Curses of the Law - The Ceremony on Mount Ebal and God's Curse on Secret Sins

On Top of Mount Ebal

In May 2023, archaeologist Scott Stipling published his discovery of an altar on Mount Ebal which proves to be the very one mentioned in Deuteronomy 27 and Joshua 8. This discovery is significant, it has been reported on by ABC, FOX, TBN and plenty of other news services.

Stippling found it by digging underneath a newer altar that had been built on  top of the older. Based on evidence the original altar dates back to at least 1,400 B.C. which confirms the early date for the biblical Exodus account (in the range of 1,500 BC. ... and synchronizes with the internal dating of the Exodus found in scripture. For 2 centuries "scholars" have been casting doubt that the Exodus occurred when the bible says it did... undermining the trustworthiness of the bible (UCG has always taught the early date for Exodus... because we start with scripture and then sift through the evidence).

Around the altar were tablets with actual curses written in ancient Hebrew script. This discovery counters another bogus argument made that Hebrew writing was only developed centuries after Deuteronomy... therefore leading to the false assumption that Deuteronomy is a imaginative fabrication made by Israelite priests centuries (even a millennium) later.  

Once again after 2 centuries in which skeptical "scholars" have cast doubt on the reliability of the bible... the scriptures have been proven to give the most accurate record of what really happened. But, a lie told often enough takes on a life of its own and is hard to eradicate.

Stipling's discovery is a big deal... but most people don't know... don't care... actually don't want to know... because if the bible is an accurate, reliable, revelation from the Creator of the universe... a lot of people are going to squirm in their seats.

What Happened on Month Ebal

Deuteronomy 27:1-8 Moses gave the people instructions, passing on what YHWH wanted them to do once they entered the land of promise. God told Moses he would die before Israel entered. So, Moses is publicly passing the sanction of leadership to Joshua.

Joshua 8:30-35 the bible has a lot of repetition of this sort... its there to make a point. God is pleased by those who faithfully  carry out the instructions given.

The spiritual application for new covenant believers is obvious; we should faithfully carry out the will of God as expressed in His written instructions. You will not find the will of God by searching deep inside yourself... if the Almighty does deign to reveal something to you directly the message will be confirmed by some sort of incontestable sign (in other words... its rare). You discover the will of God by reflecting on what is written...  the spirit guides you according to what is given.

Curses in the Covenant

Moses' instructions are followed by a set of curses from God... why are these curses embedded in the covenant document?

Deuteronomy (and the covenant as a whole) is structured as a treaty between a conquering king and the people who are now his subjects.  If ancient Egyptians or Hittites had read the Deuteronomy (or the other documents of the covenant) they would have quickly recognized it for what it was… this is how they wrote treaties. Skeptics foolishly argue that because the bible uses pre-existing literary forms… it’s not unique... it’s merely the work of human beings and not a revelation from God.

The bible is not less believable because it uses the same conventions of communication as people its trying to communicate with:

12. We find the familiar structures of Greco-Roman letter writing, apocalyptic visions, biographic sketches (IE. the new testament)
13. We find creation accounts, treaties, covenants, love poems, songs, wisdom literature (IE. the old testament)... the bible doesn’t invent these templates

God takes these familiar formats and uses them to teach the truth. God communicates with us in our own language, alphabets, grammar, and literary genres… why should that be cause for doubt? 

The covenant before us is between YHWH the conquering king and the people who are now His subjects. YHWH has won them in battle with Pharaoh, it only makes sense that He wants to spell out the parameters of the new arrangement. Just like any other conquering king would.

Perhaps this is how we should view the new covenant…. you have surrendered to God and entered into a peace treaty with Him… there are promises… there are rules… there are consequences.

Key Elements of an Iron Age Treaty:  The conquering king spells out how we all ended up where we are... He proclaims His sovereignty... He itemizes what He will do for the people (His promises)... He itemizes what He expects in return (His laws statutes and judgments)... He includes the curses that will be meted out for disobedience.... and reiterates the blessing of obedience... then the covenant is ratified.

Deuteronomy 27-28 is an example of such blessing and cursing found within a standard treaty formula. Notice that it is followed by a renewal of the original covenant founded 40 years earlier in  Exodus 24:7 where the people having heard the terms…. bow their heads and say "we will obey".

This is an attitude we should consider when approaching baptism into the new covenant.

The Curses

Deuteronomy 27:9-26 at first blush this list might seem like a random sampling of some of the statutes and commands found elsewhere in the covenant documents. A closer look reveals a common thread of secret sin... for which God Himself will ensure that punishment and justice is done.

Verse 15 the idolater sets up his false image... in secret. This is our first clue to the theme.

Verse 16 dishonor of parents will take place within the privacy of the home and would be hard to prosecute in a social setting.

Deuteronomy 5:16 because parents were the primary means by which the law would be taught and passed on... if parent's instruction were not headed... obedience would falter... the covenant would be broken... and Israel would suffer the consequences of disobedience and be removed from the land.

