010-Joshua 9
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The children of Israel made it into the Promised Land
The children of Israel made it into the Promised Land
The children of Israel made it into the Promised Land
1- God brought them out so He could bring them in to something else
23 but he brought us from there in order to lead us in and give us the land that he swore to our fathers.
2- God always finishes what He starts
8 The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Lord, your faithful love endures forever; do not abandon the work of your hands.
; )
; )
The Promised Land was also a problem land
So it is with the Christian life ___We encourage each other
We encourage each other
The Israelites were in front of two mountains, shouting the blessings and cursings
While they worshiped, the kings of Canaan were strategizing how to defeat them
You may face a battle the minute you leave churchJoshua's strategy
1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it,
Divide and conquer the middle section of the landJericho, then Ai, Gibeon, and BethelThen he would take the southern half and northern half
1 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon—the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite—heard about it, 2 that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord. 3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, 5 old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. 6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.”
Joshua 9:1-. Now they're only 15 miles away.
Now they're only 15 miles away.
And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him-- and to the men of Israel-- we have come from a far country. Now they're only 15 miles away.
[LAUGHTER]
That was next on the hit list. Let's go to Gibeon and take it. That was the idea. That's part of that central swath of four cities. We've come from a far country. And now, therefore, make a covenant with us.
That was next on the hit list. Let's go to Gibeon and take it. That was the idea. That's part of that central swath of four cities. We've come from a far country. And now, therefore, make a covenant with us. Some of the commentators that I have read over the years have noted that the children of Israel had three enemies when they came into the Promised Land. Number one, Jericho, number two, Ai, number three, Gibeon. The commentators are quick to say that Jericho represents the world, the city of Ai represents the flesh, but the men of Gibeon represent the Devil.
Some of the commentators that I have read over the years have noted that the children of Israel had three enemies when they came into the Promised Land.
1- Jericho, 2- Ai, 3- Gibeon.
Jericho—represented the world
Ai—represented the flesh
Gibeon—represented the Devil
And I don't want to force too much interpretation into it, but I do understand and I do see the representation-- because they lie, and Satan is the Father of all lies. He's a liar and the Father of it, Jesus said. And Satan, like the Gibeonites, works off of a premise. And the premise goes like this-- if you can't beat them, join them. If you can't beat them outright, they're coming to get you, just fit in and act like you are one of them. So let's get the enemy on the inside-- that's Satan's thinking. I'll work among them. So he seeks to join them by forging an alliance.
And I don't want to force too much interpretation into it, but I do understand and I do see the representation-- because they lie, and Satan is the Father of all lies. He's a liar and the Father of it, Jesus said. And Satan, like the Gibeonites, works off of a premise. And the premise goes like this-- if you can't beat them, join them. If you can't beat them outright, they're coming to get you, just fit in and act like you are one of them. So let's get the enemy on the inside-- that's Satan's thinking. I'll work among them. So he seeks to join them by forging an alliance.
Gibeon—represented the Devil
because they lie, and Satan is the Father of all lies. He's a liar and the Father of it, Jesus said.
And Satan, like the Gibeonites, works off of a premise. And the premise goes like this-- if you can't beat them, join them.
If you can't beat them outright, they're coming to get you, just fit in and act like you are one of them.
So let's get the enemy on the inside-- that's Satan's thinking. I'll work among them. So he seeks to join them by forging an alliance.’
The Gibeonites are understanding what's happening here. The children of Israel are the new kids in town. They're here to take no prisoners, to kill everybody, take over our land, and so they're looking for options. They're looking for loopholes. And so their option that they come up with is, let's pretend that we are from a foreign country-- We'll pretend that we are ambassadors or envoys from a foreign land-- and we'll appeal to their pride, as you will see when we get down to verse 9. How they say it will appeal to-- it'll make them sound like they have heard of their fame, and they've heard of the greatness of their God, and they're amazed by God, and amazed by the children of Israel, and it's enough to make anybody kind of go, I am pretty cool.
The Gibeonites are understanding what's happening here. The children of Israel are the new kids in town. They're here to take no prisoners, to kill everybody, take over our land, and so they're looking for options. They're looking for loopholes.
