We read in Joshua 9:11-15, “Our leaders and all the people that live in our land told us to get some food ready for a trip and to go and meet you. We were told to put ourselves at your service and ask you to make a treaty with us. Look at our bread. When we left home with it and started out to meet you, it was still warm. But look! Now it is dry and moldy. When we filled these wineskins, they were new, but look! They are torn. Our clothes and sandals are worn out from the long trip." The Israelites accepted some food from them, but did not consult the LORD about it. Joshua made a treaty of friendship with the people of Gibeon and allowed them to live. The leaders of the community of Israel gave their solemn promise to keep the treaty.” (GNB)
Joshua the man of God was leading the people of Israel who entered into the land that God promised He would give to them. As they progressed they conquered the city of Jericho and Ai, and as they moved forward to conquer more of the land, some of the kings formed an alliance to rise up against Joshua and the Israelites. However, the people of Gibeon thought differently and sought to come under the protection of the Israelites through deception. These men pretended so well, and acted before Joshua as though they were a people who had journeyed from a distant country. They displayed all the things that they brought along with them. The bread they said was freshly baked when they commenced on their journey, and that it had now become dry and moldy. It was a strange thing because no one would keep moldy bread with them as they would only dispose them. They also showed Joshua and the Israelites their wineskins which were torn, and also displayed their clothes and sandals which were worn out, after what seemed like a long journey.
Joshua and the Israelites got deceived, and the Israelites who were marching forward in victory, were now being asked to enter into a treaty with the people of Gibeon who were actually their neighbors. The treaty implied that the Israelites would protect them when they were in danger and vice versa. We don’t know what food the men of Gibeon had with them, but we read that the Israelites accepted some food from them. We read that the Israelites did not consult with God on this matter before they entered into this agreement.
Oftentimes we get hurt, and lose out on many good things because we establish friendship with those who look so sincere and true on the outside, but are in reality not genuine. As time goes by, we will encounter many hardships because of them. It is therefore crucial that every relationship and friendship should be developed only after we pray, and ask God if that friendship is necessary, and is in accordance with God’s will and approval. Only if this is so should we take the next step in that relationship, and this alone will ensure our safety. There are many people whose friendship in their earlier days seemed priceless, and they valued these relationships highly, only to find that these friends were not as they appeared to be. Let us be cautious to note that every relationship and friendship should be built and continued after much prayer, and with God’s consent alone. If not, we should set aside those relationships so that they do not cause us harm.
Avoid those who cause division
Even in the church we have to evaluate every relationship. No one should assume that everybody in church are perfect like angels. Every person is at a different stage in their life, and are also at various stages of maturity. Therefore, it is important that we be careful in the fellowship of believers too, because even here there are those who can cause discord and confusion.
We read about this in Romans 16:17-18, “I urge you, my friends: watch out for those who cause divisions and upset people’s faith and go against the teaching which you have received. Keep away from them! For those who do such things are not serving Christ our Lord, but their own appetites. By their fine words and flattering speech they deceive innocent people.” (GNB)
The admonition in the above verses is that there will be those who will cause divisions, and also shake the faith of other people. These people cannot bear to see people united, and will intrude to bring discord amongst them. God’s word does not teach us to just be cautious about them, but exhorts us to stay away from them. Their goal is not to serve Christ, but their own sinful appetites. All that they want through ministry is to serve themselves, and to make selfish gain. When certain people come and speak to us we must discern their motives, or else we will surely be hurt for no fault of ours. These people use their fine words, and flattering speech to deceive innocent people.
The treaty with the people of Gibeon
We read in Joshua 9:15, “Joshua made a treaty of friendship with the people of Gibeon and allowed them to live. The leaders of the community of Israel gave their solemn promise to keep the treaty.” (GNB)
Joshua and the Israelites made a friendly treaty with the people of Gibeon under the assumption that they had come from a far country, not realizing that they were their neighbors. As the people of Israel progressed on their journey, in three days they came to the regions of Gibeon, and only then they realized that they had been deceived.
The consequence of the treaty
This made the Israelites really angry, but we read in Joshua 9:18-20, “But the Israelites could not kill them, because their leaders had made a solemn promise to them in the name of the LORD, Israel’s God. All the people complained to the leaders about this, but they answered, “We have made our solemn promise to them in the name of the LORD God of Israel. Now we cannot harm them. We must let them live because of our promise; if we don’t, God will punish us.” (GNB)
The leaders of Israel were now in a fix because they had to keep their word, and could not do any harm to the people of Gibeon. There was every reason for the Israelites to avenge the people of Gibeon for their deceit and cunning. Also the Israelites had the strength to destroy the people of Gibeon, but they could do no harm to them because they had made a treaty, and given their word to them.
Importance of keeping our word
There are many who have shared their experiences with me of how someone borrowed money from them, and assured them that they would give it back within a certain time. The money they lent was something they had kept for their own time of need. However, when the stipulated time came for the money to be returned the person who borrowed failed to do so. They also avoid the ones who loaned the money to them, and even refuse to take their calls. This is a sad situation when someone does not care to keep their word. At the time of need when they want the money they speak reassuringly, but when the time comes to return it they don’t really care to keep their word.
