Joshua 9

Deception & Integrity

Text: Joshua 9

Introduction

Show “coexist” slide

– the crescent moon and star of the religion of C Islam

– the peace symbol, or  pentacleO Pagan

– the symbol for male and female, a equationE  Scientific

– the star of David, standing in forX  Judaism

– the wand and pentagram ofI  Wiccan

– the symbol for ChineseS  Yin-Yang

– the cross of Christ, representing T Christianity

There are so many things wrong with this word:

First, the very ones uphold this banner is the most intolerant group in our nation.

It promotes a pluralistic godless nation.

Our country was founded to be a nation who’s focus and allegiance was to one God; the God of holy scripture.

WHAT KIND OF HABBITATION WAS GOD WANTING FOR THEM?

What it to be a land of “cohabitation?”

Lets look back and get a clear answer to this question:

Consider Jericho — It’s culture was to be completely destroyed with the exception of certain objects which would be incorporated into their worship of God.

Consider Ai — The Achan story; While materials from each culture were used when God permitted, the culture remained strictly forbidden.

Exodus 3:17 “17 And I have said, I will bring you up out of the affliction of Egypt unto the land of the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Amorites, and the Perizzites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites, unto a land flowing with milk and honey.”

Exodus 23:23 “23 For mine Angel shall go before thee, and bring thee in unto the Amorites, and the Hittites, and the Perizzites, and the Canaanites, and the Hivites, and the Jebusites: and I will cut them off.”

Joshua 3:10 “10 And Joshua said, Hereby ye shall know that the living God is among you, and that he will without fail drive out from before you the Canaanites, and the Hittites, and the Hivites, and the Perizzites, and the Girgashites, and the Amorites, and the Jebusites.”

1) Nations Respond Toward God

VERSES 1-2

Opposing nations unit to collectively oppose God.

These cities who lived in continual rejection and rebellion towards God, fighting with each other, united for a common purpose; ATTACK GOD’S PEOPLE.

This reaction was prompted by these nations hearing the TRUTH ABOUT GOD and His people.

There reaction was completely different from Rehab’s reaction.

The city of Gibeon responded differently.

They chose to FEAR the God of Israel.

They knew they needed this God’s favor and mercy.

They knew they needed to be on Israel’s side.

Don’t miss the imagery here.

All of these nations heard the same truth about the God of Israel.

However, they all did not respond the same way.

We too today, have received the truth of who God is, his attributes, and therefore we need a Savior in order to stand before Him justified.

I think about the different soils — Mark 4:5-9 “5 And some fell on stony ground, where it had not much earth; and immediately it sprang up, because it had no depth of earth: 6 But when the sun was up, it was scorched; and because it had no root, it withered away. 7 And some fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up, and choked it, and it yielded no fruit. 8 And other fell on good ground, and did yield fruit that sprang up and increased; and brought forth, some thirty, and some sixty, and some an hundred. 9 And he said unto them, He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.”

2) The Work Of Deception

VERSES 3-13

There is no doubt the Gibeonites were lobbied to join the alliance that was forming. However, they came to understand that to rise up against God’s people would bring disaster to themselves.

APP — Put yourself in the shoes of the Gibeonites.

As far as the Gibeonites were concerned, they apparently had only enough cognitive knowledge to lead them to fear and were willing to do anything to save their necks. (John A. Huffman Jr.)

Quote: “A lying tongue can buy a bit of reprieve, but deception never works permanently.” (John A. Huffman Jr.)

Instead of having faith in the character of the God of Israel, they had faith in their deception.

A. The Gibeonite plan

The people of Gibeon developed a fake story and identity of a group they would send to meet with Joshua and the other leaders.

This group posed as ambassadors.

They dressed the part and talked the part.

However, they did speak truthfully about their fear of the true God.

They responded with fear, but approached God’s people with an ungodly method; deceit.

LISTEN — The only approach to God is with hands empty and an honest heart of confession.

These Gibeonites should not be considered bad people; but people who did wrong.

Some might say, “In war, anything goes.”

Sometimes people live according to this Gibeonite ethic; “Do whatever you got to do to save your own neck.”