And so that's their only option. They know they're backed into a corner, so it's survival mode. So they resort to treachery. And Satan does work that way-- not always, but sometimes. In fact, most often. You know, it was Peter who noted that our enemy the Devil, is like a roaring what?
And so that's their only option. They know they're backed into a corner, so it's survival mode. So they resort to treachery.
Lion.
Lion. Seeking whom he may devour. That is true. But he doesn't always come like a roaring lion. Sometimes he comes, not like a roaring lion, but like a resting lamb-- a wolf in sheep's clothing. He comes up to the sheepfold and he's got the voice down. Bah. And he's so sweet and so nice, so everybody goes, well, he must be a sheep, and he's a nice one too. Sometimes he's a roaring lion, but other times it's trickery.
And so the Gibeonites come, and they have a story, and they say make a treaty with us.
What did Paul say to the Corinthians? He said Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. So it's no Marvel that his ministers can do the same. And so the Gibeonites come, and they have a story, and they say make a treaty with us. But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, perhaps you dwell among us-- maybe you're really not from afar-- maybe you're really from next door. And they were. How can we make a covenant with you?
7 The men of Israel replied to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us. How can we make a treaty with you?” 8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Then Joshua asked them, “Who are you and where do you come from?” 9 They replied to him, “Your servants have come from a faraway land because of the reputation of the Lord your God. For we have heard of his fame, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two Amorite kings beyond the Jordan—King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan, who was in Ashtaroth.
Joshua 9:7-10
And they said to Joshua, we are your servants. And Joshua said to them, who are you and where do you come from? A direct question. And so they said to him, not only are we from a far country, but from a very far country. Your servants have come because of the name of the Lord your God. Listen to their talk. For we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan-- to Sihon the King of Heshbon and all Og the king of Bashan who was at Ashtaroth.
Question, why did they mention those two events? Why did they mention these two kings and what God did in Egypt? Why didn't they mention what God did at Jericho or at Ai?
Question, why did they mention those two events? Why did they mention these two kings and what God did in Egypt? Why didn't they mention what God did at Jericho or at Ai? It would blow their cover. They didn't have CNN or Fox News. They didn't have anything on their little iPhone to-- newsflash, this just happened. News travelled slow back then. If they were to said, hey, we heard what happened over at Ai, and we heard about Jericho, the children of Israel wouldn't have fallen for it because there's no way they could have known about it if they're from a far country.
It would blow their cover. They didn't have CNN or Fox News. They didn't have anything on their little iPhone to-- newsflash, this just happened.
News travelled slow back then. If they were to said, hey, we heard what happened over at Ai, and we heard about Jericho, the children of Israel wouldn't have fallen for it because there's no way they could have known about it if they're from a far country.
So they're trying to go way back in the newspapers. Yeah, we remember what happened a long time ago in Egypt, and what happened on the other side with those two kings. Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us saying, take previsions with you for the journey and go to meet them, and say to them, we are your servants. Now therefore make a covenant with us.
11 Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say to them, “We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” ’
Joshua 9:Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us saying, take previsions with you for the journey and go to meet them, and say to them, we are your servants. Now therefore make a covenant with us.
Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us saying, take previsions with you for the journey and go to meet them, and say to them, we are your servants. Now therefore make a covenant with us.
Verse 9 is a telling verse. We've heard of the fame of your God. We've heard about you people. We're amazed at your God. I am sure in hearing that they thought, well, maybe these guys are legit.
Verse 9 is a telling verse. We've heard of the fame of your God. We've heard about you people. We're amazed at your God. I am sure in hearing that they thought, well, maybe these guys are legit. After all, that's what happened to Jericho. Rahab said all the inhabitants of our city-- our hearts melted when we heard how great your God is.
But isn't it interesting how the average Christian gets duped by anyone who mentions God or mentions Jesus.
But isn't it interesting how the average Christian gets duped by anyone who mentions God or mentions Jesus. And it's almost like we are looking for our movie stars, or our rock musicians, or our politicians, to just say God. They just mention God, or God bless you, and they go, see, He's a Christian. They just said God bless you. OK? So? But if a person mentions Jesus, it's almost like, that's good enough. I'll fall for it. You must be a believer.
And it's almost like we are looking for our movie stars, or our rock musicians, or our politicians, to just say God. They just mention God, or God bless you, and they go, see, He's a Christian. They just said God bless you. OK? So? But if a person mentions Jesus, it's almost like, that's good enough. I'll fall for it. You must be a believer.
