Beware of making bad decisions Joshua 9
Two snakes were slithering down the road when one asked the other, “Are we poisonous?” The other snake said, “I don’t think so, why did you ask?” And he said, “Cause I just bit my lip.”
Have you ever wondered why some of the people you know insist on making dumb decisions when the decisions they make are so obviously wrong? Here are ten reasons that people act like idiots without even knowing it. And as they say in poker, if you can’t spot the sucker at the table, then it’s probably you...
1. First, there are some who know they’re heading in the wrong direction and yet they’ll say, we’ve come this far, we might as well keep on going. Now, I admit there was a time that I realized I was heading in the complete opposite way on the highway and I sped up like that was going to change anything.
But listen, even though we can’t change the past; that doesn’t mean that we can’t turn around and start over again. And I’m not just talking spiritually here but in any area of our lives. I’m sure we’ve all known people who will sink a lot of time and money into something and they’ll think that if they stick with their original plan long enough then somehow everything is going to work out right. The problem is; if their plan was wrong to begin with then the results won’t change but they’ll always be wrong.
For example, I had a friend one time who bought an old car and it looked like a bit of a junker but he said he really got a good deal on it and in a couple of weeks the motor went. And after he put a new motor in it which cost him a little bit more than he paid for the car the transmission went and after he had that replaced all kinds of other little things went, but he said, I’ve already spent so much money on this car and it’s got all these new parts, so, what else can go wrong. And the answer was simple, a lot of things. There comes a time when you have to realize, you’ve made a wrong decision and move on. And maybe you’ve come this far only to realize you’re going the wrong way.
2. Then there’s the totally self-centered individual who doesn’t realize the grief that he or she is causing other people. There was a Harvard study where a couple of volunteers were connected to a device that allowed each of them to exert pressure on the other person’s fingers. The researcher began by exerting a fixed amount of pressure on the first volunteer’s finger and then that person was asked to exert the same amount of pressure on the second person’s finger. Then the second person was asked to exert the same amount of pressure on the first person’s finger, and back and forth.
And although they each tried to respond with equal force, they typically responded with about 40 percent more force than they had just experienced. So, each time one was touched, he touched back harder, and that caused the other one to touch back even harder. And that’s why people who are in a conflict invariably think they are both "right" because neither one thinks they’ve done more wrong to the other person.
Let me give you a practical example that we can all relate to. Have you ever seen family members who were dividing up what remained after the final parent dies? No matter who gets what or how evenly the estate is divided everyone feels like the other one got either more than them or at least more than they should have. And then they destroy what’s left of the family for second hand junk they wouldn’t even look at; at a garage sale. Or as the old saying goes, “Forty for you, sixty for me and equal partners we will be.”
3. Then there are those who will do anything just to prove a point. And we all know that no matter what happens in the world, the political crowd can spin it in a way that that confirms what they were saying all along. A cynical explanation is that politicians twist the truth to get what they want but a more subtle explanation is that our brains tend to search for and interpret information in ways that support our pre-existing opinions.
For instance, let’s say a group approached the town with the idea of placing the big casino they’re planning on building in New Brunswick in Sackville. Well, the Christians would be up in arms about it and they’d complain about the social costs on a community like policing and the level of morality that accompanies gambling which includes drugs and prostitution. And on the other side would be people talking about the jobs it would provide and the possible spin-offs like people coming to town to spend other money on things like food service, shopping and motels. But, both sides would ignore the fact that the reason people build casinos is because the average person who spends their money in a casino is stupid and they’ll sit in a multi-million dollar building and never ask themselves where the money came from to build it even though they’re usually giving these people all the money they have.
They say, “It is possible to leave a casino with a small fortune as long as you go there with a large one.” So, these are people who just want to prove a point and the point is; that a lot of people don’t think things through. After all, the reason we wouldn’t want a casino is because it’s morally wrong.
4. Then there are those who make wrong decisions because they’re overconfident. According to a survey of drivers back in 1981, 80% of the respondents rated themselves in the top 30% of all drivers. And anyone who doesn’t see that as a strange finding probably rated themselves in the top 30% in math also. While it’s alright to be self-confident that can also mean that people don’t work on their weaknesses as much as they should.
