“Falling for a Ruse” Joshua 9:1-27

It really helps to learn to listen to people who know what they’re talking about. I don’t know of anybody who is an expert in everything there is to be an expert in. Most people are doing well to have a working knowledge of some things in life, like how to do our job and how to try to raise our children.

Still, it never hurts to listen to people who have made a career out of learning and doing one particular thing. While what they have to say may not fit exactly into the life we are living, more often than not, their expertise will prove to be a valuable source of information that will help us in our daily living. We ignore the experts at our own peril.

We might think that Joshua and Israel would have learned that lesson, but today’s passage shows us that they still had a few things to learn when it comes to doing God’s will.

Background

When last we left Joshua and Israel, they had finally dealt with the matter of Achan’s disobedience. It was a hard lesson, one that they wouldn’t have had to learn had they sought God’s direction prior to their battle with Ai.

Having dealt with Achan as God instructed, God then told Joshua how to defeat Ai. Israel set an ambush, with a portion of their army hiding on the other side of Ai. Joshua and a small portion of the army then went before Ai as if to attack. The men of Ai saw this, and they, along with their allies from Bethel. sallied from their city. Joshua and those with him began to give way and started to flee, just as Israel had done before. The soldiers of Ai then called the reserves to join in the pursuit. This left Ai undefended. At that point, God told Joshua to raise a javelin toward Ai. This was the signal for the soldiers in ambush to attack the city and set it afire.

When the soldiers of Ai saw the smoke, they realized they had been tricked. The Israelite army then trapped those of Ai. The Israelites who had been running stopped, and those in the city advanced on the battlefield.

After all was said and done, 12,000 people—all who lived in Ai—died. God allowed Israel to keep the plunder, the best parts of which were offered up in sacrifices to God.

The result of this victory led to a formation of an alliance against Israel, composed of all the kings west of the Jordan. They determined to fight against Israel.

All, that is, but one kingdom. The Gibeonites had a different plan, and that’s what today’s text tells us about. As we consider the passage, we learn that Israel had a decision to make, and they made it without seeking God’s instruction. Just as it did before the first battle of Ai, there were consequences for Israel as a result of their failure to seek God’s direction.

Central Truth: Not seeking God’s will can lead to errors in judgment.

The ruse and suspicion (1-8)

The city of Gibeon was about six miles from Ai. The kingdom consisted of four cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. Rather than fight Israel and getting wiped out, they had a plan.

The plan was send some emissaries to Israel. These emissaries would pretend to be from a far off land. They packed their donkeys with worn out sacks and old wineskins. They put on worn and patched sandals and old clothes. They packed some moldy bread that was all dried out. They set off to talk with Joshua and Israel’s elders.

Israel was camped at Gilgal, near the Jordan River and not far from Jericho. The emissaries traveled the 20 miles or so to Gilgal, and there they asked to make a treaty with Israel. They’re pitch was, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us” (v. 6).

There was suspicion in Israel. They asked the emissaries, “Perhaps you live near us. How can we make a treaty with you?” (v. 7). Israel had been directed by God not to make treaties with the people of Canaan. In Exodus 23:31-33, God told Moses the boundaries of the Promised Land, and then told him, “Do not make a covenant with them or their gods. Do not let them live in your land, or they will cause you to sin against Me, because as the worship of their gods will certainly be a snare to you” (vs. 32-33).

In response to Israel’s suspicions, the Gibeonites simply said, “We are your servants.”

Joshua asked again, “Who are you and where do you come from?” (v. 8).

A lesson we can learn from this is that there are times when things may seem one way, but just don’t “feel” right. When we are unsure of something, that’s the time to go to God. Let Him direct your path. We said earlier that no one is an expert on everything. God’s not anyone. He is God. He is not limited by time, and His knowledge is more vast than our universe. When we aren’t sure about something, about a decision, then we go to God. We wait for His answer and then we go forward with the confidence that God is leading us. Should we have mistaken His answer, we know He will correct our mistake before it’s too late. As long as we earnestly seek God with all our heart, with faith and confidence, He will direct our path.

