Connecting Through the Word Be Aware of the Deception of the Enemy Joshua 9 Message Theme: If Satan can t drown you with a flooded Jordan river, If he can t discourage you with Jericho, If he can t defeat you with pride at Ai, he will attempt to draw you into compromise with deception. Joshua 9:22 Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, Why did you deceive us, saying, We are very far from you, when you dwell among us? James 1:14-16 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Joshua 9:3-16 3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5 with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6 And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us. 7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you? 8 They said to Joshua, We are your servants. And Joshua said to them, Who are you? And where do you come from? 9 They said to him, From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us. 12 Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.
14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. 16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. Joshua 9:22 Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, Why did you deceive us, saying, We are very far from you, when you dwell among us? Look at this picture. What a beautiful picnic table looks really good. Let me tell you about this table Looks can be deceiving!!!!! Labels can be very misleading!!!!! Have you ever been misled by a label? Someone had put something else in the bottle? If Satan can t drown you with a flooded Jordan River, if he can t discourage you with Jericho, if he can t defeat you with pride at Ai, he will attempt to draw you into compromise with deception. Joshua 9:1-2 As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel. After an experience of great blessing, God's people must be especially prepared to confront the enemy; for like Canaan, the Christian life is "a land of hills and valleys" (Deut. 11:11). But Israel's greatest danger wasn't the confederation of the armies of Canaan. It was a group of men from Gibeon who were about to enter the camp and deceive Joshua and the princes of Israel. Satan sometimes comes as a devouring lion. 1 Peter 5:8-9 Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. Chapter 9 starts out with the news that 5 kings and their armies are preparing to attack Israel.
Satan sometimes comes as a deceiving serpent. 2 Corinthians 11:3 But I am afraid that as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning, your thoughts will be led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ. 2 Corinthians 11:12-15 12 And what I am doing I will continue to do, in order to undermine the claim of those who would like to claim that in their boasted mission they work on the same terms as we do. 13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds. Notice what the Gibeonites did to deceive Israel. They dressed in old ragged clothes They brought old moldy food. They wore worn out shoes Notice What the Gibeonites said: The Gibeonites told several lies in their attempt to get out of trouble. 1. They said they were "from a very far country" (Josh. 9:6, 9) when they actually lived twenty-five miles away. 2. They lied about their clothing and food. "This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is" (v. 12) 3. They also lied about themselves and gave the impression that they were important envoys on an official peace mission from the elders of their city. 4. They also called themselves "your servants" (vv. 8, 9, 11), when in reality they were the enemies of Israel. The Devil is the father of lies. John 8:44 You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. These four lies were bad enough; but when the visitors said they had come "because of the name of the Lord" (v. 9), it was blasphemous. Like the citizens of Jericho (2:10), the people in Gibeon had heard about Israel's march of conquest (9:9-10); but unlike Rahab and her family, they didn't put
their faith in the Lord. These men were wise enough not to mention Israel's victories at Jericho and Ai; for that news couldn't have reached their "far country" that quickly. Satan's ambassadors can lie more convincingly than some Christians can tell the truth! Beware of some new message or revelation that some TV preacher or teacher is sharing that will distract you from God s will and purpose for your life. Satan knows how to use "religious lies" to lead God s people astray or to trap them into some compromise. God s Will, will never contradict God s Word. 2 Peter 2:1-3 1 But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. 2 And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. 3 And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep. Why Satan s Lies Sometimes Will Work! Joshua 9:14-15 Joshua and the princes of Israel were impetuous and didn't take time to consult the Lord. They walked by sight and not by faith. After listening to the strangers' speech and examining the evidence, Joshua and his leaders concluded that the men were telling the truth. The leaders of Israel took the "scientific approach" instead of the "spiritual approach." They depended on their own senses, examined the "facts," discussed the matter, and agreed in their conclusion. It was all very logical and convincing, but it was all wrong. They had made the same mistake at Ai (chap. 7) and hadn't yet learned to wait on the Lord and seek His direction. The will of God comes from the heart of God (Ps. 33:11), and He delights to make it known to His children when He knows they are humble and willing to obey. We don't seek God's will like customers who look at options but like servants who listen for orders.
