Chapter 9 is an interesting chapter, I think. I also believe it is a perfect illustration of the importance of seeking the counsel of the Lord. In Chapter 9, we see the people of the land beyond the Jordan, or the promised land, gather together to fight as one against the Children of Israel. BUT, when the inhabitants of Gibeon Heard what Joshua had done at Jericho and Ai, they decided they better try and make peace with Joshua and the Children of Israel (v. 3-5). Look at how they came to Joshua, though.
Verse 4 says they worked "craftily" or in other words, they used "trickery" or deception. They pretended to be something they were not. They made their belongings to look old and worn out and their food to was moldy and inedible. In verse 6, they get to Joshua and said basically, we don't live here so make a treaty with us. Then in verse 7,
Joshua 9:7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?"
The men of Israel were concerned the Hivites may not be telling the truth, but the Hivites threw themselves on the mercy of Israel by saying, "We are your servants" (verse 7). Notice something here, the deceivers did not respond to the Men of Israel, they responded to Joshua:
Joshua 9:8-9 But they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?" (9) So they said to him: "From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,
The Hivites were good, werent they? Not only did they trick, deceive, and lie, but they used God to sway Joshua into believing they were who they said they were. They knew who the leader was and knew if they could get Joshua on their side, then the Men of Israel would follow suit. They basically said they had "traveled" there because of God. They go on to support their case with the so-called evidence they had brought with them. What happend next?
Joshua 9:14-15 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. (15) So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
The word says specifically the men of Israel did not seek the counsel of the Lord before a convenant was made with them and allowed them to live. It only took three days after the covenant was made for the truth to be brought into the light. Everything done in secret will come to light, including deception. Remember the Lord commanded them to destroy all the inhabitants of the land which He promised to them. When the people found out there was a covenant between the rulers of the congregation and the strangers, they complained and were unhappy. They were fresh from the repercussions of disobedience, so I am sure they were definitely concerned about what wrath the rules of the congregation might have brought down upon their heads for allowing a group of people they were supposed to destroy to live - and live among them in their camp. The Hivites approached them out of fear. In fact, they go on to tell Joshua the stories they had heard about what God commanded "His servant Moses" (v. 24) to do to the inhabitants of the land.
You see, even our enemies have heard the tales of the might and power of the Lord. Our enemies can come in many shapes, forms, and disguises. I heard a preacher yesterday say that not every devil comes with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. The enemy often comes looking familiar enough to deceive us into believing the falsehood. We have to remain vigilant in seeking the counsel of the Lord.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Our enemy does not sleep. He is always scheming and looking for a way to defeat us...or keep us distracted with something is not as it appears.
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Jesus said that people come to us as wolves in sheep's clothing. In these instances, there is usually an ulterior motive as to why they are doing the things they do. Even the enemy knows who God is:
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
What are we to do when we have a enemy that is crafty, uses trickery and deception to gain our trust and allow them into our inner circle?
1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every Spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, (3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
When the Hivites came to Joshua they came from a spirit of fear with the intention of saving themselves from destruction. They reported what they had heard about God and the commandment He gave to Moses, but they did not say they believed in God only that they were fearful. What is the test of the Spirit John mentions? That every spirit that confeses that Jesus Christ come in the flesh is God. If the spirit does not confess that, then they are not from God.
Joshua 9:14-15 made it clear that Joshua and the other rulers of the congregation did not consult the Lord's counsel about admitting this group of people into their midst. They did so because they believed what they saw and what the heard. My husband and I have told our children from the time they started grade school the people they chose to align themselves with was extremely important. They needed to be people that uplifted and encouraged them with the same beliefs and like mind. They could witness to the others, but their core group was to be one that God placed around them -- not the group they chose on their own. Jesus set that example. He had a core group of people (the 12 disciples) that He was closest to and that He called upon to keep watch while He prayed. He ministered to, performed miracles for, and witnessed of the things of His Father, to the masses.
What have you believed and seen and heard that you have allowed into your life without the counsel of the Lord? What enemies have you given place to in your camp that appear to be something you recognize but are actually in disguise? Keep in mind, the enemy only has three purposes: to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Don't voluntarily relinquish your victory because you did not seek the counsel of the Lord. Test the spirits and rely on the Holy Spirit and the counsel of the Lord to lead you.