Not so fast. Dig a little deeper, watch the lifestyle, see if there's a life change. So they had all the right vocabulary down. Verse 12, this bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day that we departed to come to you. But now look, it's dry and moldy. And these wine skins, which we filled, were new. And see they're torn. And these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.
Not so fast. Dig a little deeper, watch the lifestyle, see if there's a life change. So they had all the right vocabulary down.
12 This bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy. 13 And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.” 14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord.
Joshua 9:12-Verse 12, this bread of ours we took hot for our provision from our houses on the day that we departed to come to you. But now look, it's dry and moldy. And these wine skins, which we filled, were new. And see they're torn. And these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey.
Now, they've made this mistake before, you'll recall.
Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions-- but notice where the problem lies-- but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. Now, they've made this mistake before, you'll recall. 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.
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.
Joshua 9:15So Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live, and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
It's a two-fold problem here. There is the false pretenses of the Gibeonites and there's the failure to pray by the Israelites.
It's a two-fold problem here. There is the false pretenses of the Gibeonites and there's the failure to pray by the Israelites. Both of them are problems-- one is a liar, but the others neglect asking God about it. If they would have prayed and sought the Lord, like they did before Jericho-- like Joshua did before Jericho-- in that private communion, in that private moment, God could have given them behind the scenes counsel. He would have been faithful to do that. And the problem is outlined here. They did not seek the counsel from the Lord.
Both of them are problems-- one is a liar, but the others neglect asking God about it.
So what did they do? Well, they act very logical and they examine the bread and the wine, and they hear the story, and they talked it over with each other, and they make a logical deduction, and they make a deliberation.
So what did they do? Well, they act very logical and they examine the bread and the wine, and they hear the story, and they talked it over with each other, and they make a logical deduction, and they make a deliberation. The only problem is they're wrong in their logical deduction and their examination. And had they prayed, they could have been spared.
The only problem is they're wrong in their logical deduction and their examination. And had they prayed, they could have been spared.
What does James say? You have not because you ask not. And how often do we-- we don't really say it, but our attitude seems to be, Lord, I got this. I mean, you're good and stuff, but you know, there's bigger fish to fry for you in this universe. You've got a lot of important things to do. You've got ISIS to take care of, and you've got the politics in Washington, and you've got stuff going on down the street with that family. They're in a bad-- but this is-- I'll handle this. And we don't even ask Him. We don't even consider Him in a failure like this, to bring it before the Lord.
What does James say? You have not because you ask not.
And how often do we-- we don't really say it, but our attitude seems to be, Lord, I got this.
I mean, you're good and stuff, but you know, there's bigger fish to fry for you in this universe. You've got a lot of important things to do.
So I'm going to bring up one of your favorite verses, and I bet you'll be able to finish it.
5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; 6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.
. Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not to your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him and he Will direct your path. See, you know that. I know that. We all are familiar with that premise, and yet, it's the in all your ways stuff we're not always great at. If we were to rewrite that the way we live, it's in a lot of our ways acknowledge the Lord, or in some of your ways acknowledge-- or even most of your ways. But in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.
See, you know that. I know that. We all are familiar with that premise, and yet, it's the in all your ways stuff we're not always great at.
Make it part of your fabric, your fiber, to just ask the Lord, thank the Lord, bring it up before the Lord. Just that ongoing praying without ceasing. You're never bothering God. God never looks and goes, oh, you again? Really? Never. He loves it, and He loves to reveal Himself to us. You say, but I've already prayed about and I've asked him a dozen times. Ask him two dozen times, three dozen times.
There's an old Jewish proverb that says it's better to ask the way ten times than to go down the wrong road once.
There's an old Jewish proverb that says it's better to ask the way ten times than to go down the wrong road once. So it's, Lord, did I get you on that one? What is that again? Would you just-- what are those directions? Re-orient me. What's the GPS thing going on? Just bring that before the Lord-- better than going the wrong way.
So it's, Lord, did I get you on that one? What is that again? Would you just-- what are those directions? Re-orient me. What's the GPS thing going on? Just bring that before the Lord-- better than going the wrong way.
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.
