30 Then Joshua built an altar to the Lord, the God of Israel, in Mount Ebal, 31 just as Moses the servant of the Lord had commanded the sons of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of uncut stones on which no man had wielded an iron tool; and they offered burnt offerings on it to the Lord, and sacrificed peace offerings. 32 He wrote there on the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which [m]he had written, in the presence of the sons of Israel. 33 All Israel with their elders and officers and their judges were standing on both sides of the ark before the Levitical priests who carried the ark of the covenant of the Lord, the stranger as well as the native. Half of them stood in front of Mount Gerizim and half of them in front of Mount Ebal, just as Moses the servant of the Lord had given command at first to bless the people of Israel. 34 Then afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessing and the curse, according to all that is written in the book of the law. 35 There was not a word of all that Moses had commanded which Joshua did not read before all the assembly of Israel with the women and the little ones and the strangers who were [n]living among them.
If Joshua were a king, this was his coronation. Having just won two amazing victories, all of Israel is gathered once more. But there is one important difference. Joshua knows who their King is, and he is not it. God is their sovereign and Joshua gives Him the honor and the priority here.
He builds an altar to the Lord, writes the law on the stones of the altar, and then reads the commands of the Lord to all the people, every last word. I suspect though, that this would have very much solidified Joshua’s leadership positions, which is an interesting side effect of giving honor to God.
Only when we live a life that is honoring and following God’s will can we properly lead others. We can’t do it on our own strength, our own wisdom, and certainly not with our only plan. Seek Him first…