Promised Land. So here they are surveying what God has promised them and even before they fully take the land they stop in the midst of danger to worship and sacrifice. \r
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To get an idea of what Moses had in mind, turn back to Deuteronomy 27 (also Deut 11:26-32).\r
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Mount of Blessing (Gerizim): Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin (Jacob's sons by his two wives Rachel and Leah)\r
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Mount of Cursing (Ebal): Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, Naphtali. (Sons by Leah: Reuben and Zebulun, the rest by the maidservants) Reuben forfeited the right of the firstborn when he slept with Bilha. Zebulun was Leah's youngest. No idea why his tribe is among the mountain of cursing group. \r
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They plastered the Word on rocks for the people to read. How much of it? We don't know. Perhaps the 10 Commandments, or much more. There is a stone inscription found in Babylon that is three times the length of Deuteronomy. \r
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They made burnt offerings (total dedication to God) and peace offerings (joyous celebration of God's blessings). To have God's law without sacrifice would bring condemnation. It also declared that the gods the people of the land had fallen and that only one true God was to be worshipped here in the center of the land: Yahweh. \r
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The location is sacred: both Abraham and Jacob had built altars near there (Gen 12:6-7, 33:17).\r
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The curses weren't predictions of what was to happen, but they were actually calling on God to do these things if they walked away from Him. 8 of the 12 were for violations of the Ten Commandments. \r
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The Curses\r
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1 - Idolatry\r
2 - Family and home\r
3 - Property\r
4 - Disabilities\r
5 - Kindness & Justice for the underprivileged\r
6 - 9 Sexual purity\r
10 - 11 Killing others\r
12 - Obedience of all laws whether on the list or not\r
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Paul quoted from Deuteronomy 27:26 in Galatians:\r
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Galatians 3:10-11 For all who rely on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not abide by all things written in the Book of the Law, and do them." \r
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The Blessings\r
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God promised to take care of His people no matter where they were\r
They would prosper in their efforts\r
Supplied in their needs\r
Have victory over their enemies\r
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It was a way for God to show them that obedience brings rewards, disobedience brings chastening and discipline. Soon Israel would see that the wicked also seemed to be blessed and they will fall away.\r
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Why consequences that the Canaanites didn't have? The greater the privilege and greater the responsibility. Plus: short term discipline kept them from long term separation. \r
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Lessons\r
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Survey your world, dedicate it to God. As you begin to experience victory in the Lord you can see the possibilities for ministry. Don't make a strategic mistake that you "own" those possibilities. Know that without Him ruling you, you are doomed. Know that with Him you can do all things. Rejoice and celebrate the sacrifice of Jesus and your relationship with God. Worship. \r
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Don't lose sight in the victories who is behind them and who makes your life all hold together. It's important as we begin to see all that is possible with God. No longer are we confined to just the battles before us, but now we see greater possibilities. Here is where the danger begins. \r
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Saul, Israel's first king, started out humbly, but as he grew in power an independence from God grew within him as well. In 1 Samuel 15 Saul decided he knew better than God what should be destroyed and what should be kept alive in the battle with the Amalekites. It cost him the kingdom. Saul's pride only grew from there.\r
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For us, we need to keep pride in perspective by knowing the peril that exists outside of the grace of God. Next, that tremendous security and blessing are found inside a covenant relationship with Him. By the people saying "amen" they said they agreed with it. We need to say "amen" to our reliance on God for everything. \r
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They were also making a choice. Having heard the Word of God they either put their faith in God or not. They were being put on notice. It was like signing one of those disclosure statements that are printed in 8 point mice-type with all kinds of legalese. We should read them before signing. This is far more important and the Israelis should have considered the seriousness of their situation before saying "amen." It's really sad that not too long in the future they seemed to forget this day ever happened. Let's not make that same mistake.\r
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So for us: know the peril outside of Jesus, yet rejoice with the blessings in Him. \r
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