Joshua 8:30-35 - Remembering God's Word Pastor Mike Impact Ministries

32 And there, in the presence of the children of Israel, he
wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

The book of Joshua is teaching us that we overcome the
obstacles in our Christian walk by faith and obedience. We learn that there
will be victories but there will also be defeats and failures. I have often
thought that whenever I felt like I took three steps forward, that next I
seemed to fall back five steps. Joshua 3-4 are chapters of victory as Israel
miraculously crossed the Jordan River. Joshua 5-6 are chapters of conquest as
the people go through the painful suffering of preparation before the walls of
Jericho fall down in front of them. Joshua 7, is a chapter of defeat at Ai
because of “sin in the camp”. But now again in Joshua 8, the people experience
victory as they by faith obey the instructions of the LORD.

 

These chapters remind me of Romans 6, 7, 8, and 12. In Romans
6, after our wonderful experience of salvation, we find our position of being
baptized into Jesus Christ. Like crossing the Jordan River and conquering
Jericho! In Romans 7, we find we still have to deal with the “old man”, our old
nature of sin. Pride sneaks in and we experience failure because of “I”. But
then in Romans 8, we find the Spirit filled life and become more than
conquerors through Christ and His love! In Romans 12, we come by faith to the
altar of the mercy of God at Calvary and present the sacrifice of our lives to
the Lord and renew our minds daily with God’s Word. This sounds familiar as we
study these last verses of Joshua 8.

 

Joshua not only built an altar (Joshua 8:30-31), but he
also wrote the Law on stones (vv. 32-33). This act was in obedience to the
command of Moses we find in Deuteronomy 27:1-8). In the Near East of that day,
it was customary for kings to celebrate their greatness by writing records of
their military exploits on huge stones covered with plaster. But the secret of
Israel's victory was not their leader or their army; it was their obedience to
God's Law (Joshua 1:7-8). In later years, whenever Israel turned away from
God's Law, they got into trouble and had to be disciplined. Remember what Moses
asked in Deuteronomy 4:8, "And what great nation is there that has such
statutes and righteous judgments as are in all this Law which I set before you
this day?"

 

Believers today have the Word of God written on their
hearts by the Holy Spirit of God (Rom. 8:1-4; 2 Cor. 3). The Law written on
stones was external, not internal, and could instruct the people but could
never change them. Paul makes it clear in the Epistle to the Galatians that
while the Law can convict sinners and bring them to Christ (Gal. 3:19-25), it
can never convert sinners and make them like Christ. Only the Spirit of God can
do that.

 

This is now the fourth public monument of stones that has
been erected. The first was at Gilgal Josh. 4:20), commemorating Israel's
passage across the Jordan. The second was in the Valley of Achor, a monument to
Achan's sin and God's judgment (7:26). The third was at the entrance to Ai, a
reminder of God's faithfulness to help His people (8:29). These stones on Mt.
Ebal reminded Israel that their success lay only in their obedience to God's
Law (1:7-8).

 

We need daily to remember God’s Word that we have written
in our minds and hearts and by faith obey it if we are to live victorious lives
over the devil, sin, and the world!

 

God Bless!