Between a Rock and a Hard Place: Joshua 8:30-35

I know using the phrase ‘Between a rock and a Hard Place’ is a bit of a stretch. I should title this message, ‘Between Ebal and Gerizim’- just wanted to get your attention. Now before Moses died, he left a command for Israel once they entered the “Land.” They were to gather at these two mountains and build an altar on Mt. Ebal. Half the tribes were to stand there “for the curse”. The other half was to stand on Mt. Gerizim, the other side of a narrow valley, for the blessing. (Read Deuteronomy 27-28) I do not think that the choice of which tribe stood on which mountain was just a random thing. Included with the Tribes on the mount of blessing were Judah, Benjamin, and Levi. I’ll let you figure out the importance of that choice. Just know, Joshua fulfilled the command of Moses, doing just as he was told. The altar was built, the Law was written and read especially the curses and the blessings. And there the Covenant of the LORD was renewed. This area was very important to Biblical History, from the time when Abraham first built an altar there, all the way up to the time when JESUS sat and identified HIMSELF to a Samaritan woman as the Messiah. Prior to Abraham’s arrival in the area, GOD promised that HE would bless Abraham, in turn, he would be a blessing for all the families of the earth. (Gen.12:1-3) In that same region the blessing was fulfilled in JESUS the Messiah, the blessing of Living Water, “-a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” (John 4:14) So, this little area in the HEART of Israel represented the essence of GOD’s WILL for the HEART of humanity. The promised blessing was fulfilled through the Messiah, the blessing of eternal life is made available to those who believe and obey, spiritually trusting in and drinking of HIS Living Water and the curse for those who refuse HIS offer. What an awesome revelation, in this awesome place, of GOD’s awesome plan for the awesome LIFE found only in our awesome LORD, JESUS CHRIST!