God is faithful, and one who is faithful to keep every promise He made. As children of God, we too should be those who keep our word. This should be true even for the smallest of things. Sometimes we tell somebody that we will call them in ten minutes, or we assure someone that we will visit them or talk to them, but often forget about it. Especially for those who have hectic schedules, it is good if we tell the person whom we gave our word to, to send us a reminder so that we remember to fulfill our promise. If we do not honor our words, it will sadden the heart of God.
A perfect person
We read in James 3:2, “And none of us is perfectly qualified. We get it wrong nearly every time we open our mouths. If you could find someone whose speech was perfectly true, you’d have a perfect person, in perfect control of life.”(MSG)
If one does not falter in their speech they are considered perfect. Every time we make a promise to someone, God listens to it. When people don’t keep these vows that they made to others there is much confusion, and also divisions in relationships. Let us only give our word for those things that we are able to fulfill.
Sometimes, a person who borrowed money from another will assure them that they will return their money on a given day at a given time. Sadly, the lender will be waiting, and the person who borrowed the money will not turn up. When they call and ask, they will give their reasons for their inability to meet them, and will give a false assurance that they would come the next day. We are not sure what their situation is, but it is sad that they are not able to keep their word that they gave to the concerned person.
As children of God we expect that God should be faithful and keep His word. How much more should we as His children be true to our words?
Jesus said in Matthew 5:37, “Just say ‘Yes’ or ‘No’---anything else you say comes from the Evil One.” (GNB)
We are reminded that we should be sure to keep our word, and if we do not then we become those who allow the evil one to dictate our lives. We come under the grip of the devil when we do not keep our words. God is listening to all that we speak, and so it is important that we keep our word, failing which, we will be accountable to God.
At weddings we know that a groom and bride make vows to each other in the presence of God. Often the vows mention that they would stand by each other for better or worse, richer or poorer and in sickness or health until death separates them. However, when there are problems in relationship and circumstances change, many couples want to opt out of their marriages forgetting the vows they made to each other before God. There could be so many reasons and justifications, but if we do not keep our word, the God before whom we spoke these vows will surely hold us accountable. It is our joy and privilege to come to the presence of the Lord, but let us never forget that there is a responsibility that comes along with it. Let us not take God’s presence lightly and it is really important to be true to our marriage vows.
Every time we give our word to someone regards finances, in marriage, to help someone or even meet someone let us be sure to fulfill them. God desires it, and He will hold us accountable for the same.
Joshua keeps his word
Joshua made a treaty with the people of Gibeon which they received through scheming and deception. Sometime later five kings came together against Gibeon and this is what happened.
We read in Joshua 10:6-7, “The men of Gibeon sent word to Joshua at the camp in Gilgal: “Do not abandon us, sir! Come at once and help us! Save us! All the Amorite kings in the hill country have joined forces and have attacked us!” So Joshua and his whole army, including the best troops, started out from Gilgal.” (GNB)
When Joshua heard this immediately Joshua and his whole army along with the best of his troops went out to help the people of Gibeon. Joshua could have just stayed away with the thought that the people of Gibeon deceived the Israelites, and that it was not his business to help them in any way. We see that Joshua honored the treaty, and the word that he and the elders had made with the people of Gibeon. This I believe is one of the qualities of Joshua that made him a victor all throughout his lifetime.
Saul forgets the treaty
After four hundred years Saul was made the first king over Israel. Saul noticed that the people of Gibeon who were foreigners lived amongst the Israelites, and he began to put to death a few of them. Let’s read to see what happened as a result of this act of King Saul.
The punishment on the Israelites
We read in 2 Samuel 21:1, “During David’s reign there was a severe famine which lasted for three full years. So David consulted the LORD about it, and the LORD said, “Saul and his family are guilty of murder; he put the people of Gibeon to death.” (GNB)
During the reign of King David there was a severe famine in the land of Israel for three long years. When David consulted about this with the Lord, the Lord told David that the famine was the consequence of the murder of the people of Gibeon during the reign of King Saul. Interesting that even though it was four hundred years later, God was still mindful of the treaty that Joshua had established with the people of Gibeon which Saul had broken. We see that God takes our keeping our word very seriously.
It is really important that when we give our word, we should keep it or else we should just say we will think about it. We sometimes give our word just to escape from the situation. Let us keep in mind that God takes note of our every word that we give to others.
Who can stand in God’s presence?
The Psalmist says it this way in Psalm 15:1, “LORD, who may enter your Temple? Who may worship on Zion, your sacred hill?” (GNB)
He mentions many things to this answer and one of them is mentioned in Psalm 15:4, “They always do what they promise, no matter how much it may cost.” (GNB)
Only those who keep their word no matter what the cost may be are those who are worthy to stand before God. Let us examine ourselves, for often we make so many promises to God, and to people, but forget about the same. Let us make a decision, and ask God for strength to be those who keep our word. Just as the God whom we worship is faithful to His promises to a thousand generations, let us be more like the Lord, and reflect this in all our relationships.
Rev. F. Andrew Dixon
www.goodnewsfriends.net
Transcribed by: Sis. Esther Collins
