Joshua
10 - Chapter 9
In this study we have to record, sadly, another instance of failure so soon after victory and blessing. In the previous chapter we discovered that the Israelites succeeded in the battle for Ai because Joshua waited upon God and obeyed his instructions. The great gathering at Shechem set a high spiritual tone for the people as they worshipped and affirmed their commitment to God's laws. Now shortly after there is disappointing failure and compromise.
This is a lesson for all of us: there is never so dangerous a time for us as when we have just been on a spiritual high or received some particular blessing. It is then that Satan will strike when we are not so careful or watchful.
This is what happened to the Israelites. Various tribal groups in Canaan were starting to join to together to oppose these invaders from Egypt. However, one small group of cities, in the centre of the country did not want to get involved in the forthcoming battle. The leaders of this group were from Gibeon, a city about six miles west of Jerusalem, and about twenty miles west of where the Israelites were encamped.
The Gibeonites hit upon a plan of deception to fool Joshua's armies. They would pretend to be ambassadors from a far country seeking a peace treaty with the Hebrew nation. They put on old clothes and shoes, took patched wineskins and old sacks, and carries with them bread that was going mouldy. Sad to say, the trick succeeded. Joshua and the leaders believed their story and made a peace treaty with them. Joshua did not consult the high priest to receive guidance from the Lord and so ended up with Canaanites who were really their near neighbours bound to them by a peace treaty. When the truth was discovered the Israelites had to let them live, but they made them servants to the whole community.
How we need to guard against the Gibeonites of our day. What care needs to be exercised over those who would deceive and come among us, whether in church life or our own spiritual life. Much damage has been done by those who pretended to be what they were not. Much harm has been done in the lives of Christians who have admitted Satan in one form or another because he came seemingly as a friend with no apparent threat.
We read in verse 4 that the Gibeonites worked cunningly or craftily. So it is with Satan. Paul gave a warning when he said in 2 Corinthians 2 verse 11, "We are not unaware of his schemes". In other words, Satan has a whole armoury of tricks and deceptions. Sometimes he "prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" as Peter describes him in 1 Peter 5 verse 8. Often enough he appears as an angel of light, so pleasant and so acceptable as we read in 2 Corinthians 11 verse 14. He is cunning in his intent to deceive God's people, just as the Gibeonites were. Beware, then, of the deceitfulness of sin as the writer warns in Hebrews 3 verse 13.
Note, first, how they deceived by their appearance. They made it appear that they were ambassadors from afar, probably in good quality clothing that they had deliberately damaged to make it look as though they had travelled many kilometres. They took old sacks for their provisions. They used asses instead of horses to appear non-threatening - non-military.
Appearances can be so deceptive and have often proved ruinous to the testimony of the Christian church. In her early years of vicious persecution under the Roman Emperors, multitudes gave their lives rather than deny their Lord. In those days, however, you could be certain that no hypocrites, no make-believe Christians would join the ranks of the persecuted. That all changed when early in the 4th. Century, Times New Roman the Emperor Constantine declared himself a Christian and official persecution ceased. There was a union between church and state and pagan beliefs and festivals were given Christian names. An alliance was formed between living faith and heathen religion. Friendship between the church and the world became established. Truth and falsehood became intermingled.
The sad thing was that the church, though gaining acceptance and status, being protected by the authorities, became weaker spiritually. All sorts of people were accepted into the church as true Christian believers. They looked alright, just as the Gibeonites did. To human appearance all was well. Yet in a short time those false believers became powerful, influential figures whose words were listened to and whose actions were copied.
The Church today needs to be on its guard against Gibeonites who come into it under false pretences. There needs to be discernment and a looking for true repentance and sincere faith in the Lord Jesus. John the Baptist said to those seeking baptism in the River Jordan that they should "produce fruit in keeping with repentance". That's in Luke 3 verse 8. There should be some evidence of a change of heart and life. If not it will spell trouble with unspiritual attitudes manifesting themselves and an unwillingness to submit to the teaching of Scripture.
Those Gibeonites deceived partly by their appearance. People do the same today. They manage to look like Christians because they attend church, sing hymns with appreciation, carry their Bible listen attentively, put money into the offering, but their heart is not right with God. They have never submitted to Him, never owned up to being a guilty sinner who has no claim on the mercy of God. They look humble enough like the Gibeonite deceivers, but inside their heart it is a very different story. If that is your condition and you have entered the camp of God's people deceitfully, put it right with God. Own up to Him and confess your need of the Saviour.
Just as appearances can be deceptive, so can words. In verses 8 and 9 of Joshua 9 these Gibeonites seemed to be saying all the right things. They spoke so humbly, calling themselves servants of Joshua and the Israelites. Much damage has been done by false disciples in the church. Like the Gibeonites, the long term effects of their presence can be so destructive. They look nice, respectable people and some rise to positions of great eminence and influence in the church. People take notice of their teaching in conferences and study groups. Their books and articles are read and widely quoted. Yet they are not true to the Word of God and they mislead many by their smooth, reasonable-sounding statements. Be watchful against them and keep close to the Scriptures. In 1 John 4 verse 1 we are warned to "test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world".
Also these Gibeonites spoke reverently of God. In verse 9 they claimed to have come because of the greatness of the name of the Lord God, and because of His power over Israel's enemies. There are those today who lead in prayer and call upon God's Name, but they are false representatives of Him because of what they believe when pressed to declare it.
It is also interesting to observe in what the Gibeonites said that they cunningly left out certain things. They said nothing of the crossing of the Jordan, the taking of Jericho or the recent defeat of Ai. That would have given them away, revealing that they were from nearby, not from a distant place as they claimed. So it is with false teachers. It is not so much what they say, but what they don't say that is revealing.
You should always ask these questions: does the preacher stress the necessity of repentance and saving faith in Christ? Doers he make clear that Christ died in the place of sinners as their substitute on the cross? Does he emphasise the need of the new birth to enter the Kingdom of God? Does he impress on you the value of all the Scriptures as the Word of God? So many truths are omitted these days and we need to recover them for the health and blessing of the Church. So, beware of Gibeonites who mislead by their preaching.
Up to now we have been discovering the effect of deceptions on the church at large. But what about the individual believers? Satan can come to you in many forms and like those Gibeonites he can flatter and deceive. Many and varied are his temptations that will harm and hinder you. Joshua and his leaders said in so many words, "Oh well, there's no harm in them. They seem alright, not like the people of Canaan". The tragedy was that they were the people of Canaan!
One "Gibeonite" or another will come to you and you may be tempted to say, "There's no harm in it. It looks alright to me". It may be certain TV programmes or films, a hobby a sporting pursuit, a book or magazine. It may a friend, a close relationship or some business dealing. You have to be watchful as our Saviour warned in Mark 14 verse 38: "Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation". Do not let anything control you or deaden your spiritual life.
How then did Joshua and the leaders of Israel fall into this trap? What lesson can we discover from their mistake? We read in verses 14 and 15 that they did not seek guidance from God and so made a treaty with the Gibeonites thus allowing them to live. That is where we all go wrong from time to time. Like Joshua we judge by appearances and speech, but we do not use the acid test of God's Word. In previous chapters of Joshua we find the expression "And the Lord said to Joshua", but not in this instance. They failed to enquire of the Lord.
Do not trust in your own judgement. Seek god in prayer and study his Word constantly. Paul told his friends in Philippi that he was praying that they might increase in discernment or sound judgement as well as love and knowledge. That's in Philippians 1 verse 9.
Let us make that our prayer for ourselves, and not be taken in by "Gibeonites".