I remember going to H&R Block to have my taxes done and I was bored so I asked the guy who was doing my taxes, “What was your grade in math in your last year of high school?” And he proudly said, “I had an average of 93%.” And I said, “Oh, so I can expect you to be wrong seven per cent of the time.” And he wasn’t very happy. But, what he should have done was explain that they had several ways of checking the results before my tax forms were complete. Listen, everybody makes mistakes and no one should be over-confident. A Spanish proverb says, “For every new doctor there’s new graveyard.” So no one, no matter how bright they are or think they are has a right to be over-confident.
5. Then there are those who are what’s known as dysfunctional because they’re so competitive. I mean, these are people who actually get mad when someone else gets something they didn’t even want. I’ve seen people in this town who wouldn’t talk to their neighbors because their neighbors got a new car. You see, many people are only happy when they have a little bit more than the guy next door.
There was a study at Harvard about pay raises and when people were asked if they would prefer that everyone at the company got a dollar raise or they could have a two dollar raise if everyone else got three and they chose to take the dollar. You see, it didn’t matter if they were getting ahead of where they were because no one wanted to feel like they were getting behind everyone else. It had nothing to do with how much they needed or what they felt they were worth. It was simply a case of being socially dysfunctional.
6. Then there’s what’s known as the endowment effect or a more simple way to explain this is, it’s the attitude we have toward certain things that we wouldn’t even look at if no one else wanted them. One theory is that people tend to place emotional value in things.
For instance, I have a little wooden camel that I bought at a market in Israel for about $6 or $8 and when I look at that camel I remember the sights and smell of the market but someone else might look at the same thing and wonder why I don’t throw it away because it’s broken in half; but, for me, there’s an emotional attachment to it. Listen, we all gather a lot of stuff in life and our stuff means something to us even though other people might see it as garbage.
7. Then there are fears we have that are not even logical. There are some people who are afraid of sharks and it’s not because they’ve ever seen a shark but they saw the movie, “Jaws.” And then there others who are nervous because of recent events like terrorism. And yet, the odds of someone dying over the past 10 years from terrorism is extremely low compared to someone driving off the road which is something that’s 80 times more likely to kill you or even getting a hernia which is 5 times more likely to kill you than a terrorist attack ever will. So, even though we all have fears that don’t make sense that doesn’t mean the fear isn’t real.
8. If everybody else think so then it must be true. And these are people who make decisions based on what everyone else thinks rather then what they think. There was a famous experiment where several people were asked to judge the length of two lines on a piece of paper and the question was simple. It was; which line was longer? And each time they conducted this test they had ten people in the group and over half of them knew what was going on while the others didn’t but when the majority said that the shorter line was the longer one then a third of the others agreed with them every time. So, even though it was obvious that they picked the wrong answer several of them agreed because most people like to feel like they’re right even though they know they’re doing the wrong thing.
9. Then there’s the illusion of control. We all know that there’s no difference between my chances in the game of craps if I have the dice or if someone else has them, right? Well, a study showed that the people who were rolling the dice threw harder on average when they were going for high numbers and softer when they going for low ones and they also had a tendency to bet more when they were the ones who were doing the rolling. And yet, people know that gambling doesn’t pay but they’ll gladly gamble their own money when they feel like they’re in charge. It’s an illusion of control.
10. And then finally, there are those who act like idiots simply because they are. I mean, there are people who think that every driver that ever cut them off in traffic was out to kill them when he might not have even noticed them. You see, most people tend to over-emphasize their explanation for the actions of others.
So, everybody has different dumb reasons for doing the things they do and unless we’re willing to understand what’s behind their actions we’re wrong to make an assumption that’s based on our perspective. And that’s what this passage is all about. Joshua and his men made the wrong assumption and their assumption was based on the lies they were told. The fact that they didn’t check with God before they made their decision actually made them not only responsible in this situation but they also found themselves having to defend these guys later on. So, let’s look at the passage in Joshua 9.
“And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; that they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, they did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; and old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? And they said unto Joshua, we are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, who are ye? And from whence come ye? And they said unto him, from a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, we are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is moldy: and these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them. And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. But all the princes said unto all the congregation, we have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. And the princes said unto them, let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, we are very far from you; when ye dwell among us? Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. And they answered Joshua, and said, because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.”
So, first we’ll see how they made their decision and then we’ll see how they resolved the situation so they didn’t have to suffer for the rest of their lives. And let’s begin by looking at the setting.