But it says, verse 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. OK, so let me tell you what's going on. Back in Deuteronomy there were two different commandments given. Moses said when you enter the land make no peace treaty at all with the inhabitants of Canaan. However, if there are foreigners from other countries who want to let you settle in this land and be peaceful neighbors, you can make a peace treaty with them, but not the inhabitants of this land.
OK, so let me tell you what's going on. Back in Deuteronomy there were two different commandments given. Moses said when you enter the land make no peace treaty at all with the inhabitants of Canaan.
However, if there are foreigners from other countries who want to let you settle in this land and be peaceful neighbors, you can make a peace treaty with them, but not the inhabitants of this land.
And that is because back in Genesis, the Lord spoke about the iniquity of the Amorites. He said the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. But Abraham, your offspring and their offspring are going to go down to Egypt for 400 years-- actually a total of 420 years-- from the time God spoke that promise to the time that they settle the land. And I think that's a long time for God to be patient with anybody. I'm going to give you 420 years to hear about me, to hear about my fame and what I can do, and for you-- in hearing that-- to turn from your false gods, turn from your sins, and believe in me. And some did. Rahab did and others did. 420 years God was patient with the Amorites-- the people that populated the Promised Land. 420 years is up.
And that is because back in Genesis, the Lord spoke about the iniquity of the Amorites. He said the iniquity of the Amorites is not yet full. But Abraham, your offspring and their offspring are going to go down to Egypt for 400 years-- actually a total of 420 years-- from the time God spoke that promise to the time that they settle the land. And I think that's a long time for God to be patient with anybody. I'm going to give you 420 years to hear about me, to hear about my fame and what I can do, and for you-- in hearing that-- to turn from your false gods, turn from your sins, and believe in me. And some did. Rahab did and others did. 420 years God was patient with the Amorites-- the people that populated the Promised Land. 420 years is up.
But the Gibeonites were successful in duping the children of Israel. Can I just say that before you form any alliance with anybody, that you consult the Lord? Whether it's a business deal, if you're going to go into business with someone, make sure you're not unequally yoked with that person. If you're dating somebody, and, oh-- but he's so cute. He's got to be from God. Look at her, she dropped out of heaven. Yeah, check under the hair. There may be some horns.
But the Gibeonites were successful in duping the children of Israel. Can I just say that before you form any alliance with anybody, that you consult the Lord?
Whether it's a business deal, if you're going to go into business with someone, make sure you're not unequally yoked with that person.
[LAUGHTER]
Am I right? OK. So you just want to make sure that-- you're making a long-term commitment, and a lifetime commitment when it comes to a marriage relationship-- make sure that person, that they're not Gibeonites. Oh, but look at the bread-- it's stale, and the wine, it's old.
Let me just say something else. There is a trend today, especially among younger people, to become enamored with the early church fathers-- like third and fourth century, and sort of the ideas, the high church, the old church, and it's just become kind of cool and hip to kind of look back in church history. Whether it was the Reformation, or before the Reformation, whether it's a Augustine, or the writings of any of these early guys. And I think that's a mistake. I think that's just looking at old stale bread an old wine, and thinking that's so cool. I'm just going to camp on this.
Because you're not going back far enough. Those eras of church history-- do your study-- were filled with problems. For that matter, any era of church history was filled with problems in the church. There is only one model that the Lord tells you to look at to model your church after, and it's not Calvin, or Svinglee, or Arminius, or Eusebius, or any of the church fathers origin. It's the book of Acts. You've got it in your Bible. That is the model the Lord gave. That's as near perfection as it gets. And there were even problems going on, but you see how the Lord dealt with them.
If you're going to go back, go all the way back. Don't stop third century, oh, I'm cool, I'm like in the fourth century. First of all, you're in a bad century. Keep going back to the book of Acts. And don't say, well, you know Calvin said this-- who cares? He's dead.
[LAUGHTER]
16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. 17 Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. 18 But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers. 19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.
Well Arminius-- he's dead too. Jesus is alive. Listen to him. I'll build my church, He said.
Joshua 9:16Their word was their bond. They made a mistake, yes. But now they made a promise-- they made a covenant. Once you make a covenant, a promise, you've got to stick with it. You've got to be a person of integrity-- whether you say I do at an altar, or whether you sign a contract to pay off a car, you keep your covenants.
