Gibeonite Deception

Introduction:

· Preach Christ or Plant Corn?

· Moving; college; decisions that need to be made

THIS STORY IS AT ABOUT MORE, THAN HEARING GOD’S WILL BUT IT’S AT LEAST THAT. LET’S SEE IF WE CAN SEE WHAT IS GOD’S WILL AND HOW GOD LEADS US.

I) God’s Will For Us is Wholehearted Loyalty From the Nations

A. God is a Missional God

i. God has a vision to save – not destroy – the nations (vs. 1)

1. War…again! Chris’ question -- is God biased against other nations?

2. No; God had a missional purpose to save the nations

ii. The Nations Fear the Lord – and seek salvation through deceit

1. Like Rahab, Gibeonites fear YHWH & seek salvation (vv. 3, 9-10)

2. Unlike Rahab, the Gibeonites seek salvation by deception (vv. 3-6)

B. God is a Jealous God

i. Yet God commanded the removal of the nations (vs. 1, Deut. 7:1-4)

1. The problem: by making peace Israel would be conformed to the world

2. A “jealous” God (like a boyfriend who still hangs around with his ex)

ii. A Jealous God desires our wholehearted allegiance

1. Jesus: “No one can serve two masters…” (Matt. 6:24 )

Matthew 6:24 ESV

“No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.

2. EXAMPLES: Date someone who isn’t a believer;

THIS WHOLE STORY CENTERS ON THAT QUESTION – WILL ISRAEL, KNOWINGLY OR NOT, COMPROMISE WITH THE WORLD AROUND THEM?

II) The Gift of Discernment

A. A Crisis of Trusting

i. Satan’s toolkit: Satan is the master manipulator

1. The deception: “We’re not from around here” – (vv. 9-13)

2. Our enemy’s tactic is to mislead: “Did God really say…”

3. EXAMPLE: “If you don’t agree with me, it must mean you hate me.”

ii. The Failure of Joshua to trust

1. The story centers on Joshua’s failure to trust in God (vv. 7-8, 14)

2. EXAMPLE: Life choices; moral dilemmas etc.

B. God’s Promised Gift to Those Who Ask

i. God has revealed His will to us in his word (vs. 6, Deut. 7:2)

1. God commanded no treaties to be made – Joshua would have known this

2. EXAMPLE: “I know that the affair is okay – because God wants me to be happy.” No – often, God has clearly spelled out His will

3. QUOTE: A soul without the word of God is given up unarmed to the devil.” – Calvin

ii. God promises to reveal His will when we seek after Him (vs. 14)

1. But God would have led Joshua, and He promises to Lead us

2. CASE STUDY: How to care for mom/dad: God’s word, God’s leading

JOSHUA DOESN’T DO THIS; HE MAKES THE TREATY, AND IT BECOMES CLEAR QUICKLY THAT THE ISRAELITES HAD BEEN FOOLED.

III) Strangers Become Family

A. God Accomplishes His Purposes Not Because but In Spite of His People

i. Joshua deals kindly with the Undeserving Gibeonites

1. Joshua keeps his oath, and spares the Gibeonites (vv19-21)

2. The Gibeonites are made servants in God’s house (vv. 26-27)

ii. God’s Mission accomplished:

1. The Gibeonites are an ongoing hassle for Israel…

2. Mission accomplished; God uses imperfect people to save imperfect nations

B. In Christ God makes Deceptive Strangers Into Friends

i. The Greatest Deception: (Ephesians 2:12)

Ephesians 2:12 ESV

remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world.

1. By nature we are aliens and stragers to God who “deceive” ourselves

2. Yet, by stopping the “self-deception”, we can face the truth

ii. Jesus is our peace who brings us “near” into relationship with God

1. Jesus is our greater Joshua who becomes a stranger

2. Through Jesus we are “brought near” – no longer strangers and aliens, but like the Gibeonites, the nations are “brought near” to God (Eph. 2:19)

Ephesians 2:19 ESV

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God,

3. Because of Jesus, we gain access to the throne room of God, through whom we might seek, and receive God’s wisdom.

Transition:

Conclusion

Therefore: Seek, and trust God’s will in your life!