Two Mountains

The Blessing

By William M. Self, Sr.

 

As you stand at the Jordan River and look west

Two mountains serve as a continual reminder of our choices

Blessing and Cursing

Which mountain will you contribute to today?

  

Two Mountains

Entering into the promise land, standing at the

Jordan River looking west, are two mountains.

These two mountains played, and still play,

a big role in the lives of the Israelites.

Imagine standing with the

Israelites at the Jordan River.

It is late in the day and the sun is

setting between two mountains.

You are excited about your new life

on the other side of the Jordan.

The promises of God await you.

As the sun sets, the shadows of

these two mountains cover the land.

Mount Gerizim is to the south.

This mountain is the mountain of blessing.

The blessings of God are to be

proclaimed from Mount Gerizim.

 

On the north is Mount Ebal.

This mountain is a mountain of curses.

The curses and warnings are

proclaimed from Mount Ebal.

From Mount Gerizim comes instruction

on how to live a blessed and fulfilled life.

From Mount Ebal comes warning

 of the painful and cursed life.

These two mountains serve as a continual

 reminder that life is a matter of choices.

Each choice builds and adds to our life.

When the sun sets at the end of our lives, and

the choices are stacked one on top of another…

Which mountains will be larger?

The mountain of blessing.

Or, the mountain of cursing.

For the children of Israel, every day

these two mountains guided them.

Two words helped them make those daily choices…

Blessing and Cursing

  

What mountain will you contribute to today?

 

Scripture Reading

Deuteronomy 11:26-32 NIV

26 See, I am setting before you today a blessing and a curse —  27 the blessing if you obey the commands of the Lord your God that I am giving you today; 28 the curse if you disobey the commands of the Lord your God and turn from the way that I command you today by following other gods, which you have not known. 29 When the Lord your God has brought you into the land you are entering to possess, you are to proclaim on Mount Gerizim the blessings, and on Mount Ebal the curses. 30 As you know, these mountains are across the Jordan, west of the road, toward the setting sun, near the great trees of Moreh, in the territory of those Canaanites living in the Arabah in the vicinity of Gilgal. 31 You are about to cross the Jordan to enter and take possession of the land the Lord your God is giving you. When you have taken it over and are living there, 32 be sure that you obey all the decrees and laws I am setting before you today.