What Did the Reformers Get Right? (Joshua 8: 30-35)

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Welcome to This Episode of The Bible Project Daily Podcast

Episode Title: What Did the Reformers Get Right? (Joshua 8:30-35)

Episode Summary:

In this episode, we explore the significance of making God’s Word publicly accessible and understood—a conviction shared by both Joshua and the Reformers.

Before the printing press, Scripture was rare, and most people relied on public readings and oral teachings. We trace this historical necessity back to Moses and Joshua, who displayed God’s Word publicly, ensuring it was central to the life of the people. Likewise, the Reformers, such as William Tyndale, fought to make Scripture available and understandable to everyone.

Yet, while we now live in a time when the Bible is more accessible than ever before, biblical literacy is at an all-time low. This episode challenges us to go beyond merely owning a Bible and instead ensure that we read, understand, and live by it.

Key Themes Discussed:

• The role of Scripture before the printing press
• How Moses and Joshua ensured God’s Word was publicly available
• The Reformers’ battle for access to and proper understanding of the Bible
• The danger of biblical neglect in the modern age
• The importance of hearing, studying, and applying God’s Word in our daily lives

Key Scripture References:

• Deuteronomy 27:1-4 – Moses commands that God’s law be inscribed on stones
• Joshua 8:30-35 – Joshua publicly displays and reads the law
• 1 Timothy 4:13 – Paul’s instruction to Timothy about public Scripture reading
• Hebrews 10:25 – The command not to neglect assembling together
• 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – The role of Scripture in equipping believers

Call to Action:

• Prioritize hearing and studying Scripture regularly
• Share this podcast with others who need to hear the message
• Reflect on whether you are merely possessing the Bible or truly living by it

Thank you for joining us on The Bible Project Daily Podcast!

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Chapters

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• 13:19 (Cont.) What Did the Reformers Get Right? (Joshua 8: 30-35)

Transcript

What Did the Reformers Get Right? (Joshua 8:30-35)

Transcript:

 Think about the Bible before the printing press existed.

Imagine living in the first century. Would you have had a personal copy of the Scriptures? Most likely not. The printing press wasn’t invented until the 15th century. For most of history, copies of Scripture were handwritten and extremely rare. Most early Christians had to rely on oral teaching and public readings.

If personal copies of the Bible were essential for spiritual growth, what would believers have done for 1,500 years before the printing press?

What Did the First Writers of Scripture Say about the Word of God?

To answer that, let's go back to the first man who wrote the Bible: Moses.

Moses didn’t write Scripture for personal devotionals. He wrote it as the foundation of God's covenant promise with His people. In fact, he commanded that the words be displayed publicly, not just distributed privately.

Deuteronomy 27:1-4 gives us clear instructions about this:

“On the day when you cross over the Jordan… you shall set up for yourselves large stones and whitewash them with lime. You shall write on them all the words of this law…”

So the first recorded use of written Gods word was not handing out personal scrolls, but publicly engraving God’s Word in stone for all to see. So not just with the 10 commandments but here in Deuteronomy.

Now, fast forward to Joshua 8. After the conquest of Ai, Joshua obeyed this same command. He made God’s Word visible and accessible—not by handing out scrolls, but by publicly inscribing it on stones.

Which bring me to the Reformers. They believed that God’s Word should be accessible to all people—not just religious elites. But their battle wasn’t just about literacy or printing; it was as more about ensuring that Scripture was properly understood and the most effective technological method of doing that in their day.

Think about Billy Graham (Amplification)

All these people saw the dangers of Scripture being misused, misinterpreted, and twisted when placed in the wrong hands or just left in the hands of supposed spiritual elite. They reformer in may ways were just the first who saw the necessity of public teaching and clear exposition alongside personal Bible reading.

Their fight was not just for access to the Bible, but for understanding the Bible. And that is where their greatest success—and our greatest challenge—still remains today.

Today we live in a time where the Bible is more available than ever before—on our phones, online, in print. Yet, biblical literacy is at an all-time low.

So, for the modern man or woman it seems that owning or having access to the Bible is not enough.