[APPLAUSE]
And let's look at His living Word, not stale bread and old wine, and say that's cool. No, it's just cool because you believe some idiot that said that's cool, but it's not that cool. Go stick with the Word. OK, off the soap box, Skip.
[LAUGHTER]
Their word was their bond. They made a mistake, yes. But now they made a promise-- they made a covenant.
There, good boy. OK.
Verse 16, and it happened at the end of three days, after they made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. Those crafty neighbors. I wonder if you really know your neighbors? Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now the cities were Gibeon, Chephira, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim If you want to pronounce it like a Hebrew.
Once you make a covenant, a promise, you've got to stick with it.
But the children of Israel did not attack them because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the rulers. Then the rulers said to the congregation, we have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. Now therefore, we may not touch them. Their word was their bond. They made a mistake, yes. But now they made a promise-- they made a covenant. Once you make a covenant, a promise, you've got to stick with it. You've got to be a person of integrity-- whether you say I do at an altar, or whether you sign a contract to pay off a car, you keep your covenants.
You've got to be a person of integrity-- whether you say I do at an altar, or whether you sign a contract to pay off a car, you keep your covenants.
, you know the seven things the Lord hates-- a lying tongue is one of them, and a false witness who speaks lies.
, you know the seven things the Lord hates-- a lying tongue is one of them, and a false witness who speaks lies.
So, yeah, they made a mistake, but they said, you know what? We made a promise, So our word must now be our bond. Now just once again, before we move on from this, your enemy and mine, the Devil, like the Gibeonites, is clever, deceptive.
And the apostle Paul says,
11 lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.
11 while you join in helping us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gift that came to us through the prayers of many.
Well, thank you for the vote of confidence, Paul, but the truth is many of us are ignorant of his devices, truth be told.
Well, thank you for the vote of confidence, Paul, but the truth is many of us are ignorant of his devices, truth be told.
We're flat out ignorant of Satan's devices. He's got so many of them. And he's been around for thousands of years, you know? He has studied humanity quite in depth. He has a long history of studying what makes people tick and what makes people fall. So don't think, well, he doesn't know how smart I am. You're not too smart if you think that. So we're not ignorant of his devices. How do you get wised up to his devices? What is it that could strengthen you to be perceptive in Satan's attacks?
We're flat out ignorant of Satan's devices. He's got so many of them. And he's been around for thousands of years, you know? He has studied humanity quite in depth. He has a long history of studying what makes people tick and what makes people fall. So don't think, well, he doesn't know how smart I am. You're not too smart if you think that. So we're not ignorant of his devices.
How do you get wised up to his devices? What is it that could strengthen you to be perceptive in Satan's attacks?
It's proximity to the Lord. Same with the children of Israel. Satanic strategy is overcome by divine proximity. Get close to the Lord, and the closer you are to Him, you won't be immune from attacks, but you'll be aware of them. You're abiding in Him. So to overcome Satanic strategy, employ divine proximity. Get close to Him. So the Bible says submit unto the Lord. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Both of those are important. You submit to God-- that's proximity-- then you have the strength to resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
It's proximity to the Lord. Same with the children of Israel.
Satanic strategy is overcome by divine proximity.
Get close to the Lord, and the closer you are to Him, you won't be immune from attacks, but you'll be aware of them.
You're abiding in Him. So to overcome Satanic strategy, employ divine proximity. Get close to Him.
So the Bible says submit unto the Lord. Resist the Devil and he will flee from you. Both of those are important. You submit to God-- that's proximity-- then you have the strength to resist the Devil, and he will flee from you.
20 This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.” 21 And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.” 22 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”
Now, what is the house of my God? What's that? Anybody? Where is it eventually going to be? Jerusalem. It's going to be the temple.
Verse 20, this we will do to them. We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them. And the rulers said to them, let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them. And Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them saying, why have you deceived us saying we are very far from you, when you dwell near us-- you wiley neighbors? Now therefore you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves-- woodcutters and water carriers-- for the house of my God.
Now, what is the house of my God? What's that?
So it's the Tabernacle, later on it will be the temple. That's the house of the Lord-- that's where the Lord dwells in a special way among His people in the Old Testament.