Joshua tells us, there were several kings who got together to try to get rid of the Jews because they were coming into their country. And the thing you’ve got to understand here is that all these countries that are mentioned, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites were all fighting with each other before Israel showed up. And yet, now they were all willing to set everything aside so they could fight against God’s people.
And isn’t that exactly what we see in the New Testament? The Pharisees, the Sadducees, and the Herodians couldn’t stand the sight of each other but they all hated Jesus so much that they forgot their differences and joined forces to get rid of Him. And the same thing also happened on the political side between Herod and Pilate. It says they were at odds with one another but when both of them condemned Jesus they started to get along again. I guess they realized that they really had a lot more in common then they realized.
And did you know that the same thing is going to happen at the end of time because in Revelation we see the battle of Armageddon where all the armies of the anti-Christ which are the various peoples of the world all come together to fight but when Jesus and His angels show up they turn on Him and we know that the Lord not only wins but He finishes the battle by throwing both the anti-Christ and the false prophet into the lake of fire.
So, in this passage we see a couple of kinds of enemies. And of the enemies there are those who want to confront and kill the Jews while there are others are content to submit and survive through their deception.
I remember when I was in sales I had read several books by Robert Ringer and one was called, “Looking out for Number One” and in it he said, “There are three kinds of people in the business world. Type Number One lets you know from the outset either through his words or actions, or both that he’s out to get all of your chips. He then follows through by attempting to do just that. Type Number Two assures you that he’s not interested in getting your chips, and he usually infers that he wants to see you get everything "that’s coming to you." He then follows through, just like Type Number One, and he attempts to grab all of your chips. Type Number Three: also assures you that he’s not interested in getting any of your chips, but, unlike Type Number Two, he sincerely means it; but that’s where the difference ends because due to any number of reasons ranging from his own bungling to his personal standards for rationalizing what’s right and wrong he, like Types Number One and Two, he ends up trying to grab all your chips.”
And we see in the spiritual realm that the devil also approaches us in several ways. In one case he’s like a roaring lion and he does everything he can to silence us through intimidation. And then second, he’s like a serpent and he wants to sneak up and bite us when we’re not paying attention and then his third expression and probably his most treacherous one is when he appears like an angel of light. And this where he attempts to look like he’s one of us and has nothing but our best intention at heart.
Warren Wiersbe said, "It’s much easier for us to identify the lion when he’s roaring than to detect the serpent when he’s slithering into our lives” but I think the most dangerous approach is the third one because; when we sense by the Spirit of God what he’s doing and reject his advances we’re often accused by the unsaved of looking like we’re rejecting our own.
I So, first I want you to see what these Gibeonites were like because they actually characterize the devil himself in the way they approach the Jews. And the first thing they do; is to use is deception and we see this in verses 4-5 where it says, “And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, they did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; and old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, we be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.”
So, here they are pretending to be something they weren’t and they even used a deceptive title by saying they were ambassadors when they were actually related to Israel’s enemies. So, these men weren’t coming as friends but they were looking to deceive them.
And the devil does the same to us. He comes and tries to make us think he’s trying to help us get along with others by saying, “Why don’t you loosen up a little and then others might even find you more likeable. Go out and enjoy the things they’re doing and stop being such a religious sourpuss.” Or he might say, “You don’t need to tithe all the time. Did you know that only one third of the congregation does? Besides you have needs and you need to get them straightened out before you start giving what little you have away.” Or you’re at the mall and he says, “Why don’t you buy yourself a lottery ticket. Think of all the good things you could do for God if you won a big prize.” And every time we pay attention to him we lose a little more credibility in the eyes of the unsaved. Listen, the devil has more ways to make your life miserable while making you think you’re actually doing yourself a favor.
And we see that these guys tried to deceive Joshua and his men with their things. They had old sacks, old wineskins, old and patched sandals, old garments, and old bread. I mean, everything was old and decrepit. After all, they were just poor ambassadors. But, wait just a minute. If these guys were actually ambassadors, then they should have been trying to do everything they could to make a good impression on Joshua and his people. After all, ambassadors always show their best. So, wouldn’t it make sense for them to have an extra change of clothes so they could impress the leaders of a country they wanted to have a peace treaty with?
And then we see that they told at least three other lies. They lied about where they came from when they said they came from "a very far country" when in fact they lived about twenty-five miles down the road. Then they lied about their clothing and food when they said, "This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is". And then they called themselves "your servants" when they were actually part of the enemies of Israel.