People also have to understand it in a way that they see it is important that they live it out and apply it also…. faithfully.

So, the word of God must be recorded, studied in a way that it can be understood and applied by other people. They theological word for that is, “proclaimed”. And I suppose that is what I am trying to do with TBPDP, but in a sense I need you to also play a part in this, and that is by simply sharing it with other people. (Specifically when you think a message either really resonated with you, or them)

Joshua, he understood that God’s Word must not only be recorded but proclaimed. Just as the Reformers later fought to make Scripture known and understood, Joshua knew that before them, the reformers across church history knew it and we also need to know that today in the way that is relevant to our modern world. 

The question for us today is: Are we simply possessing a Bible, or are we living by it?....

30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings. 

(Joshua 8: 30-31)

When the people of Israel conquered Ai, Joshua led them in an act of obedience that should shape how we still think about Scripture today.

Joshua 8:32 tells us:

" There, in the presence of the Israelites, Joshua wrote on stones a copy of the law of Moses."

Now this is not some sort of arbitrary religious ritual. Joshua was following a direct command from Moses given in Deuteronomy 27 where God had instructed that when they entered the land, they were to set up stones and inscribe His law upon them. 

So the Word of God was to be made visible, accessible, and central to their life as a nation.

And that what Joshua did in the way people who wanted to communicate something widely and permanently  using the technology of his day) 

But the question that follows on from that is what exactly did Joshua write?

Some scholars suggest that Joshua simply wrote the Ten Commandments. Others believe he recorded all the blessings and curses from the latter part of Deuteronomy. A few even argue that he may have written the entire book of Deuteronomy.

That third option isn’t unreasonable, archaeology has revealed some ancient inscriptions three times the length of Deuteronomy have been discovered, proving that large portions of text could and were etched into stone.

In Ephesus, archaeologists in recent years have uncovered stone pillars that functioned as the city’s “newspaper,” displaying important public announcements and probably changed on a regular basis. If this was possible in Paul's day, it was certainly possible in Joshua’s.

So why did Joshua do this? 

Because God wanted His people to have permanent, public access to His Word. The law/word of God was not meant to be hidden away on a scroll somewhere and held only by religious elites. It was to be displayed openly so that anyone could come and read it.

This principle—that God’s Word should be accessible to all—was the conviction that drove William Tyndale and the other Reformers that followed. 

Tyndale believed that every believer should have the Bible in their own language. He risked his life to translate the Scriptures into English. Because of persecution he had to base himself in Germany and have them printed there and smuggled them into England, hidden in bales of cotton.

When the first copies of Tyndale’s Bible reached English churches, people were so eager to read it that they would gather around a single copy and take turns reading aloud!

This caused such a disruption that the King of England passed a law forbidding people from reading the Bible out loud in church.

Tyndale was eventually burned at the stake in 1535 for his efforts, not by the church of England in the end but by the Dutch Catholic state in the Netherland for what they called his Lutheran heresy. 

But his legacy endured. His translation became the foundation of the King James Bible, and his vision, that everyone should have access to God’s Word would became a reality.

He was right. The Bible is not meant to be locked away. It is meant to be read, studied, and proclaimed.

Not everyone today has the privilege of owning a Bible. I have an evangelist friend who has been visiting ex-communist countries like Poland and Romana since the 1980’s were Bibles were still scarce.  They had so few that they only give them out evangelists and small group leaders until relatively recently.

The people were hungry for God’s Word, yet most did not have a personal copy. And yet, they still gathered faithfully, packed into houses and small groups under difficult conditions, eager to hear the Scriptures.

Meanwhile, in places where Bibles are freely available, they are often neglected. People can have them on our shelves, on their phones, in multiple translations—and yet it seems to me that few these days treasure them as we should?

The lesson for us here is that Joshua made God’s Word central to the life of people. The Reformers over history have fought so that principle remains, and we can all hold a Bible in our own hands. But having access to the Bible means nothing if we do not read it, study it, and live by it.

The real question is never “Do you own a Bible?” The real question is: “Does the Bible own you?”

