03.15.2017 – Old Testament: Deu 27.11–13

To read the Bible in a year, read Deuteronomy 26–27 on March 15, In the year of our Lord 2017

By Don Ruhl

Once Israel entered the Land of Canaan, they had to go to a certain valley, and half of the tribes would stand on one mountain and the other half of the tribes would stand on the mountain across the valley,

And Moses commanded the people on the same day, saying, “These shall stand on Mount Gerizim to bless the people, when you have crossed over the Jordan: Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Joseph, and Benjamin; and these shall stand on Mount Ebal to curse: Reuben, Gad, Asher, Zebulun, Dan, and Naphtali” (Deuteronomy 27.11–13).

When I read that, my first thought was to find out which tribes would stand for the curse and which for the blessing. Who would want to stand for the curse? Yet, someone had to do it, and so the Lord assigned six tribes to stand for the curse. Therefore, no one had to volunteer or be forced into it, for the God of Heaven took care of the matter.

Questions:

• What happened once the tribes stood on those two mountains?
• Will you do what the Lord wants you to do, even if it is unpleasant?