And then we see they actually brought religion into it when they said they had come "because of the name of the Lord." But, these men had no faith that we see. And then they started talking about what happened in Egypt and in Heshbon and Bashan but they were smart enough not to say anything about Jericho and Ai because they knew better than to mention Israel’s victories there because they knew that news wouldn’t have reached what they called their "far country" that quickly.
And then we see where they also used pressure in verse 6 when they said, “Now, make a covenant with us." And we wonder, where did they get this idea of a covenant? Well, somehow these Gibeonites knew about the law in Deuteronomy 20:10-20 and they decided to use it for their own protection.
So, the Gibeonites are like a pushy salesman and they were saying; “Let’s close this deal. Let’s settle the issue right now. Sign on the dotted line." Have you ever had someone get pushy like that? As I said I used to work in sales and I’ve taken several night school courses and I read all the books that came out when I was in sales. And I not only learned all the tricks but I also used them on other salesman.
For instance, when Sally and I would go shopping for a new car it would actually be cruel to watch these guys. We’d get to a place where we told the salesman what we wanted and after some wrangling he would give us his lowest price and then Sally would take out her checkbook and ask the salesman for the date. At that point, he’d sit back and relax and tell her the date and he’d think he had just sold a car and then I’d ask him if he could come down another three hundred dollars and he’d always say, “Absolutely not, that’s the best deal I can give you.” And at that point Sally would put the check book back in her purse and we’d stand up to leave. And when this happened he’d always drop the price a hundred or even two hundred dollars but we left anyways and then we’d go to the next dealership down the road and start with the lowest price he offered us. We would do this for an entire day and then we’d end up buying the vehicle for around a thousand less than the price we started at. I’ve told this before and someone said, “That seems like a total waste of a day.” And my response was, “When was the last time you made a thousand dollars in one day.”
So, the Gibeonites were like super salesmen and they were putting the pressure on and even though these Jews asked them a few questions they ended up giving in to them. And there’s a lesson for us here. Hebrews 6:12 says, “That ye be not slothful, but followers of them who through faith and patience inherit the promises” in other words, true faith involves exercising patience and the Lord also warns in Isaiah 28:16, “He that believeth shall not make haste.” So, a believer is never in a hurry to do the right thing.
Listen, if someone is trying to pressure you into making a decision, walk away, if they say they’ll never offer this deal again, fine, then quickly come to the conclusion that this can’t be God’s will anyway because as a friend of mine used to say, “God is never in a hurry but He’s never late.” Listen to Proverbs 20:7, it says, "The righteous man walks (he walks, he doesn’t run) in his integrity; his children are blessed after him.”
II So, we see what these Gibeonites were all about and then second; I also want you to see in verse 7-14 a few things about the Israelites that led them to make a bad decision.
They asked a few questions but it’s not like the Gibeonites were going to say, "Okay, we were lying"? We’re really your neighbors"? In fact, we see that they don’t even answer the questions they were asked but they said, "We are your servants." And Joshua said, "Who are you, and where do you come from?" And this was a good question, but they lied again by saying they came from a far country and they didn’t even name the country. And what they did was to change the subject every time someone asked them a question. And then in verse 12-13 they pulled out all their stuff and did a "show and tell" and basically they were saying, “Look at how old everything is; we can’t be making this up.”
And based on what they had to say Joshua and his men took the "scientific approach" rather than the "spiritual one." They depended on their own senses, they examined the "facts," they discussed the matter, and they all agreed in their conclusion. It was all very logical and convincing and yet, it was all wrong.
I remember being at my employers home back when I was working as a handyman which is kind of funny because as some of you know, I’m about the least handy person there is but, we were sitting on the front talking and two Mormons came up. They started to make their pitch and my friend to them, “This guy; meaning me, is a Christian and he thinks you’re trying to get me into a cult.” And they said to me, “Why would you say that; we’re Christians just like you.” And then I asked them a few questions about what they believed in terms of who Jesus was and why He died on the cross and I was surprised because even though I knew they were a cult; they agreed with everything I said. And then my friend said, “See, you all believe the same thing.”