It is not enough to simply possess a Bible. You must hear it, apply it and proclaim it.

So, Joshua had the law inscribed in stone, and he ensured that the entire nation gathered to hear it read aloud. Joshua 8:33-35 tells us:

"Then all Israel, with their elders and officers and judges, stood on either side of the ark before the priests, the Levites, who bore the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as he who was born among them. Half of them were in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward, he read all the words of the law, the blessings and the cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, the little ones, and the strangers who were living among them."

(Joshua 8: 33-35)

This was a massive national gathering. Imagine the scene—two mountains towering above the people, with half of Israel standing before Mount Gerizim and the other half before Mount Ebal. Joshua, standing in between, publicly read every word of the law, the blessings, and the curses. The entire nation, including men, women, children, and even foreigners, listened to God's Word. It must have been an awe-inspiring and humbling moment.

Some might ask, "How could one man read to two million people?" The likely answer is that Joshua read aloud to the priests and elders, who then relayed the words to various sections of the crowd. So this is much more than just a symbolic event—it was an essential spiritual discipline involving all the people and the leaders of the people.

This basic principle still applies, it extends beyond the Old Testament. In the New Testament we see Paul instruct Timothy to:

"Give attention to reading, to exhortation (Encouragement through proclaimation), to doctrine."

(1 Timothy 4:13)

Before the printing press, copies of Scripture were scarce. It was the public reading of Scripture that ensured that people knew God's commands for nearly 1500 yers. The early church followed this practice, gathering regularly to hear the Word read and explained.

This is one of the primary reasons Christians still gather together for worship. Church is not merely about singing songs or socializing—it is about hearing the Word of God. And this is important in fact the Bible commands it:

"Do not to forget to assemble together." 

(Hebrews 10:25)

Why? Because we need to hear the Bible read, taught, and applied to our lives.

One of the greatest dangers Christians face today is neglecting this discipline. Today, many believers take the Word for granted. Many think meeting and sharing with other believers is not essential.

In many parts of the world, believers long for access to a Bible and yet, in places where Bibles are freely available, how often do people ignore them? Church membership in the west is generally on the decline. The reality is that spiritual drift starts when people stop regularly hearing the Word.

In the revivals of the Old Testament, people repented when they rediscovered and heard the Scriptures. In Nehemiah’s day, the people stood for hours as the law was read, weeping as they realized how far they had strayed. 

We need that same hunger today. It is not enough to have a Bible on your shelf or even in our hands. It must be read, heard, and obeyed. The Israelites here chiseled the law into stone to ensure it would never be forgotten. We have it in print, on our phones, and in our churches—yet many still choose to treat it as an afterthought.

Let me challenge you: Are you hearing the Word? Are you prioritizing it in your life? (Maybe you just fell upon this episode because you’re interested in the reformation)

Joshua knew that if Israel was to remain faithful, they had to regularly hear the commands of God. The same is true for us.

We should be deeply grateful that we live in a time when we have access to the full Word of God. Unlike generations past, we don’t have to rely on oral traditions or handwritten scrolls. 

We can own a personal Bible, read it at any time, and study it freely. Yet, with such a privilege comes responsibility. It is not enough to have the Word in our hands—we must have it in our hearts and heed it in our lives.

Listen again at Joshua 8:30-31:

30 Then Joshua built on Mount Ebal an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, 31 as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the Israelites. He built it according to what is written in the Book of the Law of Moses—an altar of uncut stones, on which no iron tool had been used. On it they offered to the Lord burnt offerings and sacrificed fellowship offerings.

When Israel entered the land, they were commanded to do three things:

1.    Write the law on stone – This ensured everyone had access to God's commands.

2.    Build an altar – This was an act of worship and submission to God.

3.    Offer sacrifices – This signified their reliance on God's grace.

Joshua followed these instructions exactly. This teaches us an important truth: God does not want us to simply possess the Word, but to obey it. The Word Must Shape Our Lives

2 Timothy 3:16-17 tells us:

"All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."

Scripture is not just for us to become knowledge—it is meant to equip us for obedience and service. If we only read the Bible without living it out, we miss the whole purpose for which God gave it to us.

