Written on Stones: Engraved in the Heart

  Lessons of Faith from Joshua - Sabbath School Lesson 7 - Wednesday: Written on Stones

Written on Stones: Engraved in the Heart

Read: Joshua 8:32–35

After Israel’s victory at Ai, Joshua did something surprising. Instead of immediately pressing forward militarily, he paused to build an altar and write the law of Moses upon stones for all to see. Then he gathered the entire nation—men, women, children, and foreigners—with him—to hear the blessings and the curses of the covenant read aloud.

In the shadow of battle and conquest, God’s Word took center stage.

Why was this public act so important? Joshua understood that victory didn’t come from swords or strategy—it came from God’s faithfulness and Israel’s obedience. Writing the covenant on stones made the relationship permanent, visible, and unforgettable. Israel needed a tangible reminder that their success was rooted in God’s promises and their faithfulness to His ways.

Scripture often warns us about forgetfulness:
“Take care lest you forget the LORD…” (Deut. 6:12).
“Beware lest you say in your heart, ‘My power and the might of my hand have gotten me this wealth’” (Deut. 8:14).
God knew the human heart. He knew how easily prosperity can produce spiritual amnesia.

So the law was written not on parchment tucked away but on stones, a monument meant to confront daily life. Visible. Public. Unmoving.

Israel needed reminders—and so do we.

---

The Danger of a Busy Life

How easy do we find it, in the rush and hubbub of life, to forget the Lord and start leaning on our own strength? Very easy. We hurry through deadlines, bills, family schedules, notifications, endless responsibilities—and suddenly prayer becomes optional, Scripture reading becomes rushed, and dependence on God becomes an afterthought.

We begin to operate as though our wisdom and our effort are the true sources of success. Not intentionally—just gradually. Life’s noise pushes the sacred to the margins unless we are deliberate.

---

Why We Forget Most When Things Go Well

Ironically, we are most vulnerable after a victory.
When problems overwhelm us, we run to God. But when life feels steady and comfortable, we subtly shift into self-reliance. Comfort breeds complacency. Success whispers, “You’ve got this.”

That’s why God anchored His covenant in stone.
Not because He feared failure during the battles—but forgetfulness after them.

And just as Israel needed stones at Shechem, we need our own reminders today:

• Scripture placed where our eyes fall each morning

• Worship woven into our weekly rhythm

• Prayer marking the beginning and end of our days

• Community that keeps us accountable

• A heart that pauses to say, “Lord, I need You today as much as I did yesterday.”

God’s law written on stone calls us to let His truth be written on our hearts (Jer. 31:33). It invites us to remember daily: our strength is not enough—but His grace always is.

---

Prayer

Father, thank You for being a God who never forgets Your covenant with us. Teach us to remember You in every season—both in hardship and in blessing. Guard us from pride, from self-reliance, and from the distractions that draw our hearts away. Write Your Word on our hearts as Joshua wrote it on stone. Help us to walk in obedience, dependence, and gratitude every day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

More: Ultimate Loyalty: Worship in a War Zone - Sabbath School Lesson 7 - The Lessons of Faith from Joshua

Sabbath School Quarterly Online: The Lessons of Faith from Joshua