Untitled Sermon (17)

Introduction

I'll say bless the Lord if you say, "oh my soul."

Bless the Lord.

[Oh my soul]

Oh bless his holy name.

Good morning my name is Eric Warren and I'm the student pastor here at The Glade. I want to wish you all a warm welcome this morning but a special hello to you who may be visiting with us today. If you would do us a huge favor, we would love to know that you were with us today. If you would either scan that QR code on the seatback in front of you, or fill out this blue guest card if you're maybe a little more old school and drop that in any one of the black boxes in the back of the sanctuary at the end of our service, that would be a huge help to us.

Or maybe you've been visiting us for a while and you're interested in finding out a bit more of what make The Glade, The Glade, we have our Discover The Glade class next weekend imemdiately proceeding our second service there in Thrive cafe. If you would like details or to sign up, please visit our next steps desk after the service.

I've told our students time and time again that one of my greatest desires for them to stop living this life of faith on autopilot. Particularly in this part of the world, don't get swept up in cultural Christianity that has you assuming and falsely assuming so much.

"What makes you Christian?" --

"I'm here ain't I?"

But the old cliche is true... sitting in a church building makes you no more christian than standing in a garage makes you a car.

Familiarity, assumption, unthinkingness, is the enemy intimacy.

Closeness and distance. Obedience and disobedience. This is the pendulum that summarizes really the whole Old Testament. Israel experiences great deliverance. Israel forgets God. Victory is won. god's people grumble.

That's the story of the Old Testament and that's the story here as we march on in Joshua.

Over the past weeks we have covered Israels journey into the Promised land. So central to their identity with God, as it was a great promise between them and God. That God would provide and give them a home. So the command was that this would be their home and that Israel was to drive out the Canaanites.

Numbers 33:52 (CSB)

52you must drive out all the inhabitants of the land before you, destroy all their stone images and cast images, and demolish all their high places.

Jericho, Ai, land after land through battle, victory and trial, was handed over to Israel because God's word is not to be questioned. God's judgement went out amongst the Canaanites and word around about Israel and their invisible God.

So today we see a play in 3 acts. The land of Gibeon, knowing that it's their head on the chopping block decide to do something about this force coming down the pike in Israel.

We see:

A plot to deceive

A treaty in haste

and a plan for mercy

A Plot to Deceive (vv.1-13)

The Canaanite kings align together to fight back against Israel, but not Gibeon.

Joshua 9:3–5 (CSB)

3When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,

4they acted deceptively. They gathered provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys and old wineskins, cracked and mended.

5They wore old, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies. Their entire provision of bread was dry and crumbly.

They went down to the local thrift shop, they put on tattered rags, they got old busted canteens and wielded spoiled food as a prop and went to Joshua and said,

Joshua 9:6 (CSB)

6They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land. Please make a treaty with us.”

They act in self-preservation. They put on a show, cried woe is me, and disguised themselves as travelers from far, far away. Bring us under your protection!

Gibeon differs from the neighboring kings who rose up in conflict,

Joshua 9:9–10 (CSB)

9They replied to him, “Your servants have come from a faraway land because of the reputation of the LORD your God. For we have heard of his fame, and all that he did in Egypt,

10and all that he did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan—King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth.

Simply put, word has gotten out on the God of Israel. That unlike the stone idols of the Canaanite kingdoms, this God acts. This God defends His people. This God splits oceans and hands over kingdoms.

Through so many ways we see the story of Rahab on repeat here.

Like the Gibeonites, Rahab was a native of Canaan (Joshua 2:1).

Like the Gibeonites, she had confidence God was giving the land to Israel (2:9).

Like the Gibeonites, she responded with fear before God's people, Israel (2:9-11).

Like the Gibeonites, Rahab acted with cunning in order that she and her family might find refuge among the people of Israel (2:12-13).

So they act in self-preservation. They deceive. They lie. They beg... Make treaty with us...

Some of your Bibles may say covenant instead of treaty, and the idea is this. The agreement at hand is much more than just a handshake. It's much more than a contract.

We know that this is how God deals with His people, by way of covenant. We see it in Genesis 12 as Yahweh covenants with Abraham. Abraham brings sacrifice to God: cows, goats, rams, birds and Abraham splits the animals in half.

Blood and entrails fill the walkway and the idea was that the two covenanting together would walk this path and with these gruesome remains seeping up beneath their feet it was as if saying... may this be my future if I don't hold up my end of the bargain...

(hungry yet)

So we see that as Gibeon pleas to make treaty, to make a covenant... and it's much more than a game of let's make a deal.

Especially in Ancient near eastern culture like this that was held up on pillars of honor, justice, and hospitality, breaking covenant was not an option.

It was no casual thing...

But as we will see, with as meaningful of a moment as this is, with God's directive set before them... Israel does not seek God's counsel. They trust their eyes.

Gibeon would say,