[LAUGHTER]
24 So they answered Joshua and said, “Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25 And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.” 26 So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. 27 And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.
Anybody? Where is it eventually going to be? Jerusalem. It's going to be the temple. So it's the Tabernacle, later on it will be the temple. That's the house of the Lord-- that's where the Lord dwells in a special way among His people in the Old Testament.
Joshua 9: or the day that this was written.
or the day that this was written.
So they answered Joshua and they said, because it was certainly told your servants that the Lord your God commanded his servants Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you. Therefore we were very much afraid for our lives. Because of you, and that's why we've done this thing. And now, here we are in your hands. Do with us as seems good and right to do to us. So he did to them and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them. And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord in the place that he would choose-- that will be Jerusalem eventually-- even to this day-- or the day that this was written.
So I find this fascinating.
So I find this fascinating. The whole reason they were told to get rid of the Canaanites is so that the Canaanites would not defile the children of Israel with their horrible, idolatrous, brutal practices. It was like cutting a cancer out of a human body so the body would live. But but now you've got the Gibeonites, with all of their treachery, and all of their falseness, and all of their idolatry, living among the children of Israel. So what do you do? You make them work in the Tabernacle.
The whole reason they were told to get rid of the Canaanites is so that the Canaanites would not defile the children of Israel with their horrible, idolatrous, brutal practices. It was like cutting a cancer out of a human body so the body would live. But but now you've got the Gibeonites, with all of their treachery, and all of their falseness, and all of their idolatry, living among the children of Israel. So what do you do? You make them work in the Tabernacle.
In the Tabernacle they are going to be exposed to the worship of Yahweh, the true God. They are going to be influenced, probably, by what they see and what they hear because they're going to live in close proximity to those sacrifices.
They have to get wood for that altar to be burning all the time, that altar of sacrifice in the outer courtyard, they have to provide water to wash the blood away in all the sacrifices that will be enacted. So it's a good strategy. You're going to come close enough to be influenced by the true worship system.
Now why is this important? Because later on, we will discover when Joshua apportions the land-- -- that Gibeon, that area will be given to the Benjamites. So Benjamites will take the territory, Gibeon included. Also, in , the city of Gibeon will become a Levite town-- a levitical city. So the priests are going to be living in that. You're going to have the teachers of the law, the teachers of the Word, around those-- it's like putting salt, the salt of the earth, in their town.
Now why is this important? Because later on, we will discover when Joshua apportions the land-- -- that Gibeon, that area will be given to the Benjamites. So Benjamites will take the territory, Gibeon included.
Also, in , the city of Gibeon will become a Levite town-- a levitical city. So the priests are going to be living in that. You're going to have the teachers of the law, the teachers of the Word, around those-- it's like putting salt, the salt of the earth, in their town.
Later on in 1 Chronicles, the tabernacle itself will rest on a hill in Gibeon. And then much later on, when the children of Israel return to rebuild the temple under Nehemiah, in chapter 3, some of the people helping to rebuild the city of Jerusalem or the Gibeonites. I like that. I love that. It's almost as if it was for a reason, and that reason was realized. They did become influence, and they did become helpers.
Later on in 1 Chronicles, the tabernacle itself will rest on a hill in Gibeon. And then much later on, when the children of Israel return to rebuild the temple under Nehemiah, in chapter 3, some of the people helping to rebuild the city of Jerusalem or the Gibeonites.
I like that. I love that. It's almost as if it was for a reason, and that reason was realized. They did become influence, and they did become helpers.
So here's the principle. I don't want you to miss this. When you make a mistake, make your mistake work for you. They made a mistake with the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites are going to work for them the rest of their lives in the Tabernacle. When you make a mistake, make your mistake work for you. Use that mistake-- not only grow from it, but now it becomes a part of your story, your testimony. You can actually use that to help other people. Make your mistake work for you, as they did.
So here's the principle. I don't want you to miss this.
When you make a mistake, make your mistake work for you.
When you make a mistake, make your mistake work for you.
They made a mistake with the Gibeonites. The Gibeonites are going to work for them the rest of their lives in the Tabernacle.
When you make a mistake, make your mistake work for you.
Use that mistake-- not only grow from it, but now it becomes a part of your story, your testimony.
You can actually use that to help other people. Make your mistake work for you, as they did.