MOUNT EBAL

1. Introduction

a) Mount Ebal is north of the West Bank city of Nablus and rises above the Valley of Shechem. The mountain (Arabic el-Iclamiyeh) reaches a height of 1,402 ft. above the floor of the valley, and 3,077 ft. above the level of the Mediterranean. The Samaritans suggest that Gerizim is the higher; but it is actually more than 200 ft. lower than Ebal. These two mountains overhang the pass through which the main artery of intercourse between East and West runs. The ancient Shechem probably stood farther to the East than it does today. The lower slopes of Ebal ascending from Nablus, are covered with gardens and orchards with vines, figs and olives. Rough and rocky terraces with thistles and prickly shrubs are on the higher elevations.

b) It was from Mount Ebal, where the curses of the LORD GOD were pronounced on the disobedient. The second twin, Mount Gerizim was the place where blessings of the LORD GOD were spoken to the obedient.

c) There are curses and blessings in the spiritual realms and the decision we make will ultimately rest upon what we will receive.

2. How to address Mount Ebal?

a) Obey the call ... to address Mount Ebal. Mount Ebal represents curses and that is what we do not want!

"1Then Moses and the leaders of Israel gave this charge to the people: “Obey all these commands that I am giving you today."

b) We have to do cross over and set up...

"2When you cross the Jordan River and enter the land the Lord your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster.

3Write this whole body of instruction on them when you cross the river to enter the land the Lord your God is giving you—a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the Lord , the God of your ancestors, promised you."

c) Set-up what? Some large stones (Christ is the cornerstone, most powerful and almighty) and write on them (or use) the Word of God which is the sword of the Spirit to address the spiritual forces at works.

i) "12For our struggle (wrestle) is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. (Ephesians 6:12 NIV)"

d) Where is our target? Focus on Mount Ebal! Bind it in Jesus' Name.

i) "18Verily I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall bind (forbid) on earth shall be bound (forbidden) in heaven: and whatsoever ye shall loose (permit) on earth shall be loosed (permitted) in heaven. 19Again I say unto you, That if two of you shall agree on earth as touching any thing that they shall ask, it shall be done for them of my Father which is in heaven. 20For where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them. (Matthew 18:18-20 KJV)"

"4When you cross the Jordan, set up these stones at Mount Ebal and coat them with plaster, as I am commanding you today."

e) Build an altar where God is pleased with and make atonement (or confess) for our sins. Then celebrate unto the Lord e.g. peace or fellowship offering.

"5Then build an altar there to the Lord your God, using natural, uncut stones. You must not shape the stones with an iron tool.

6Build the altar of uncut stones, and use it to offer burnt offerings to the Lord your God.

7Also sacrifice peace offerings on it, and celebrate by feasting there before the Lord your God."

f) Pay attention to what God is saying to us in all his commands and decrees.

"8You must clearly write all these instructions on the stones coated with plaster.

9Then Moses and the Levitical priests addressed all Israel as follows: “O Israel, be quiet and listen! Today you have become the people of the Lord your God.

10So you must obey the Lord your God by keeping all these commands and decrees that I am giving you today.” (Deuteronomy 27:1-10 NLT)

3. What are the curses from Mount Ebal?

a) Theses are the things that we do not want at all! We want God's blessings. But this spirit of disobedience will rob us of God's blessings. It had already been proclaimed in the air and is now working in the sons of disobedience. Therefore, we need to be aware of it.

i) 1And you were dead in your trespasses and sins, 2in which you formerly walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, of the spirit that is now working in the sons of disobedience. 3Among them we too all formerly lived in the lusts of our flesh, indulging the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, even as the rest. (Ephesians 2:1-3 NASB)

b) Curses

i) Sin against God - 1 mention

ii) Sin against others - 6 mentions

iii) Sin against self - 5 (sexual sins) mentions

14“Then the Levites will shout to all the people of Israel:

@1. Sin against God - make and worship an idol even in secret. God created us and worshipping these hand-made gods out of wood, molten metal are detested by God.

15‘Cursed is anyone who carves or casts an idol and secretly sets it up. These idols, the work of craftsmen, are detestable to the L ord .’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@2. Sin against others - dishonour parent

16'Cursed is anyone who dishonors father or mother.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@3. Sin against others - steal property.

17'Cursed is anyone who steals property from a neighbor by moving a boundary marker.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@4.Sin against the helpless - lead a blind man astray.

18'Cursed is anyone who leads a blind person astray on the road.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@5. Sin against less fortunate - deny justice to foreigners, orphans or widows.

19'Cursed is anyone who denies justice to foreigners, orphans, or widows.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@6. Sin against self - adultery (mother)

20'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with one of his father’s wives, for he has violated his father.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@7. Sin against self - beastility (animal)

21'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with an animal.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@8. Sin against self - incest (sister)

22'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his sister, whether she is the daughter of his father or his mother.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@9. Sin against self - adultery (with mother-in-law)

23'Cursed is anyone who has sexual intercourse with his mother-in-law.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@10. Sin against others - violence (neighbour)

24'Cursed is anyone who attacks a neighbor in secret.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@11. Sin against others - murder (innocent person)

25'Cursed is anyone who accepts payment to kill an innocent person.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’

@12. Sin against self - omission

26'Cursed is anyone who does not affirm and obey the terms of these instructions.’ And all the people will reply, ‘Amen.’ (Deuteronomy 27:14-26 NLT)

4. What are the conditions for blessings?

a) Obey & keep all his commands, then...

1“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.

2You will experience all these blessings if you obey the Lord your God:

3Your towns and your fields will be blessed.

4Your children and your crops will be blessed. The offspring of your herds and flocks will be blessed.

5Your fruit baskets and breadboards will be blessed.

6Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.

7“The Lord will conquer your enemies when they attack you. They will attack you from one direction, but they will scatter from you in seven!

8"The Lord will guarantee a blessing on everything you do and will fill your storehouses with grain. The Lord your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

b) Obey the commands & walk in his ways, then...

9“If you obey the commands of the Lord your God and walk in his ways, the Lord will establish you as his holy people as he swore he would do.

10Then all the nations of the world will see that you are a people claimed by the Lord , and they will stand in awe of you.

11"The Lord will give you prosperity in the land he swore to your ancestors to give you, blessing you with many children, numerous livestock, and abundant crops.

12The Lord will send rain at the proper time from his rich treasury in the heavens and will bless all the work you do. You will lend to many nations, but you will never need to borrow from them.

c) Listen to these commands & carefully obey them, then...

13 If you listen to these commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today, and if you carefully obey them, the Lord will make you the head and not the tail, and you will always be on top and never at the bottom.

d) Warning...

14You must not turn away from any of the commands I am giving you today, nor follow after other gods and worship them. (Deuteronomy 28:1-14 NLT)

5. Prayer focus

a) Pray that we will obey all of God's commands & decrees so that we can receive his blessings as promised.

b) Declare "The Priestly Blessing" (Numbers 6:22-27 NLT).

22Then the Lord said to Moses,
23“Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing:
24'May the Lord bless you and protect you.
25May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you.
26May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’
27Whenever Aaron and his sons bless the people of Israel in my name, I myself will bless them.” 

c) Pray for our family.