John 7:17 "If any of you really determines to do God's will, then you will certainly know" This is a basic principle for victorious Christian living. God sees our hearts and knows whether we are really serious about obeying Him. Certainly we ought to use the mind God has given us, but we must heed the warning of Proverbs 3:5-6 and not lean on our own understanding. Proverbs 3:5-7 5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 7 Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil. My message yesterday at HERF: Proverbs 14:12 There is a way that seems right to a man, But its end is the way of death. Genesis 13:8-13 8 Then Abram said to Lot, Let there be no strife between you and me, and between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, for we are kinsmen. 9 Is not the whole land before you? Separate yourself from me. If you take the left hand, then I will go to the right, or if you take the right hand, then I will go to the left. 10 And Lot lifted up his eyes and saw that the Jordan Valley was well watered everywhere like the garden of the LORD, like the land of Egypt, in the direction of Zoar. (This was before the LORD destroyed Sodom and Gomorrah.) 11 So Lot chose for himself all the Jordan Valley, and Lot journeyed east. Thus they separated from each other. Abraham let God make his choices for him. Lot chose his own way! Psalm 25:8-10 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Abraham gave up the right to choose for himself He did this when he started his journey of faith years earlier when he was an idol worshipping pagan. And God spoke to him. Hebrews 11 speaking of his faith Hebrews 11:8-9 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an
inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. Oswald Chambers Really, the only right you have is the right to give up the right to yourself. At the very heart of this issue is biggest challenge you really have and that is dealing with the pride of your heart. The opposite of pride is humility. We are not born with naturally humble hearts just the opposite!!!! Jesus said, Come learn of me. I am meek and humble in heart and you will find rest When you really realize that Jesus is the Way, and you humble yourself to trust and put your faith that He knows what is best for you and you make the one choice to let Him choose for you, life becomes and exciting adventure that will take you on an amazing journey!!!!!! Psalm 25:8-10 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. Years ago, I begin to realize this A couple of my favorite verses in Proverbs. Proverbs 16:3 Commit your works to the LORD, And your thoughts will be established. Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are of the LORD; How then can a man understand his own way? Psalm 37:3-5 3 Trust in the LORD, and do good; Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. 4 Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. 5 Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. A great Biblical illustration of this is not only Abraham but his servant Eliezer. Genesis 24:27 And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of my master Abraham, who hath not left destitute my master of his mercy and his truth: I being in the
way, the LORD led me to the house of my master's brethren. How do you make this one choice? It s called total surrender to Jesus Just a couple of months after my salvation I heard a challenge by a missionary, Bob Hughes, from the Philippines That night I faced a crisis decision was I going to save my life. For myself. Of lose my life for His sake and the gospel s There is a way that seems right to a man, to a woman. But.. Today, make one major choice. Let God Choose for you!!!!!! Daily seek Him in His Word and Prayer And Again: Psalm 25:8-10 8 Good and upright is the LORD; therefore he instructs sinners in the way. 9 He leads the humble in what is right, and teaches the humble his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are steadfast love and faithfulness, for those who keep his covenant and his testimonies. So what if you have gotten mislead, deceived by the lies of the devil? What do you do? Joshua and his associates teach us an important lesson: If you make a mistake, admit it; and then make your mistake work for you! Let it humble you! Let it remind you! And Claim: Romans 8:28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. Satan is God s disobedient servant. And what he means for evil, God can transform into something very special and good!!!!!! The leaders put the Gibeonites to work hauling water and fuel for the service of the tabernacle, where both water and wood were used in abundance. In later years. the Gibeonites were called the Nethinim ("given ones" = given to assist the priests) and labored as servants in the temple (1 Chron. 9:2; Ezra 2:43, 58; Neh. 3:26).
In Joshua 10, we shall see that God overruled Joshua's mistake and used it to give him a signal victory over five kings at one time. And one of the greatest miracles in the Bible takes place!!!!!