Deuteronomy 21:18-21 it is not for the community to accuse, the responsibility for accusation is on the parents themselves. However, judgment and punishment is for the community to evaluate and carry out. The matter would come before a court and judges educated in the law would decide. So, children are protected from their parents acting in a rash or malicious manner. In contrast Gentile nations often gave parent complete  power of life and death over their own children.

Based on the regulations about capital punishment, parents... as accusers... would have to be the ones to cast the first stone. Normal parents are going to be reluctant to bring forth their own child for execution… better to hush it up… worse yet the judges might find the parents in the wrong. So, the 5th commandment also includes God's curse... He too would get personally involved in matters so private and personal.

Verse 17 moving a boundary stone is a form of theft or fraud that a person would probably do in the dead of night when no one can see… or through murky backroom politics. This secret sin negatively affects another persons covenant rights and privileges... compromising their enjoyment of the blessing of the land without fear.

Verse 18-19 the blind person cannot easily identify their assailant in cases of robbery or theft... a non-citizen, an orphan, a widow would have a very difficult time getting their case heard in court. The wrong doer can remain hidden... God promises to prosecute the case Himself.

Verse 20-23 sexual sins by nature are private, undisclosed, staying behind closed doors... people sneak around... and animals can't tell tales. God sees and will prosecute the case Himself. These particular acts violate the natural bounds of family, the marriage covenant, and the order of nature established at creation (created beings reproduce after their own kind),

Verse 24-25 two examples of murder done secretly: 1) committing the perfect crime... 2) contracting killing. God sees and He will exact justice.

Deuteronomy 21:1-9 an unsolved murder is the responsibility of everyone as represented by the community leaders. Then they determine which town must bear the cost of this rite. 

The heifer is used because it signifies cleansing in addition to the payment of life for life. Sin is an affront to God Himself and must be atoned for. The shedding of blood also defiles the land in which the Lord dwells and must be cleansed Numbers 35:33-34.

In addition to the secret sins the covenant included additional curses upon their agricultural productivity, their ability to birth children, diseases, failure in battle, oppression by foreigners, and finally expulsion from the land. These are painfully spelled out in Chapter 28 as the consequences of disobedience.

We all have secret sins… which no one knows or sees. God’s charge is to deal with them… He gives you mercy and time… but deal with them you must, or He will Hebrews 4:12-13; 10:26-31

Public Sins

Overall, God expected the people of the land to practice the law personally... but also to enforce the law communally. He was not going to swoop in every time there was an infraction and punish the sinner. He fully expected the community to buy into the values His law expressed... to share HIs sense of zeal that justice be done... and make it happen... "you must purge this sin from among you". And in matters where you cannot know... I will intervene.

Prosecuting and punishing sin is not an easy or pleasant task. Its a lot easier to say "let God deal with it"... "if its important enough He'll punish"... "oh look, nothing happened so it must be OK with God".  A society that will not confront sin is doomed. Whether they correctly define sin by God’s word… or they come up with definitions of their own… refusal to address sin leas to social collapse.

Part of your inheritance is a place within the governing structure seated with Christ when He returns. During the 1,000 years of Christ's rule, God's will shall be done on earth. So, there will be punishment for wrongdoing in the kingdom. The laws of God will provide the definition for sin…. and If you are a king, a  priest, a judge… you will share the burden of enforcing the laws, statutes and commandments of the KOG alongside Christ.

Most of us are limited in scope. A few of us attain positions of authority in society or business, but not most of us. We primarily learn judgment by: 1) judging our self, including secret sins 2) judging within our biological family, sins known only to a few 3) judging withing the Church, which is hard.

God wants people who have learned to judge righteous judgment and are willing to faithfully enforce the law of the kingdom.  Mercy and forgiveness mean nothing without the possibility of punishment.

The Curse of the Law

Galatians 3:10-13 Paul is referring to the section of the covenant law we have been exploring. He is not saying that the law itself is a curse... but that the law of the covenant contained within it the mechanism of curses for those who did not observe all things commanded.

Paul’s point is that, under the terms of the new covenant, you can be redeemed from suffering the consequences of sin through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ. But let’s remember… Israel's covenant also contained a way to atone for their sins... sacrifice of animals and so forth. They were only a shadow of what was to come … but they were valid. Atonement for sin is not unique to the new covenant... its just that the sacrifice made is better Hebrews 9:23 and the promises made by the Almighty King are better because they are more enduring Hebrews 10:24.

Israel had a God ordained means for atonement but by the end God said “your sacrifices weary Me. I am tired of the smell and aroma of them”... Why? Because there is no repentance accompanying them. My mercy and forgiveness are providing you time to change…. but you don’t.

If we continually come before God with our sins seeking the atonement provided by Christ's blood... but never change... never actually repent...do we run the risk of wearying God with our empty words?

Matthew 7:23 because you practiced lawlessness