“Check It Out!” – The Gibeonites
Joshua 9:1-27
INTRODUCTION: Our story tonight has to do with choices, decisions, deception, and jumping to conclusions.
BACKGROUND: The Children of Israel had finally crossed over into the Promised Land. The waters departed for them to cross the Jordan River on dry land. At Jericho, the walls came tumbling down. At Ai, they get cocky and are defeated. THEN, in the 2nd battle, they take the city of Ai.
The nations in the path of the army of Israel are worried. They unite to fight against Israel as one army. Joshua 9:1-2
Not everybody wanted to fight Joshua & the Children of Israel. The city of Gibeon was about 27 miles from where Israel was camped … and heading their way.
9:3-5 – They want Joshua to think that they came from a long way away … a distant country – 9:6
The Gibeonites wanted a peace treaty with Israel. BUT … according to Deut. Chapter 20, only those who lived outside Canaan were to be given an opportunity to sign a peace treaty. Local cities/nations were to be conquered … spoiled … plundered.
The Gibeonites (from the city of Gibeon) were Hivites – see 9:1. BUT … they didn’t want to make war with anyone. SO … they decide to trick Israel into making a peace treaty with them.
9:7 – They were cautious .. a little leery. They want some questions answered … want to check it out a little more closely.
9:8 – Joshua asks for SPECIFICS … still cautious. They never specifically answer his question. THEN … they begin to praise and flatter them, and the God of Israel. 9:9-13
Their story sounds convincing. The evidence seems to back up their story. They seem credible.
NOW … the KEY VERSE … 9:14, 9:15.
They were duped … tricked … lied to … connived … taken advantaged of … deceived. Joshua was so sure of himself, that he didn’t see any need to ask counsel from the Lord.
Have you ever felt like this? You just KNOW it’s God’s will … WHY pray about it? WELL … at least you THINK it’s God’s will … it’s YOUR WILL! You HOPE it’s God’s will. Why take a chance and pray about it, only to find out that it’s NOT God’s will. After all, if it’s NOT His will, He’ll let you know … RIGHT?
WHAT LESSONS CAN WE LEARN FROM ALL THIS?
1.- Your Enemy Will Surprise You.
Joshua never expected it … he was blind-sided. If he would have seen an army advancing toward him, he would have known what to do. Like 9-11 … who would have thought … AIRPLANES! If tanks, guns, soldiers … we would have knocked them out within minutes.
Satan is a master of disguise. 2 Cor. 11:14 – “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” 2 Cor. 2:11 – “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Satan knows your weaknesses … he knows how to disguise his temptations … seem harmless.
2.- Don’t Jump To Conclusions.
How many times do we base our decisions and conclusions on outward appearances? That’s how RUMORS get started. That’s how GOSSIP spreads. John 8:44 speaks of Satan – “for he is a liar, and the father of it.”
Don’t assume that everything you hear is the truth (I learned this from 12 years in the Police Department … people will LIE to you!). Don’t even accept what I say, if it sounds unorthodox … without checking it out first with Scripture.
3.- Don’t Be Flattered Into Sin Or Disobedience.
The Gibeonites flattered Joshua to get him off-balance. “Flattery” is different than sincere “praise” or “compliments”. “Flattery” is used as a means of peer pressure … to get you to violate your principles. It’s used to manipulate & control you.
Have you ever known someone who was a flatterer? Why do they do it? To get you to think so highly of THEM … for thinking so highly of YOU … THAT … you’ll let your guard down.
4.- Seek Counsel From God – 9:14
They viewed their circumstance from a wholly human perspective … human viewpoint. There was more to it than what was visible on the surface. Appearances can be deceiving - John 7:24 – “Judge not according to the appearance, but judge righteous judgment.”
When we don’t take our plans and decisions to the Lord, Satan will pull one over on us. Proverbs 14:12 – “There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.” Seek counsel from God. He needs to be a part of your decision-making process. Sometimes what is OBVIOUS, is not BEST. Why not consult the One who sees all, knows all!
5.- Bad Decisions Have Consequences – 9:16-21
Joshua & the leaders of Israel made a bad decision. BUT … they stuck by their promise, even though it was made by deceitful means. 400 years later, King Saul broke the treaty, and God punished Israel for it.