I was confused and I went home and studied about the Mormons and found out that although they claim to believe the same things as I do they might agree with the things that I’m saying but they have a totally different interpretation for the things they believe. Like they believe Jesus is the Son of God but they also believe that we were all sons of God. And they believe that Jesus died for the sins of the world but they also believe that we’ll all die for the sins of the world.
So, just as Joshua was misled by this crowd I found out there was a different approach I had to take when talking to the Mormons. I needed to be very specific about the things I asked and Joshua should have done the same.
So, not only was he not asking the right questions but he also needed to ask God who these guys were; we see this in the latter half of verse 14 where it says, “And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.”
Can you imagine being Joshua and writing down those words? I mean, it had to hurt, but he knew that was exactly what had happened. But, why didn’t he ask God? I think he knew enough to talk to God before he led his troops into battle but this wasn’t a big deal; after all, it was just a peace treaty and it seemed innocent enough for him and his men to make this insignificant decision by themselves. You see, I don’t think he was intentionally doing something wrong; he was just doing what the rest of us do. He was just living life like the little details weren’t significant to God.
Did you ever have to make a simple decision and decide you didn’t have to pray about and then find yourself in a jam and were sorry? Because, that’s exactly what happens here.
We are called as believers in Christ to walk by faith and not by sight and that means we are to bring everything to God and that that doesn’t mean that He doesn’t already know about it but we’re submitting ourselves to Him in the process.
There is a personal impact of a bad decision and we see this in verse 15-21. First, they made a covenant with their enemy who God had told them to kill. And then we see that Joshua wouldn’t go back on the covenant because to violate the oath would have been taking the name of God in vain, and this would have brought about God’s judgment. And then second, they also damaged the trust of the people in verses 17-18. And the children of Israel murmured because now they had to respect an agreement with the very people they couldn’t stand. And then third, we also see that they had limited their future inheritance in verse 17 because they lost out on the chance to get any spoil from these people.
And then in verses 22-27 we see where Joshua and his men teach us all an important lesson and that’s this; if you make a mistake admit it; and then do what you can to make your mistakes work for you. And we see that they put the Gibeonites to work hauling water and fuel for the service of the tabernacle, where both water and wood were used in abundance. In other words, they gave them the crumbiest jobs that no one else wanted to do.
It’s interesting to see that later on the Gibeonites were called the Nethinim or the given ones because they were given to assist the priests and it’s obvious that their exposure to the worship of God changed them. We actually see that over 500 hundred Nephilim returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian Captivity and this tells us they were not only devoted to God but they’re also listed as those who helped Nehemiah rebuild the walls of Jerusalem.
The mistakes we make can embarrass us and especially those we make by running ahead of God and not seeking His will, but listen, we need to remember that no mistake is final and God can even use our mistakes to accomplish His purposes because the grace of God not only forgives but can even bring blessings out of failure.
Someone once said, “We live in a ‘Kodak generation’ where people overexposed to sin and negative influences, yet underdeveloped both spiritually and emotionally.” The world is a manipulative place and people will try to exploit us whenever they can so we’re told to be wise as serpents but harmless as doves. In other words, we’re to use wisdom and have integrity in the way we live our lives. The Greek word translated "wise" when it refers to serpents is a practical wisdom which can also be plain old common sense. So, one who is "wise" is someone who uses good judgment in the way they live.
"In 1923, a very important meeting was held at the Edgewater Beach Hotel in Chicago. Attending this meeting were nine of the world’s most successful financiers. Those present were: the president of the largest independent steel company; the president of the largest utility company; the president of the largest gas company; the greatest wheat speculator; the president of the New York Stock Exchange; a member of the president’s cabinet; the greatest "bear" in Wall Street; the head of the world’s greatest monopoly and the president of the Bank of International Settlements.”
These were the world’s most successful men but twenty-five years later it’s interesting to see what happened to them. The president of the largest independent steel company Charles Schwab died bankrupt and had lived on borrowed money for five years before his death. The president of the largest utility company Samuel Insull died a fugitive from justice and penniless in a foreign land. The president of the largest gas company Howard Hospson was completely insane. The greatest wheat speculator Arthur Cutten died overseas broke. The president of the New York Stock Exchange Richard Whitney spent several years in Sing Sing Penitentiary. The member of the president’s cabinet Albert Fall died by suicide as did the president of the Bank of International Settlements Leon Fraser." They all learned the art of making money but not one of them knew how to live. They had all the time in the world to make money but none of them had time for God.
