Seek God's Mouth (Joshua 9:1-27) Series

One last thing about the Gibeonites, that amused me. I'm not sure how to fit this in better, sorry. The Gibeonites, when they approached Joshua, twice describe themselves as Joshua's servants. They are offering themselves to Israel as a vassal state-- this is no covenant of equals.

When Joshua finds out what they've done, he pronounces a curse on them. I'll reread that, in verse 23:

(23) and now, cursed [are] you,

and a slave/servant and chopper of wood and drawers of water shall not be cut off from you for the house of my God.

The curse Joshua pronounces on them, is the exact same thing the Gibeonites have already willingly offered. They are happy to make themselves servants. They aren't coming to Yahweh, and Israel, as equals. They submit. They give themselves completely. And when I read this in light of the NT, I can't help but think about Paul. Paul describes himself as a slave of Jesus , and he counts it a privilege, and a blessing, to serve God and his church.

The fact that Paul was given this responsibility shows God's kindness and favor-- his grace. I am happy to call myself Jesus' slave. Joshua can call this a curse, and act like it's a curse, but the Gibeonites are happy to serve. It's no hardship to be the least among God's people.

So. Let's talk about the Gibeonites' cunning. I'm going to try to teach this, and then we can all decide if we believe it or not.

"Cunning" is an interesting word. The serpent was the most "cunning" of all of God's creation (Gen. 3:1).

In Exodus 21:12-14, we read this:

12 “Whoever strikes a man so that he dies shall be put to death. 13 But if he did not lie in wait for him, but God let him fall into his hand, then I will appoint for you a place to which he may flee. 14 But if a man willfully attacks another to kill him by cunning, you shall take him from my altar, that he may die.

Cunning means something like, knowing what goal you want, and knowing how to get it, often in the face of unlikely odds. Is this a virtue? We hear that the serpent had cunning, and we read about people using cunning for premeditated murder, and we think, "This is dumb. Cunning is wrong." Even the word "cunning," makes us unhappy.

But we if translated it as foresight, or cleverness, or prudence, it's more ambiguous.

The interesting thing about this word, is that in the book of Proverbs, "cunning" is a virtue to be sought out.

The book of Proverbs opens like this:

1 The proverbs of Solomon, son of David, king of Israel:

2 To know wisdom and instruction,

to understand words of insight,

3 to receive instruction in wise dealing,

in righteousness, justice, and equity;

4 to give PRUDENCE to the simple,

knowledge and discretion to the youth—

We then read this in chapter 8:

8 Does not wisdom call?

Does not understanding raise her voice?

2 On the heights beside the way,

at the crossroads she takes her stand;

3 beside the gates in front of the town,

at the entrance of the portals she cries aloud: