The Gibeonite Deception

Introduction:

Jos 9:1-13

This is during the time of Israel’s conquest of the promised land, where they were required to drive out the inhabitants of the land, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. The Gibeonites during Israel’s conquest heard of the how they conquered Jericho and Ai, once the Gibeonites heard this they began to dress up and make provisions using old items to appear wearied from a long journey outside of the land. This was the beginning of the deception.

Gibeonites: Resident of Gibeon, the Gibeonites descended from the Amorites 2 Sam 21:2

Gilgal: Town near Jericho, Gilgal was assigned to Benjamin’s tribe when Palestine was divided among the tribes of Israel. For many years it was a center of religious, political and military importance especially during the periods of the conquest of Canaan and the early monarch of Saul.

1. The Deception

Joshua 9:1-13

The Gibeonites who were part of the army of Canaan assembled to fight the Israelites, took a different approach, they made themselves appear as weary travelers. When they arrived in Gilgal. They asked Joshua and leaders of Israel to make a covenant with them. They said they come from a very distant country and said they were servants and came because of the name of LORD.

The Gibeonites focus a lot on their appearance when deceiving the Israelites so that the appearance would match their story. They push for a covenant/agreement to be made in order to save themselves.

2. Failing to Counsel God

Joshua 9:14

Here we have the reason the Joshua and the Leaders were deceived. The start of the book of Joshua we see the focus and fundamental relationship with God that must be established for the conquest to be a success. To meditate on the word Day and Night, to pray and spend time in the presence of God, and to inquire of the Lord regarding any decisions that need to be made. Joshua adhered to these and for example is why he conquered Jericho by giving heed to every detail in His instruction.

Joshua in this instance did not counsel God, in ancient Israel the priests would use the Urim and Thummim to discern the will of God.

We see the importance of seeking God’s consult in every decision we make, not all things that appear to be, are what they seem. Joshua depended on his own understanding and not the will of God. Christians will often face much trouble when they fail to counsel God.

Joshua relied on the material and neglected the Spiritual.

we see this in women who marry unconverted husbands.

ministers in churches who admit ravening wolves in their midst deceived by the guise of sheeps clothing.

young converts seduced from the simplicity and purity of the faith by lying spirits, that seem as lovely as angels.

The Gibeonites weren’t only interested in preserving their lives but their historical identity even if it meant they had to be under a new religious umbrella. This is the root issue of the Gibeonite deception.

We in Christ are called to accept our new identity in Jesus, the old must pass away. This carried the same context of the wolf in sheep’s clothing, the wolf comes in for what he can get, not to transform and be a part of the flock.

The Gibeonites assume a subordinate role. The term servant in the text implies a position of vassalage(submission to political authority/power) In the ancient world a subordinate role does not only mean submission to political power but also acceptance of the sovereignty of the ruler’s God. Therefore, in this context the acknowledgement of Yahweh’s deeds means acceptance of the LORD as their God.

How do we counsel God:

Through Prayer

Jesus often prayed

2. Through Godly Council

3. Heeding to the Word of God

3. The Covenant Made & Deception Revealed

Joshua 9:15-27

The deception from the Gibeonites resulted in Israel making a covenant with them and even after the people found out(after 3 days) they could not do anything to them due to the covenant made. They made them servants, woodcuts and drawers of water.

We see how a covenant/agreement is serious in the eyes of God

Even after finding out about the deception the Israelites had to honor the covenant that they made.

God makes a covenant with us and we are to take it seriously

Covenants to God are life and death, Saul faced the consequences when he killed the Gibeonites in 2 Sam 21:1-9. Israel faced a famine, why, because Saul broke the covenant which was previously made.

In the present Christian life we are take agreements and contracts with people with the same seriousness that God upholds covenants, even if we entered into a contract or agreement through deception and later find out that it wasn’t what it seemed to be.

Conclusion

In light of the passage it points to how we are called to consult God, in our decisions, we are to be led by God in the way that we should go. Failure to consult God in matters leads to burdens that we place on ourselves contracts and covenants that weren’t in God’s purpose for us but we are then forced to uphold them because God take covenants seriously. Jesus Christ is the Truth and He defeated the ultimate deceiver Satan, the father of lies. when we walk with Christ we are walking in light of His truth, if we focus our eyes on Him and have a relationship with Him, we may well avoid situations where willl get deceived. This requires full devotion, and submission to Jesus and through the Spirit of God we will be enlightened and guided in our decisions.