Wednesday: Written on Stones
Daily Lesson for Wednesday 12th of November 2025
Read Joshua 8:32-35. What is the meaning of the act described in these verses, and what should it say to us today?
Mount Ebal is mentioned only in Deuteronomy (Deuteronomy 11:29; Deuteronomy 27:4,13) and in the book of Joshua (Joshua 8:30,33). Along with Gerizim, it was the site where the blessings and curses of the covenant were to be recited. More specifically, according to Deuteronomy 11:29 and Deuteronomy 27:4,13, it had to be the site of the curses. Here the Israelites were to stand on either side of the ark in the presence of the priests (Joshua 8:33).
Image © Steve Creitz from GoodSalt.com
One group stood in front of Mount Ebal, the other in front of Mount Gerizim. Here they symbolically enacted the two possible ways of relating to the covenant. The sacrifices that were brought there pointed to Jesus, who took upon Himself all the curses of the covenant so that all who believe in Him might enjoy its blessings (Galatians 3:13, 2 Corinthians 5:21).
Why was it necessary to write a copy of the covenant on a monument, visible to all? (See Deuteronomy 4:31; Deuteronomy 6:12; Deuteronomy 8:11,14; 2 Kings 17:38; Psalms 78:7.)
We humans tend to be forgetful. We crowd the increasingly bewildering demands of everyday life into shorter and shorter segments of time. We inevitably forget things that do not recur with the same frequency or intensity. At every Communion service, we have a special occasion to rededicate ourselves to the Lord and to renew our covenantal commitment. It would be good to perceive these opportunities not only as chances for individual reconsecration but also as occasions of corporate renewal of our allegiance to God. In an increasingly individualistic society, we must rediscover the power of belonging to a community that shares the same worldview, the same values and beliefs, and the same mission.
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How easy do you find it, in the rush and hubbub of life, to forget the Lord and seek to do things in your own strength and power? Why is this so easy to do, especially when things are going well for you? |
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I have reached that age where, if I want to remember something, I write it down. The problem now is that I must remember where I wrote it. Actually, writing things down to remember them has been part of my practice all my life. I was a student for a fair part of my life and much of the assessment comprised 3-hour examinations, I consumed hundreds of writing pads preparing for those examinations; writing practice essays; solving problems; listing facts, and developing writer’s cramp. And it worked – I passed all my examinations.
The scenario described in our study today is a reminder of how important it is to remember. Chiselling the law in stone, emphasises its importance not just as a symbol but as a deep-rooted principle. We should never forget however, that ultimately the love law of God should be written in our hearts. It should be our mission statement.
I remember a time when mission statements were an important part of institutional identity. Educational institutions, churches, businesses, and volunteer organisations all spent an enormous amount of time arguing and developing a short pithy statement that encapsulated their mission. Very early in this period, I realised that the most important aspect of this whole exercise was not the mission statement itself but that we were engaged talking to one another pitting ideas against each other and coming to a better understanding of one another. In the church context, we learned about our spiritual needs and in the process we bonded with one another. While we were engraving the wall, we were doing the heart work. That experience was more important than having an erudite statement of mission written on the wall of our building.
In essence, the activity described in our lesson today, was not just about chiselling the covenant into stone, but writing it in hearts. And sometimes engraving hearts is much harder than engraving stone.
“Beware that you do not forget the Lord your God by not keeping His commandments, His judgments, and His statutes which I command you today" (Deuteronomy 8:11).
Human being have got a very his propensity to forget the goodness of God. Forgetting God normally does not start with the outright denial, but by neglect. By and by, neglecting His Word, His ways, His commandments, His instructions and His warnings. Forgetfulness is a gradual process which need to be guarded with great diligence. On very practical ways, the following are some deliberate actions that can help us not to forget the goodness of God in our lives.
1) Regular and genuine worship - Worship reminds us of who God is and who we are. When we intentionally praise God, we refocus our hearts on His faithfulness rather than our circumstances.
2) Keeping a “spiritual journal” - Writing down prayers, blessings, answered petitions, and moments of divine guidance builds a tangible record of God’s goodness. When challenges strike, revisiting that record rekindles faith as much as Israel’s altars of remembrance.
3) Regular reflection on the Word of God – Meditating on the Word of God strengthen our faith and Him more tangible.
4) Develop an attitude of gratitude – It is a good habit to count and name God’s blessings daily. Gratitude directs our mind to the goodness of God away from our complaints.
5) Testifying on the goodness of God – Our personal testimonies strengthens our faith in God.
6) Regular communion and Sabbath rest - Sabbath rest invites us to pause and reflect on God’s provisions. This a weekly reminder that our lives depend on His goodness, not our toil.
7) Serving others – Our service to our fellow human beings is the only tangible way we can demonstrate the goodness of God in our lives.
Thank you so much! This is is so beautifully written! I appreciate this and will make note because I/we all need this in our daily walk in these and all times!
Amazing summary of the sanctuary message, and the symbolic message it stands for.
Altar of sacrifice
Laver
7 lamp candlestick
Table of shewbread
Alter of incense
Mercy seat, contents of the ark of the covenant (commandments, manna) aaron's rod which budded, and the book of the law besire the ark.
The Israelites had waited for averagely forty years, but now the time had come. As they were crossing River Jordan on dry ground, that had been opened miraculously by God, they left behind the weary wilderness and all the memories of unbelief and loss, so many people lost their lives implying numerous funerals services had possibly taken place for reason unbelief (Joshua 3:14–17). As they crossed before them lay a new chapter, a land richer than their dreams, a land more fruitful than their hopes, a land that was theirs for keeps by God’s steadfast promise (Joshua 1:3–6). To mark this mighty act, God commanded Joshua to take twelve stones from the riverbed and set them up as a memorial, written in stone as a testimony to generations that the Lord’s hand is powerful and that His word endures forever (Joshua 4:1–7). Those stones spoke silently of God’s faithfulness ineed a visible reminder that He keeps every promise He makes.
Later, on Mount Ebal, Joshua renewed that same covenant before all Israel (Joshua 8:30–35). There, he built an altar of uncut stones and wrote upon them the law of God, again written in stone as a sign that the people’s relationship with God was to be grounded in obedience and remembrance. As the stones from the Jordan testified to God’s saving power, the stones of Ebal testified to His enduring covenant. Both events the crossing of river Jordan and worshiping at Ebal revealed the same truth: that God’s promises are not only to be believed but to be remembered, obeyed, and engraved upon the hearts of His people as permanently as they were upon those stones.
Unfortunately, we humans are so limited! However, the same God of ancient times now has a different task for believers: the covenant is not to be written on stones, but in the hearts of the worshipers. May we remind ourselves of this modern contract of Love, and abide in obedience because the LORD IS INDEED GOOD!
Suffering really keeps us close to the cross. That is the reality. When all is going well, no sickness, no bill collectors, no infidelity, no children giving trouble, we relax and take a load off our passion for seeking God first, for bruising our knees and for yearning for that peace that passes all understanding. Remembering is therefore paramount, so that our heart posture, whether in sickness or in health is the same.
It is very easy to fall into the trap of self reliance. You know, "I've got this! I don't need any help." However, we weren't created for individuality, we were created to first depend upon God and then our community of like minded believers. This lesson was indelibly impressed upon my mind early in my life, when at the age of twelve, I nearly drowned while taking my swimmers test at Boy Scout summer camp, and had to be rescued. It was both a humiliating and traumatizing event that has remained with me all of my life. Yet, I look back at that failure and see that the hand of God, working through others, brought me through it.
It is also good to have commemorations of events as a reminder of God’s blessings and presence in our lives. We have a tendancy to forget that it is He who has blessed us, not we ourselves. I believe that this is one of the reasons that God has commanded us to "remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy." God knew the propensity of mankind to try to live by their own effort, and ambitions, which is why He among other reasons, He instituted not only the weekly Sabbath but also the ceremonial sabbaths. They were to remind us of how good God has been with us in our past, yet also in our present life.
He is the great I AM, not the great I WAS, or the great I WILL BE. As He has been with us every step of our lives, He wants us to remember that He will always be with us and wants to guide us safely through this lifetime into the Heavenly Caanan that He is preparing for us.
Under the new covenant, God’s law is not written on stone but on the living hearts of believers (Jeremiah 31:33; Hebrews 8:10).
This is the spiritual reality symbolized by Joshua’s act. The engraving of the law foreshadowed the deeper work of the Holy Spirit, who transforms our characters and aligns our will with God’s.
“The new covenant promise that God will write His law in our hearts is fulfilled only as the heart is fully surrendered to Him.”
— Ellen G. White, Steps to Christ, p. 60
For Adventists, this means that obedience is not a means of salvation, but the fruit of a converted heart where Christ reigns as Lord.
In Adventist faith, the Bible is the rule of faith and practice. Like Israel gathered around the law at Mount Ebal, the church today must gather around the Word of God as its center of authority and unity (2 Timothy 3:16–17).
When God’s Word is central:
Worship becomes meaningful.
Mission gains direction.
Doctrine remains pure.
The believer’s life finds moral and spiritual stability.
“God’s Word is the standard of character, the revealer of doctrines, and the test of experience.”
— The Great Controversy, p. 595
The Israelites had their 'altars of stones' - reminding them of their Covenant with God. For us, having accepted Jesus Christ as Lord, He has become the ‘Cornerstone’ of our new HEART - it is He reminding us of all things pertaining to life. Every minute of every day we ought to guard our heart with all vigilance and faithful diligence as all acts flow from it – Prov.4:23.
The symbolism of God’s Covenant ‘written on stones’ reminds me of the ‘hearts of stone’ – hearts unwilling, therefore unable to be moved by the Holy Spirit to do that which is right in God’s Sight – Ezekiel 36:26.
God’s protection and blessings were meant for Israel’s children to develop a 'new heart', but it required their willingness to not only 'remember Him' through/by symbols, but through/by loving Him to become faithful. Though time moved on, the same principles apply today. Our foremost 'duty' is toward maintaining our close and loving relationship with God by doing that which is right in His Sight - Psalm 78:2-8.