We need God’s Word in good times and bad times.

And there, in the presence of the people of Israel, he wrote on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he had written.

Joshua 8:32

On Mount Ebal Joshua built an altar and led Israel to worship God Who led them both in joyous victory, and in painful judgment and defeat. The recent history behind this worship service was this: Israel defeated the mighty city of Jericho by strictly following God’s exact instructions. God brought down the walls and a powerful enemy was routed. But then Israel was defeated against the smaller city of Ai. God revealed to Joshua and the nation that this defeat was a consequence of one person’s disobedience to Him at Jericho. It is a sad and disillusioning time.

Israel then confronts the wicked Achan, the source of the disobedience, and judgment falls swiftly on his entire household as a consequence. Only after this time of judgment does God give victory over Ai. The cycles was: victory, defeat, repentance, confrontation, judgment, obedience, and finally victory again. And this leads to the worship celebration set up by Joshua on Mount Ebal. Central to that worship was paying attention to the Word of God. The text says Joshua built the altar exactly as spelled out in the law of God. The Law of Moses (probably the Ten Commandments) was carefully inscribed on the stone altar where sacrifices of praise are offered. Later, Joshua reads the entire Pentateuch to the assembled nation (Joshua 8:34-35) so that they might know and pay attention to what God has said and done for them.

The Word of God is central to believers in Jesus in good times and in hard times. We need to trust His Word. We need to receive and believe His truth. We need to worship Jesus, the Living Word! We need to pay attention to what God has said, because we are easily misled by our own desires both in victory or in suffering. Thankfully His Word is very near!