DAD'S RAMBLINGS -- THREE MOUNTAINS

DAD'S RAMBLINGS – THREE MOUNTAINS

" 'Now it shall come to pass if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today,, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you, and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God....But it shall come to pass, if you do not obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments and His statutes which I command you today, that all these curses will come upon you and overtake you... (Deuteronomy 28:15-2)

In Deuteronomy chapter 27:11-12, Moses had called the people to gather at Mount Gerizim and Mount Ebal to declare the blessings that would come to the Israelites if they followed the way of the Lord, and the curses that would follow if they went away from God.

Mount Gerizim was a place of blessing, and Mount Ebal was a place of cursing. These blessings and curses were given to the nation of Israel, and we need to be careful in the application of these scriptures to our own lives. However, there are blessing to be enjoyed for those who serve the Lord with a whole heart, and there are negative consequences for those who reject God's way.

As a side note, when Jesus met the woman at the well in John chapter 4, it was at Sychar in Samaria. Sychar, according to Easton's Bible Dictionary, was a small town at the base of Mount Ebal. The Samaritan woman said that they worshiped on "this mountain" or Mount Ebal. The background of this is interesting and worthy of study, but the Samaritan's center of worship was not in Jerusalem but Mount Ebal, which was the mountain of cursing. Jesus came with the message of blessing – of living water (John 4:10) to those who worship the Lord in truth (vs. 23).

Jesus said that He came into this world to save us, and not condemn us (John 3:17). Salvation is blessing, and condemnation is a curse. Mount Gerzim and Mount Ebal met together at Mount Calvary. Calvary was a blessing because it was there that Jesus bought my salvation. But it was a place of cursing because Jesus took the condemnation of sin upon Himself. You would think that any sane and rational person would choose blessing rather than cursing. I rejoice in the blessings of my salvation – My Mount Gerizim.

Love, Dad