DO NOT DECEIVE TO RECEIVE. (2)

*WISDOM FOR TODAY.*

*DO NOT DECEIVE TO RECEIVE. (2)*

*Scripture Treasure.*

Joshua 9: 1-16:

v1 *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;*

v2 *That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.*

v3 *And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,*

v4 *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;*

v5 *And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.*

v6 *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.*

v7 *And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?*

v8 *And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?*

v9 *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,*

v10 *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.*

v11 *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.*

v12 *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 mouldy:*

v13 *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.*

v14 *And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.*

v15 *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.*

v16 *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 neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.*

*Insight and Highlight.*

We must always know that God knows best. We can ask God for help in order to make wise decisions.

*Scripture Commentaries.*

The Israelites had just defeated Jericho and Ai. Everyone around them feared them.

They all knew that God had given Joshua

who led the Israelites into the land after Moses' death, based on commands originally delivered through Moses.

They were to destroy the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (Deut 20:16–17).

These were abominable nations and God did not want Israel to integrate with them.

The Gibeonites were Hivites living in Canaan and they knew they were targets of the Israelite conquest mission.

They were afraid so they embarked on an elaborate deception.

They faked their appearances to the extent of carrying dry, mouldy bread.

It was a their well calculated ruse.

The leaders in Israel were moved by the sight of what they saw and trusted the Gibeonites not bothering to ask God who they were and what their mission was.

The Gibeonites had done their home work

by requesting an offer that they be servants of the Israelites.

They knew how powerful and binding a peace treaty was and this was that any nation that Israel signed a treaty with was exempted from the killing list but the nation would be their servants.

This is a law concerning peace treaties and it was binding into generations, Deut 20:10-11

They entered into a treaty with the Gibeonites, Josh 9:14.

Three days later, the Israelites learned the truth.

The Gibeonites who had lied as ambassadors and pretended they were coming from faraway place were an enemy city, not far but close to them. It was now clear that they had lied because they were afraid Israel would destroy them.

The Israelites had made a terrible mistake and had to keep their promise.

Though the Israelites were angry with the Gibeonites, they had to abide by the treaty but the Gibeonites, however, would have to work as servants for the Israelites. From then on, the Gibeonites would have to carry water and cut wood for the Israelites till this day.

In this world of deception, we must seek God to help us strengthen our spiritual development and help us connect to God.

The Israelites could not destroy the Gibeonites whom God already gave them and their territory. They found themselves defending an enemy they should be fighting against.

Some of the problems lingering today are consequences of some of the people or nations the Israelites were meant to destroy in the biible days, but they did not.

Such nations, today, are fighting Israel, over the land God had given them claiming the lands belong to them.

The enemies we fail to destroy will come back to oppress us.

Beware of the Gibeonites trick.

Beware of Gibeonite tricksters.

*Remorse corner.*

We should ask for God’s wisdom instead of making decisions and judgements on our own.

*Call to Word action.*

James 1:5 *If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.*

*The Christian clarion duty.*

We should pray and ask God to help us make a choice that honours Him.

*Prayer.*

Lord, help me to always seek You first before all things and help me to make choices that will honour You, in Jesus name.

*Today is Palm Sunday.*

Happy Palm Sunday!

Good morning all and be blessed as You come into His presence today.

God bless you

Shalom.