It was a mistake to have made the treaty in the first place. BUT … once the oath was made in God’s Name, God expected it to be honored. God expects you to keep your word … even if it causes you inconvenience.
As a result of this treaty, Israel was obligated to protect the Gibeonites. A little later, the Canaanite nations turned against the Gideonites for defecting. Israel had to fight for them, to protect them. Their bad decision cost the nation of Israel. BUT … they kept their promise. They had to live with the consequences of their bad decision.
6.- Deception Will Ultimately Be Exposed – 9:16
It only took 3 days before the Gibeonites were exposed. Proverbs 12:19 – “The lip of truth shall be established for ever: but a lying tongue is but for a moment.” Lies have a way of finding their way back home. You usually have to cover one lie with another lie. After awhile, you forget who you told which lie to. The truth is always less complicated!
Deception may not be exposed this side of the day of judgment. But, ultimately, it will be exposed.
7.- Bad Actions Have Consequences
• For the Gibeonites – 9:22-23, 25-27. They are spared, but they are punished. Be sure your sins will find you out.
• For Joshua – 9:18 – Joshua was their leader … there were consequences to his bad decision. We can learn 2 LESSONS here:
1.) If you have a problem with someone, grumble to them, not to everybody else. Matthew 18:15 – “Moreover if thy brother shall trespass against thee, go and tell him his fault between thee and him alone:”
2.) If someone does you wrong, and they repent, forgive them and go on. Someone once said, “Christians are the only ones who shoot their wounded.” Joshua made a mistake. He realized it, and confessed it. They need to support him, as their leader.
CONCLUSION: Joshua & Israel didn’t consult God when they had an important decision to make. We make decisions every day. Some of them are important, and some of them aren’t. We don’t need to consult God over where to buy groceries (Scaff’s or Hitchcock’s) … or over which pair of shoes to wear.
BUT … when we have an important decision to make (we know them when they appear) … we need to take it to God. He knows the consequence of every decision. He knows the path He wants us to take. He knows the future. He knows what’s BEST for us. It’s FOOLISH not to seek His counsel.
Sometimes we’ll blow it … and make bad decisions. BUT … it’s usually not fatal. Life goes on. God can even use our blunders to glorify Him.
To eliminate some of life’s blunders, let’s go to God first … and check it out with Him.
STAND - PRAY
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT:
“Check It Out!” – The Gibeonites
Joshua 9:1-27
INTRODUCTION: Israel had entered the Promised Land.
9:1-2 – Nations unite to fight against Israel.
9:3-5 – The Gibeonites don’t want to fight Israel.
9:6 – They want Joshua to think that they are from a distant land, to get a peace treaty with them – (Deuteronomy 20).
9:7 – The leaders in Israel were cautious.
9:8 – Joshua asks for specifics.
9:9-13 – The Gibeonites flatter Joshua & Israel.
- Their story seems credible.
9:14-15 – Joshua didn’t seek God’s counsel.
LESSONS:
1.- Your Enemy Will Surprise You
- Satan is a master of disguise – 2 Corinthians 11:14, 2:11
2.- Don’t Jump To Conclusions
- That’s how rumors get started – John 8:44
- Don’t assume everything you hear is the truth.
3.- Don’t Be Flattered Into Sin Or Disobedience
- Flattery is used to manipulate or control you … to get you to let your guard down.
4.- Seek Counsel From God – 9:14
- Appearances are deceiving – John 7:24
- What is obvious isn’t always best – Proverbs 14:12
5.- Bad Decisions Have Consequences – 9:16-21
- God expected them to honor an oath made in His Name.
- They had to live with the consequences of a bad decision.
6.- Deception Will Ultimately Be Exposed – 9:16
- Lies will find their way back home – Proverbs 12:19
7.- Bad Actions Have Consequences
o For the Gibeonites – 9:22-23, 25-27
o For Joshua – 9:18
- Take your problem with someone to that someone first – Matthew 18:15
- When someone admits their mistake & repents, forgive them and go on.
CONCLUSION: It’s FOOLISH not to seek God, who knows what’s best, knows the future, and wants to guide your path.
