In Joshua 9, we find a fascinating account of deception and its lasting consequences. The Israelites, under Joshua’s leadership, had been conquering the land of Canaan as God commanded. They had already seen victories at Jericho and Ai. News of these victories spread, and the Gibeonites, fearing for their lives, devised a cunning plan to save themselves.
The Gibeonites pretended to be ambassadors from a distant country. They dressed in old clothes, carried moldy bread, and used worn-out sacks to convince Joshua and the Israelites that they had traveled from far away. They asked for a peace treaty, claiming they had heard of the great deeds of the God of Israel.
Joshua 9:4-6: They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors… and came to the camp to 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.
Joshua and the leaders of Israel, without seeking God’s counsel, made a covenant with the Gibeonites to let them live.
Joshua 9:14-15: 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.
Sure, here’s a revised version of that section with better flow:
The Devil’s Deception
Just as the Gibeonites deceived Israel, the devil also deceives us, disguising himself as an angel of light. The devil won’t show up in our lives making it obvious that he’s there to harm us. His main weapon is deception.
2 Corinthians 11:14-15: And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
The devil’s deception is not always obvious. He disguises his motives, where he’s from, and what he’s aiming to achieve, much like the Gibeonites did.
1 Peter 5:8: Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour.”
Ephesians 6:11: Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
Years later, during the reign of King David, a famine struck Israel for three years. When David sought the Lord’s counsel, he discovered the cause: Saul’s breach of the covenant with the Gibeonites. Saul had attempted to annihilate them, breaking the promise made by Joshua.
The Gibeonites trusted that Israel would keep their promise, knowing the Israelites were bound by their covenant with God. This account teaches us the importance of keeping our word and honoring our commitments. Breaking a covenant can bring severe consequences, as it did for Israel. The devil knows what we are commanded to do and will exploit our obligations if we are not careful. This reinforces the need to stay vigilant and seek God’s guidance in all matters.
The story of the Gibeonites serves as a powerful reminder to always seek God’s counsel in our decisions. Joshua and the leaders failed to do so and were deceived. As Christians, we must remain vigilant and rely on God’s wisdom to avoid the devil’s schemes.
Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
By seeking God’s guidance in all things, we can stand firm against deception and live in obedience to His will.