The mistake (9-15)

In response to Joshua’s question, the Gibeonites played their ruse. They told Joshua they had heard about all that God had done to Egypt and how Israel had defeated the kings east of the Jordan. They said they were sent as a result with instructions to make a treaty. They said the bread was warm, the wine was fresh and their clothes were brand new when they left their homeland.

The evidence before the eyes of Israel’s leaders seemed to bear out what the Gibeonites told them. The Bible says Israel sampled their provisions, but did not inquire of the Lord. So, Joshua made a treaty, and Israel’s elders ratified it by an oath.

What was the mistake? Was it in the making of the treaty? No, the mistake was in not inquiring of the Lord. As we discussed in the previous passage, when someone isn’t sure of something, all they have to do is ask God. It is particularly so in this case. The elders had raised the question of the validity of this delegation, and Joshua had also raised questions about it. They also knew that God’s instruction was to make no pact with any of the people of Canaan. They knew their task was to act as God’s means of judgment, and they knew that their privilege of being God’s holy people was to make sure they walked in obedience to Him.

Out of nowhere, a group comes to make a treaty with Israel, even though Israel had only begun its conquest of the Promised Land. God had been very present in instructing Israel what to do and when to do it. From Egypt into the first two battles, God had been instrumental in bringing Israel to this point. Surely, God would show them what to do. All they had to do was ask.

Instead, Israel relied on their own understanding, and, led by a clever ruse, they disobeyed God’s command. They made a treaty with people who lived in Canaan.

The aftermath (16-27)

The Bible tells us our sins will be discovered (Numbers 32:32). Such was the case with the Gibeonites. It wasn’t long before Israel discovered the truth about Gibeon and the lie that had been told to them by the emissaries sent to Israel.

The question now: What should Israel do? When Israel heard the truth, they marched from Gilgal to Gibeon, and after three days’ march, they stood on the outskirts of the city. Israel did not attack, though, because of the covenant made with Gibeon.

In today’s world, in our legal system, when two parties make a contract, the contract can be broken if it is discovered that the contract was entered into under fraudulent means, such as lying about a key element of the pact.

This wasn’t merely a legal transaction, though, because the oath made between Israel and Gibeon was one that was sworn before God. For this reason, Israel took no action against the Gibeonites. The people of Israel weren’t happy with their leaders, but the leaders insisted that the oath was made before God, so it couldn’t be broken. Instead, they suggested that the Gibeonites live, but “let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community” (v. 21).

Joshua asked the Gibeonites why they did what they did. Here is their answer: “Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you” (vs. 24-25).

The result was that the Gibeonites became servants to the nation of Israel, but they were allowed to continue to live in their homeland.

Conclusion

One of the last things God told Moses was that Israel was going to one day worship foreign idols in the land they would be entering. God said Israel would break their covenant with Him and that God would hide His face from Israel (cf. Deuteronomy 31:15-18).

Why do we need to know this? How does this relate to the Gibeonites and Israel?

That’s how sin can take hold of our lives. We allow a small white lie, then we become more adept at telling half-truths and outright lies. Soon, we are so used to lying to advance our way that we think nothing of it, forgetting that we are not to lie according to the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount. Other sins do the same.

Because Israel failed to inquire of God, they allowed one of the local tribes to remain in Canaan. These tribes had their own local gods they worshiped, and inevitably, they would introduce this god to some of the people of Israel.

The walk with God is so rich and such a blessing, but it can be upset when we fail to seek after Him at all times. Israel made this mistake, and it would wind up costing them in the long run. When in doubt, seek God. When it seems obvious, seek God.

“Ask, and you will receive. Seek, and you will find. Knock and the door will be open to you.” Never be afraid to ask, seek and knock at God’s door. He hears, and He will respond.