Guarding Against Deception Series

Once we cast a vision and begin laying hold of the Promised Land, we need to watch out for dream catchers! Now, when I speak of dream catchers, I am not referring to the round wooden frame resembling a spider’s web, which was handcrafted by the Ojibwa tribe of Native Americans for the purpose of catching bad dreams.(1) I’m instead referring to individuals who creep into the fold to snatch away our vision, and plunder our hard-earned spoils in an act of spiritual piracy.

The prophet Jeremiah, under God’s direction, once cautioned the people of Israel to beware of sharing their dreams with those who would deceive them and try to deter them from hoping in the Lord’s good intentions of delivering them from Babylon. In Jeremiah 29:8-9, we read, “For thus says the LORD of hosts, the God of Israel: Do not let your prophets and your diviners who are in your midst deceive you, nor listen to your dreams which you cause to be dreamed. For they prophesy falsely to you in My name; I have not sent them, says the LORD” (Jeremiah 29:8-9).

We need to realize that there can come among us individuals claiming to be God’s preachers and teachers, who have the ulterior motive of leading us off course and steering us away from the dream on our heart; or rather, away from God’s vision and calling for our own life and the church. The Lord said not to listen to these people, but instead remain focused on the dream and vision that is divinely inspired and placed on our heart by God Himself.

Jeremiah continued to admonish Israel, “For thus says the LORD: After seventy years are completed at Babylon, I will visit you and perform My good word toward you, and cause you to return to this place. For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope” (Jeremiah 29:10-11).

Perhaps the Lord has given us a vision that will lead to a bright future and a blessed hope in the Promised Land; however, we will not arrive there if we lower our guard and succumb to the treachery of the dream catchers – those who seek to steal our dream and profit from our labor. This morning, we are going to be made aware of their motives and tactics, and be provided the necessary knowledge to defend against their deception. So, prepare you heart and mind, because we’re getting ready to learn something about the difficult, or not so nice, side of ministry.

Getting in on the Action (vv. 3-6)

3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”

The first thing to note from this passage is that news of God’s work spread far and wide (v. 3); and as a result, there were some who made plans to get in on the action. We need to realize that as we begin to conquer the land, so to speak, and as the Lord starts bringing repeated victories to our efforts, that we must be on guard. You see, people have a tendency to be fair weather fans, keeping us at a distance as long as we are struggling; however, as soon as God’s work in our life bears fruit – or we experience what people see as success – then those with wrong motives will want in on the action; not to further the kingdom, but to further themselves.

Now, one thing the inhabitants of Gibeon wanted was protection from annihilation – which is understandable – but they also wanted something else in addition when they said, “Make a covenant with us” (v. 6), which I will explain in a moment. But before we get there, I want to focus on some other insights. We read here that they “worked craftily” (v. 4) to deceive the men of Israel. This craftiness included 1.) pretending to be ambassadors, 2.) putting on disguises, and 3.) attempting to secure a covenant. When we begin to experience success in ministry, we must be on guard against these three avenues of craftiness or deception.

So, let’s consider “false ambassadors.” The New Testament calls believers “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). We must be cautious of any self-proclaimed Christian ambassador who is new to our fellowship, who comes boasting about what God has done in his or her life, and who begins to publicly proclaim his or her own superior faith and giftedness. Such an individual is likely trying to usurp the authority of the church leaders and be seen as equal or greater in calling.