After the victory at Ai, Joshua takes Israel back to basics by reminding them of their covenant with God, His promises, and the consequences of disobedience.

1. BACK TO BASICS
Joshua 8:30-35
Based on Joshua: Living a Consistent Role Model by Gene A. Getz

2. NO MATTER HOW GOOD A TEAM IS, IT’S
IMPORTANT TO ALWAYS REVIEW THE
FUNDAMENTALS.
• What are the fundamentals you have to practice constantly in basketball?
Baseball/Softball? Football?
• Practicing the basics makes the difference between winning and losing
much of the time. The same idea holds true in our spiritual life as well.
• V.29. The Israelites bury the king of Ai under a big pile of stones, signifying the
futility of worshipping the false gods of Canaan.
• V.30. Joshua builds an altar to God in Mount Ebal, symbolizing the blessings
and protections that come from worshipping the one, true God.
• Two verses, two piles of rock, two very different meanings.
• There were five direct commands involved with the altar at Mt.Ebal.

3. • 1. “Observe to do according to all the law” Joshua 1:7
• 2. “Turn not from it to the right hand or to the left” Joshua 1:7
• 3. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth” Joshua 1:8
• 4. “But thou shalt meditate therein day and night” Joshua 1:8
• 5. “That thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein”
Joshua 1:8
• These were the conditions God set for success.
• Deuteronomy 27:4-7 Moses instructed them specifically to build an altar to
the Lord at Mt. Ebal.
• Mt. Ebal is in the center of the land they were to take, so there is a great
deal of symbolism in this altar and what they do here.
• Joshua first wrote the Law on large stones (Joshua 8:32), and then read all
the words of the Law. (v.34)

4. • In all likelihood, Joshua wrote the Ten Commandments on the large stones.
• Then burnt offerings and peace offerings were offered on the altar.
• This is where they made atonement for their sins according to God’s law,
and they gave offerings of thanksgiving and praise (peace offerings).
• This is an important step! They had to make things right with God by obeying
the Law in offering a sacrifice for their sin BEFORE they got into another
battle.
• Now they read the Law, but they do it in a very specific way.
• They camped in the valley between two mountains, Mt. Ebal to the north
and Mt. Gerizim to the south.
• Half of Israel camped in front of one mountain, half in front of the other, with
the Levites in the middle with the Ark of the Covenant.
• Joshua reads a statement, the Levites repeat it in unison, and all Israel
shouted back “Amen!”

5. 1. WE MUST TAKE TIME ON A CONSISTENT BASIS TO
MAINTAIN AND REGAIN PERSPECTIVE ON GOD’S
WILL FOR OUR LIVES.
• We must consistently learn and review God’s will through His Word.
• It’s very easy to get so busy you forget the basics of the faith.
• We must also consistently nurture our personal relationship with God through
worship and communion.
• This is done through personal devotion/meditation, prayer, and group
worship.
• It’s almost impossible to have a warm, meaningful relationship with God if we
don’t also have a warm, meaningful relationship with other members of the
body of Christ.
• Hebrews 10:4-10; 13:15

6. 2. GOD NEVER PROMISTED THAT HE WILL
SPECIFICALLY REVEAL HIS WILL DIRECTLY TO US
EVERY TIME WE NEED TO MAKE A DECISION.
• Instead, He gives us sufficient information and principles from the Scriptures
to help us make proper decisions at any moment in our lives.
• We also have the Holy Spirit within us to guide us in interpreting Scripture.
• That’s what “meditate” means: “To dwell on any thing in thought; to
contemplate; to study; to turn or revolve any subject in the mind.”
• You cannot use information or apply principles from the Bible if you don’t
know or have never read the information or the principles.
• Here are some guidelines to follow and questions to ask:

7. • 1. Is there any statement in God’s Word that is in opposition
to this decision?
• 2. What do other mature Christians think about this decision?
What advice can they give?
• Proverbs 11:14
• 3. What circumstances point to the fact that this may be a
right or wrong decision?
• Remember, negative circumstances (such as peer
pressure or public opinion) cannot be the primary factor
in making a decision for or against a matter.
• 4. How do I feel about this decision?
• Feelings should always be considered last because
feelings can be deceptive.