Joshua 9 - Be not deceived

What is it, to be deceived?

Our story today us is a picture of one of the enemies most effective weapons, deception. Deception is a biblical subject from the very beginning.

Think of some biblical stories where someone was deceived?

Serpent and Eve

Rachel and Jacob deceive Issac

Abraham and Abimelech

Laban and Jacob

Not only can we be deceived by someone we can also deceive our selves. Why would someone deceive them self?

 And He said: “Take heed that you not be deceived. For many will come in My name, saying, ‘I am He,’ and, ‘The time has drawn near.’ Therefore[fn] do not go after them

 Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals,[fn] nor sodomites, 10 nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God.

 Do not be deceived: “Evil company corrupts good habits.”

 Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap. 8 For he who sows to his flesh will of the flesh reap corruption, but he who sows to the Spirit will of the Spirit reap everlasting life.

In light of all this let’s read ch 9 and discuss;

The conventional approach of the enemy. Mano y Mano.

Application - when growing spiritually and gaining enemy ground we should expect opposition.

Here we see a different approach. They set out to deceive Israel.

What is their strategy? A story with some visual verification. Note: this is typical, a lie or half truth with false evidence.

Application: You here a rumor, and begin to believe by putting together unconnected apparent facts.

V7 something doesn’t seem right.

V8 enemy appeals to our flesh.

V9 - 13 the repeat the process to Joshua. Note the subtlety of their answer, they do not mention the recent victories at Jericho & Ai. They only mention the victories from Egypt and the wilderness.

9:14 the key to avoiding deception

Its not a fair fight in the flesh. We will always lose a spiritual fight when we use fleshly weapons. “the weapons of our warfare are carnal, but spiritual..”

We might say it’s not fair, but that’s how deception works.

: 8

The New King James Version Chapter 5

8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

Colossians 4:2 NKJV

Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;

Col 4:2

Vigilance means - to be awake, to be on the alert.

Prov 27:

Proverbs 27:15 NKJV

A continual dripping on a very rainy day And a contentious woman are alike;

Proverbs 14:15 NKJV

The simple believes every word, But the prudent considers well his steps.

Prov 14:1

Proverbs 27:12 NKJV

A prudent man foresees evil and hides himself; The simple pass on and are punished.

We need to be careful to not be naive. Reagan said we must trust but verify. Learn to be a Berean.

V14 Note: they did not ask counsel of God. Prayer is really the only answer to deception. It so easy to forget we are in a War and the enemy is working hard to take you down and make you ineffective.

When we make bad decisions we complicate our lives. Just as Joshua and Israel find themselves now.

Be careful to not be rushed or pushed into something before having the peace of God. How many bad decisions can you think of that were not prayed over?

Philippians 4:6–7 NKJV

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Phil 4:6-7

Get good counsel from Godly people.

Proverbs 24:6 NKJV

For by wise counsel you will wage your own war, And in a multitude of counselors there is safety.

Apply the principles of the Word to each situation.

Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.

dealing with the mess

Here we see Joshua having to deal with this situation that they had gotten themselves into in God honoring way.

So what do we do when we have messed up and how do we move forward?

In our text it was wise by the elders to not allow one sin (wiping out the Gibeonites) follow there original sin of making an oath without seeking the Lord, especially in light of public pressure to do otherwise.

Application: As Jesus followers we must be careful live up to the oath, contracts, and obligations we have made. Even when they are bad or difficult. We all must remember we represent our Lord as Christians and Ambassadors in everything we do.

Psalm 15:4 NKJV

In whose eyes a vile person is despised, But he honors those who fear the Lord; He who swears to his own hurt and does not change;

P

Later, King Saul broke this vow to the Gibeonites and his sin brought famine upon Israel in the days of David.

2 Samuel 21:1–9 NKJV

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the Lord. And the Lord answered, “It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites.” So the king called the Gibeonites and spoke to them. Now the Gibeonites were not of the children of Israel, but of the remnant of the Amorites; the children of Israel had sworn protection to them, but Saul had sought to kill them in his zeal for the children of Israel and Judah. Therefore David said to the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? And with what shall I make atonement, that you may bless the inheritance of the Lord?” And the Gibeonites said to him, “We will have no silver or gold from Saul or from his house, nor shall you kill any man in Israel for us.” So he said, “Whatever you say, I will do for you.” Then they answered the king, “As for the man who consumed us and plotted against us, that we should be destroyed from remaining in any of the territories of Israel, let seven men of his descendants be delivered to us, and we will hang them before the Lord in Gibeah of Saul, whom the Lord chose.” And the king said, “I will give them.” But the king spared Mephibosheth the son of Jonathan, the son of Saul, because of the Lord’s oath that was between them, between David and Jonathan the son of Saul. So the king took Armoni and Mephibosheth, the two sons of Rizpah the daughter of Aiah, whom she bore to Saul, and the five sons of Michal the daughter of Saul, whom she brought up for Adriel the son of Barzillai the Meholathite; and he delivered them into the hands of the Gibeonites, and they hanged them on the hill before the Lord. So they fell, all seven together, and were put to death in the days of harvest, in the first days, in the beginning of barley harvest.

Now there was a famine in the days of David for three years, year after year; and David inquired of the LORD. And the LORD answered, "It is because of Saul and his bloodthirsty house, because he killed the Gibeonites." ()

The bottom line is be a person of your word and trust God to pick up the pieces when we mess up.

Romans 8:28 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.