This post is Day 14 in a series of studies about “Mountains”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Mountains – Day 14

This must have been an incredible sight, worthy of an epic film. The Israelites had been wandering for 40 years in the desert, and had finally crossed the Jordan, into their land of promise. But they were not welcomed, and had difficult battles until they could really possess their promises.

Joshua 8:33-35

All the Israelites, with their elders, officials and judges, were standing on both sides of the ark of the covenant of the Lord, facing the Levitical priests who carried it. Both the foreigners living among them and the native-born were there. Half of the people stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had formerly commanded when He gave instructions to bless the people of Israel. Afterward, Joshua read all the words of the law — the blessings and the curses — just as it is written in the Book of the Law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded that Joshua did not read to the whole assembly of Israel, including the women and children, and the foreigners who lived among them.

The Thought

This must have been an incredible sight, worthy of an epic film. The Israelites had been wandering for 40 years in the desert, and had finally crossed the Jordan, into their land of promise. But they were not welcomed, and had several difficult battles until they could really possess their promises.

Life is no different today. We often as believers know we have promises from the Lord, but there can be battles to win in order to receive them in their fulness. Those battles are to strengthen us as well as to teach us obedience and patience. God loves to give His children good gifts (Matthew 7:11 & Luke 11:13). But we have much to learn along the way.

Action

Ask yourself today how obedient you are to God’s rules. Read the 10 commandments (Exodus 20:3-17) and also the summary of them in Jesus’ words (Mark 12:30-31).

Challenge yourself to do better in thinking of others before yourself. And also in being a good example of a christian committed to Jesus.