Joshua 9
The incident recorded in Joshua chapter 9 makes for
interesting reading. The
nation of Israel has crossed the Jordan River under Joshua’s command, and they
have seen the walls of Jericho fall.
After dealing with Achan’s sin, the city of Ai fell as well. Things were going well for them. The people groups currently inhabiting the
promised land were shaking in their boots.
The Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, and all the
other “ites” were trying to figure how they could possibly stand up in war
against a nation that had God on its side.
The Gibeonites decided to try a unique defensive tactic, deception. They sent an envoy dressed in travel worn
clothes, and equipped them with old moldy bread and tired looking donkeys. “Your servants have come from a very far
country because of the fame of the Lord your God; for we have heard the report
of Him and all that He did in Egypt.”
(Joshua 9:9 NAS) They were so
convincing that Joshua and the leaders of Israel took their word at face value,
and made a covenant of peace with them.
The reality was, however, that they lived just around the corner. They were one of the nations that God had
told Israel to destroy, Joshua could not go back
on his word. The Gibeonites were spared
and became a thorn in Israel’s side - all because Joshua “did not ask for
the counsel of the Lord”. (Joshua 9:14b NAS)
I’m sure you haven’t encountered any more badly dressed men
on tired donkeys with moldy bread lately than I have, but I am sure that you have found yourself in a situation where a decision had to be made. As one of Jesus’ disciples every decision is
an opportunity to be true follower, or to go it on our own. Will we bring each matter in our lives before
the Lord and ask for counsel, or will we like Israel rely on our own wisdom and
judge by appearances? For a true
disciple there is only one course – let Jesus call the shots in our lives. It’s not only what a Christ follower does,
it’s the smart thing. It may save us the
pain of a Gibeonite thorn in the side!
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