Joshua
chapter 9 provides a great reminder that we can all be fooled if we
trust our senses. Someone once told me, the biggest losses at
casinos usually happen after someone says, “I have a feeling my
luck is about to change”. The chapter begins, “All
the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things (the
mighty victories of God)…
they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel. However,
when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and
Ai, they resorted to a ruse“.
These Gibeonites understood it is impossible to defeat God, so they
devised a plan to fool His people. They sent a delegation to Israel
“whose
donkeys were loaded with worn out sacks and wineskins cracked and
mended… worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old
clothes… all the bread in their supply was dry and molded. Then
they went to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal“.
They said to the men of Israel, “We
have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us“.
They answer Israel’s skepticism by simply saying, “We
are your servants“.
The problem is, Exodus 23:32 tells Israel “Do
not make a covenant with the people of the land“.
The
chapter continues, Joshua asked, “Who
are you and where did you come from?”
The Gibeonite delegation then simply lies. “We
have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord
your God… we have heard reports of Him… this bread was warm when
we packed it at home… but now see how dry and moldy it is… See
how dry and cracked our wineskins are… our clothes and sandals are
worn from the very long journey“.
At this point the Israelites “sample
their provisions, but did not inquire of the Lord“.
So often we judge people by their appearances. Many marriages,
business partnerships and even positions of leadership in the church
are based on people being fooled by appearances. People can dress
the part and even use the right words in an attempt to deceive. We
must be diligent to “inquire of the Lord” and follow the truth of
God’s Word before trusting our senses. “Then
Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live and the
leaders of the assembly ratified it“.
Clearly everyone was fooled.
“Three
days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites
heard they were neighbors.”
To their credit, we read, “But
Israel did not attack them… because they had sworn an oath to them
by the Lord“.
Israel kept their promise to God. Joshua instead assigns the
Gibeonites the menial tasks of gathering wood and water for the house
of the Lord. It is interesting to note when asked why they lied, the
Gibeonites said, “Your
servants were clearly told how the Lord your God… gave you the
whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants… so we feared for
our lives“.
“So
Joshua saved them… and did not kill them…but made them
woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of
the Lord“.
Once again we see these people did not earn God’s mercy through
their good works, but rather they were liars. They are saved because
of a promise and God always keeps His promise. Wonderfully, after
this, the Gibeonites become an important people to the Israelites,
from fighting with King David to helping to rebuild the walls of
Jerusalem with Nehemiah. How encouraging to know that God can do
great things with sinners that are humbled… just like you and me.