Joshua reminds Israel of their covenant and what God requires of them.

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.