Join our discussion on Facebook. I would love to pray with you and hear your praise reports. Email me at [email protected].
Verse 4 says they worked "craftily" or in other words, they used "trickery" or deception. They pretended to be something they were not. They made their belongings to look old and worn out and their food to was moldy and inedible. In verse 6, they get to Joshua and said basically, we don't live here so make a treaty with us. Then in verse 7,
Joshua 9:7 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?"
The men of Israel were concerned the Hivites may not be telling the truth, but the Hivites threw themselves on the mercy of Israel by saying, "We are your servants" (verse 7). Notice something here, the deceivers did not respond to the Men of Israel, they responded to Joshua:
Joshua 9:8-9 But they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?" (9) So they said to him: "From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,
The Hivites were good, werent they? Not only did they trick, deceive, and lie, but they used God to sway Joshua into believing they were who they said they were. They knew who the leader was and knew if they could get Joshua on their side, then the Men of Israel would follow suit. They basically said they had "traveled" there because of God. They go on to support their case with the so-called evidence they had brought with them. What happend next?
Joshua 9:14-15 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. (15) So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
The word says specifically the men of Israel did not seek the counsel of the Lord before a convenant was made with them and allowed them to live. It only took three days after the covenant was made for the truth to be brought into the light. Everything done in secret will come to light, including deception. Remember the Lord commanded them to destroy all the inhabitants of the land which He promised to them. When the people found out there was a covenant between the rulers of the congregation and the strangers, they complained and were unhappy. They were fresh from the repercussions of disobedience, so I am sure they were definitely concerned about what wrath the rules of the congregation might have brought down upon their heads for allowing a group of people they were supposed to destroy to live - and live among them in their camp. The Hivites approached them out of fear. In fact, they go on to tell Joshua the stories they had heard about what God commanded "His servant Moses" (v. 24) to do to the inhabitants of the land.
You see, even our enemies have heard the tales of the might and power of the Lord. Our enemies can come in many shapes, forms, and disguises. I heard a preacher yesterday say that not every devil comes with horns, a tail, and a pitchfork. The enemy often comes looking familiar enough to deceive us into believing the falsehood. We have to remain vigilant in seeking the counsel of the Lord.
1 Peter 5:8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.
Our enemy does not sleep. He is always scheming and looking for a way to defeat us...or keep us distracted with something is not as it appears.
Matthew 7:15 "Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves.
Jesus said that people come to us as wolves in sheep's clothing. In these instances, there is usually an ulterior motive as to why they are doing the things they do. Even the enemy knows who God is:
James 2:19 You believe that there is one God. You do well. Even the demons believe—and tremble!
What are we to do when we have a enemy that is crafty, uses trickery and deception to gain our trust and allow them into our inner circle?
1 John 4:1-3 Beloved, do not believe every Spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. (2) By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, (3) and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world.
When the Hivites came to Joshua they came from a spirit of fear with the intention of saving themselves from destruction. They reported what they had heard about God and the commandment He gave to Moses, but they did not say they believed in God only that they were fearful. What is the test of the Spirit John mentions? That every spirit that confeses that Jesus Christ come in the flesh is God. If the spirit does not confess that, then they are not from God.
Joshua 9:14-15 made it clear that Joshua and the other rulers of the congregation did not consult the Lord's counsel about admitting this group of people into their midst. They did so because they believed what they saw and what the heard. My husband and I have told our children from the time they started grade school the people they chose to align themselves with was extremely important. They needed to be people that uplifted and encouraged them with the same beliefs and like mind. They could witness to the others, but their core group was to be one that God placed around them -- not the group they chose on their own. Jesus set that example. He had a core group of people (the 12 disciples) that He was closest to and that He called upon to keep watch while He prayed. He ministered to, performed miracles for, and witnessed of the things of His Father, to the masses.
What have you believed and seen and heard that you have allowed into your life without the counsel of the Lord? What enemies have you given place to in your camp that appear to be something you recognize but are actually in disguise? Keep in mind, the enemy only has three purposes: to steal, to kill, and to destroy. Don't voluntarily relinquish your victory because you did not seek the counsel of the Lord. Test the spirits and rely on the Holy Spirit and the counsel of the Lord to lead you.
Join our discussion on Facebook. I would love to pray with you and hear your praise reports. Email me at [email protected].