Deuteronomy 27 and Joshua 8 remind us of a key biblical principle: Obedience brings blessing, and disobedience brings consequences.

The Israelites were standing and the blessings and the curses were read, the people responded with a loud "Amen!"

This dramatic scene highlights a choice that each of us must make. 

James 1:22 warns us not to:

"But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

Some Christians live in a state of spiritual frustration because they treat the Bible as a book of suggestions rather than divine instructions. They read the Word, but they don’t apply it. They might attend church, but they don’t let God’s truth shape their daily lives. Then they wonder why their prayers seem unanswered, why they lack joy, and why their spiritual growth feels stagnant.

The question today is simple: which state are you living on?  Are you experiencing the blessing of obedience on Mount Gerizim or are you feeling the weight of disobedience on Mount Ebal?

The choice is ours. God has given us His Word—not just to inform us but to transform us. We must take it beyond our hands and beyond our heads, letting it take root in our hearts and shape our lives.

Living it out in a a life of obedience is the key to receiving the blessing of God.

The book of Joshua is, at its core, about possessing your possessions. Possessing what is already yours.

God told Israel, "I have given you the land." It was already theirs. Yet, they still had to go and take it. 

Sometimes, like at Jericho, victory can come through simple obedience—walking in faith and watching God work. Other times, as with Ai, we have to fight, learning from their failures and trusting God’s plan for our future.

The same principle applies to us spiritually. God has already given us victory. He has already given us peace, joy, patience, and self-control. The question is, are we actually living in that victory? Are we possessing what is rightfully ours?

Galatians 5:22-23 describes the fruit of the Spirit for us:

"The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control."

These are not distant ideals or abstract virtues. They are yours in Christ. But too often, instead of possessing them, we admire them like jewels in a store window—things we long for but don’t actually take hold of.

How Do We Possess What God Has Given? The answer is simple: Have the Word of God in your hands, in your heart, and in your life.

Do you have a Bible? You probably do. But are you reading it? Do you know what it says? Or do you only pick it up occasionally, if at all? Are you living it out? Because knowledge without action leads nowhere.

If you’ve neglected the Word, start today. Begin with reading it every day, maybe with me by listening to this podcast. Take a note of what it says and then, go and do it.

One quick example, Philippians 2:14 says:

"Do all things without grumbling or complaining."

How about that for a quick start in living the Spirit empowered life.

That seems easy—until you're stuck in traffic, dealing with workplace stress, or arguing with someone in your family. Suddenly, obeying that verse is not so simple.

But keep reading. Philippians 4:13 reminds us:

"I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."

That’s the key. You don’t just try harder—you rely on Christ. You act in obedience, and He supplies the strength.

The Bible isn’t just something you own, God wants more than that—He wants the Bible to have you.

I’ve been to the doctor in the past and they have prescribed antibiotics and they tell you “To take the full course, even if you start feeling better.” Then you take the medicine for a few days and felt great again and then sometimes you forget to finish the course and a week later the problem comes back worse than before. Doctors say that is a common problem.

The medicine only works if you take the full course. If you stop halfway, the sickness remains.”

How many of us treat God’s Word like that prescription? We read a little, feel better, and stop. We hear a sermon, feel convicted, and promise to change, but we don’t follow through.

We know what to do but don’t do it, then we wonder why we struggle spiritually.

You can have the Bible in your hands. You can know what it says in your head. But if you don’t live it out, otherwise you’ll never experience its power.

Joshua here presents a choice to the Israelites who stood between two mountains, where the blessings were read and the curses were proclaimed.

As they listened to the Word of God, the people responded “Amen!” to both blessings and curses. They understood that obedience brought blessing, while disobedience brought consequences.

Thet same choice stands before us today.

Are you living and experiencing God’s peace, His joy, His answered prayers?

Or are you struggling, feeling distant from God, wondering why life never seems to go right?

God has already given you everything you need for victory. The question is… are you walking in it? 

Possess your possessions. Live out the Word. And walk in the blessings that God has already prepared for you.