Joshua 9 -- If You Make A Mistake ...

According to my commentary, the world's belief is that "it's only those who do nothing that make no mistakes.  In Joshua's case, however, doing nothing was his mistake."

My commentary also issued a warning to us:  "After an experience of great blessing, God's people must be especially prepared to confront the enemy, for like Canaan, the Christian life is a land of hills and valleys ... Satan sometimes appears as a deceiving serpent, and we must be alert and protected by the spiritual armor God has provided for us."

The Gibeonites made it look like there were a peace delegation who'd traveled for months to get there, when they actually lived only 25 miles away.  They knew they were on God's hit list, and they were willing to be slaves rather than die.  They were blasphemous in saying that they had come because of the name of the Lord.  My commentary said, "Satan's ambassadors can lie more convincingly that some Christians can tell the truth.  Satan knows how to use religious lies to give the impression that people are seeking to know the Lord," and we see this in people who approach a church claiming to be seekers when they only want a handout and have learned how to lie successfully about it.

The reason they were successful in their lies:  "Joshua and the princes of Israel were impetuous and didn't take time to consult the Lord.  They walked by sight and not by faith ... They took the scientific approach instead of the spiritual approach."

"The will of God comes from the heart of God, and He delights to make it known to His children when He knows they are humble and willing to obey.  We don't seek God's will like customers who look at options but like servants who listen for orders... God sees our hearts and knows whether we are really serious about obeying Him."

"True faith involves exercising patience (Heb. 6:12)  ... God's people today are living in enemy territory and must constantly exercise caution.  When you believe the enemy instead of seeking the mind of the Lord, you can expect to get into trouble."

"Joshua and his associates teach us an important lesson:  If you make a mistake, admit it, and then make your mistake work for you!"  These people were put to work as slaves hauling water and wood to the Temple for use in the offerings.  "There's no evidence in Scripture that the descendants of the Gibeonites created any problems for the Jews ... The fact that over 500 returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity suggests that they were devoted to the Lord and His house."

Father, thank You for this timely warning and reminder not to act rashly but to seek Your knowledge and Your will.  I need that right now!

 

Your Brother In Christ,
Gary Ford