Just do whatever come naturally.

Q — What approach should the Gibeonites have taken?

What if they had taken the HONSET approach?

Example: How did God treat Rehab?

What I find in the entire revelation about God is this: Anyone who seeks after God with a genuine heart of transparency will receive His love and grace.

APP — Are each of you living a life of transparency?

Learn from Achan how a “coverup” approach treats your future life and famly.

Quote: “Deception only pays temporarily, never ultimately” (John Huffman Jr.)

Examples:

Deception in business dealings.

Deception in card games, lol.

Deception in marriages/relationships

Quote: “How many a person has thought he could get by with moral deception in a marriage? He or she thinks the other spouse will never find out. Some do carry it on for years—at the price of a loss of openness, intimacy, and mutual acceptance. How different it could be if one would simply be transparent, admit one’s unfaithfulness, and ask for forgiveness. Better still, how different it would be to remain faithful, acknowledging temptation for what it is and mutually acknowledging that each person is only human.” (John Huffman Jr.)

3) The Need For Wisdom

VERSES 14-15

A. A gullible approach

(v14) A covenant made without God’s approval.

“Meaning of Covenant. The essence of covenant is to be found in a particular kind of relationship between persons. Mutual obligations characterize that kind of relationship. Thus a covenant relationship is not merely a mutual acquaintance but a commitment to responsibility and action. A key word in Scripture to describe that commitment is “faithfulness,” acted out in a context of abiding friendship.” (Baker Encyclopedia Of The Bible)

The oath was swore by God’s name, but without God’s approval.

God’s people allowed themselves to be gullible!

God’s covenant is the governing covenant when it comes to our connection with other people, schools, businesses, nations, etc.

Gullibility can come in several forms:

Confusion, misplaced confidence, overconfidence

Joshua’s gullibility was a mixture of all three of these. However, the deeper problem was that he did not consult God.

After hearing what seemed to be a logically believable story, they made the WRONG CHOICE.

Does this mistake sound familiar?

You would think by now they would have learned to wait on God; seek His direction.

Psalm 33:11 “11 The counsel of the Lord standeth for ever, The thoughts of his heart to all generations.”

We are to never approach God’s will like looking at a buffet!!!

We are SERVANTS who come to God to take ORDERS.

John 7:17 “17 If any man will do his will, he shall know of the doctrine, whether it be of God, or whether I speak of myself.”

Steps to remember:

See, pause, think, pray, receive, apply.

This is what Joshua failed to do!

James 1:5 “5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.”

Practicing these steps speaks to your faith.

When faith is exercised, HASTY actions are removed.

Isa. 28:16 “16 Therefore thus saith the Lord God, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, A tried stone, a precious corner stone, a sure foundation: He that believeth shall not make haste.”

They quickly forgot Moses’ instructions — Ex. 34:12 “12 Take heed to thyself, lest thou make a covenant with the inhabitants of the land whither thou goest, lest it be for a snare in the midst of thee:”

B. A commitment to integrity (vv17-19)

Joshua was put on the spot by all the congregation (v18).

Q — Did Joshua make up excuses? Did Joshua retract from the covenant he had made? NO!

Joshua acknowledge the covenant he had made.

What you see played out in this story is that two wrongs never make a right.

Joshua knew right well God’s warning to those who make and break covenants.

While the Gibeonites became a blessing, they had a curse hanging over their heads forever.

BELIEVER — You are in continual war with this world, and this world is out to tarnish your integrity!!!

The loss of a Christian’s integrity is worse than any secular occupation.

4) Work Our Your Mistakes

A. Admit where you are

We made the covenant; we made the mistake.

Admit, repent and move forward.

This is the first step when you are guilty!

B. Glorify Christ from where you are (vv.20-27)

The best place for your mistakes is before God.

Don’t overlook the honesty and humility of the hivites (v25)

Glorifying Christ from where you are is always an option for the BELIEVER! Always the BEST options for the BELIEVER!

Conclusion

Keep your commitments even if it comes at a cost to you. Our commitments often (if not always) has a direct impact of the well-being of those around us.

If God’s word is enough, should not ours be also?