Joshua 9

CHAPTER 9THEME: Compact with the GibeonitesAs Joshua began the conquest of the Promised Land, he faced three formidable enemies: Jericho, Ai, and the Gibeonites. These three enemies of Joshua represent the enemies of the Christian today. Jericho represents the world; Ai represents the flesh; and the Gibeonites represent the devil. You will recall that Joshua’s strategy was to first take Jericho, located right in the center of the land, then to take Ai which stood northeast of Jericho. To the south was an alliance of Gibeonites. Apparently they were next in the line of conquest. But the Gibeonites were clever, as we shall see.

Joshua 9:1

Undoubtedly these kings had planned to unite against the Israelites, but it seems that for some reason they failed to come together, and they did not succeed in stopping the invading army of Israel. This may explain the defection of the Gibeonites. Their thought was not to fight but to make a compact.

Joshua 9:3

The Gibeonites were very clever, and they were a bunch of liars. They pretended to be envoys from a far country when, in fact, they lived only a few miles from Jerusalem. They told Joshua that they really wanted to worship the living and true God. Then they called Joshua’s attentionif it hadn’t been noticedto their old sacks and wineskins, their old shoes and threadbare clothing, and their moldy bread. It was all a hoax, but Joshua fell for it. God had ordered the Israelites to completely wipe out the people of the land and to make no treaties with them.

Although it was Joshua’s intent to obey God, he was deceived into making peace with the Gibeonites and actually making a league with them. Notice that neither Joshua nor the men of Israel asked the mind of God before entering into this alliance. As you recall, Jericho represents the world. How do you overcome the world? By faith. Ai represents the flesh. How do you overcome the flesh? Not by fighting it, but by recognizing your weakness, confessing to God, and letting the Spirit of God get the victory. Remember that it was God who said, “I’m going to give you Ai.” Now we have the third enemy, the Gibeonites, who represent for us the devil. Since Ephesians in the New Testament corresponds to the Book of Joshua in the Old Testament, we find an important parallel here. “Put on the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil” (Eph_6:11). As the men of Israel should have been beware of the wiles of the Gibeonites, so the believer today should watch for the wiles of the devil. “For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places” (Eph_6:12). Our real enemy today is not a flesh and blood enemy, but a spiritual enemy. He is Satan. Yet how many Christians even recognize him today?

What does he do? He tries to trick you into following him. I am not sure that he is interested in making a drunkard or a drug addict out of you. I think he is ashamed of that crowd of his in the bars and in the sinful places of the world. He went to church last Sunday, and he will be there next Sunday. He wants to be religious, and he wants you to fall down and worship him.

He is clever and many Christians are taken in by him. The devil can pull the wool over our eyes. In 2Co_2:11 Paul says, “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.” Unfortunately, you and I are sometimes ignorant of his devices. Now how do we overcome this enemy? Jas_4:7 says, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” My friend, we need to submit ourselves to Godthat’s the first thing. Oh, how we need to stay close to Him in this day in which we live! Satan is out to deceive us as believers. He works wilily. Frankly, I am amazed at the stupidity of the saints today. They are taken in by every ruse imaginable. Do you know why religious rackets are flourishing? It is because Christians are supporting them without doing any investigation. We need to resist the devil. We are to have nothing to do with that about which we are not well informed. There is danger of being linked up with him today, just as the men of Israel in their naivetébecame linked up with the Gibeonites. When Israel discovered that the Gibeonites were neighbors, and had tricked them, they still honored the treaty they had made with them.

Joshua 9:19

The treaty was honored in that day, although made under these circumstances. Now you may think these folk back here in the Old Testament were uncivilized, but notice that a man’s word was very important. And that is the way God wants it today. And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose [Jos_9:21, Jos_9:27].