Commentary on Joshua 9-16
Chuck Smith explains how the Gibeonite deception in Joshua 9 reveals the importance of discerning God's commands and the consequences of making unwise covenants.
In this expository sermon, Chuck Smith explores Joshua chapters 9 through 16, focusing on the Gibeonite deception and Israel's conquest of Canaan. He unpacks the spiritual significance of obedience to God's commands and the dangers of making unwise covenants. Through careful biblical analysis, Smith reveals God's sovereignty working through human decisions and the importance of discerning God's will in every situation.
Text
This time shall we turn to the book of Joshua, chapter nine as we begin our study this evening.
Now the children of Israel had conquered Jericho and Ai, which were strong cities. The kings that were in the land of Canaan where they were coming, felt that their only hope of stopping this migration of these people into the land would be by a combined effort, pooling all of their armies, all of their resources in one massive assault against Israel. Now this strategy was really prompted by the fact that the Gibeonites, which did cover an area of several cities, had determined that their only hope of survival was by a peace treaty.
So he starts out the ninth chapter, the first three verses talking about the kings that were getting together to present a united front against this invasion. Lest they would just be picked off kingdom by kingdom, they felt that they should all get together. Then, beginning with verse four, they tell of this Gibeonite conspiracy to develop a peace treaty with the Israelites as they were coming into the land.
Now the Gibeonites had heard of how God had delivered these people out of Egypt, and how He had destroyed the Egyptians. They had heard of how the kings of Og and Sihon, of their kingdoms on the other side of Jordan, had been conquered by Israel. They heard, of course, that Jericho had fallen, that Ai had fallen. So they determined that their best course of action was to make a peace treaty. However, they also knew that these people that were coming into the land, the Israelites, had no intention of making any peace treaties with the inhabitants of the land. For they were under the orders of God to utterly drive out all of the inhabitants of the land, to destroy, to drive out, not to make any covenant with them.
Deuteronomy, chapter seven, God commands them not to make any covenant with those in the land. So they knew that their only hope of making a covenant was by a disguise which they perpetrated. They got some fellows who put on some old, ragged clothes, old clodded shoes, they had some old wine skins that were falling to pieces, that they bound up. They had some dry moldy bread. So they came to the camp of Israel, and they said that, "We have come a long journey. But the fame of your God has spread through the world, and we\
Sermon Outline
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I
- The united front of Canaanite kings against Israel
- The strategic threat Israel faced after Jericho and Ai
- The Gibeonite plan for survival through deception
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II
- The Gibeonites' knowledge of Israel's God and victories
- Their understanding of Israel's divine command to destroy inhabitants
- Their decision to seek a peace treaty by disguise
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III
- The details of the Gibeonite deception
- Israel's failure to seek God's guidance before making the treaty
- The consequences of making covenants against God's command
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IV
- Lessons on obedience and discernment
- God's sovereignty in fulfilling His purposes despite human error
- The importance of trusting God's word fully
Key Quotes
“The Gibeonites had heard of how God had delivered these people out of Egypt, and how He had destroyed the Egyptians.” — Chuck Smith
“They knew that these people that were coming into the land, the Israelites, had no intention of making any peace treaties with the inhabitants of the land.” — Chuck Smith
“God commands them not to make any covenant with those in the land.” — Chuck Smith
Application Points
- Seek God's guidance before making important decisions to avoid unintended consequences.
- Honor your commitments, but always align your actions with God's commands.
- Trust in God's sovereignty even when human mistakes occur.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the Gibeonites deceive Israel?
They feared destruction and sought to preserve themselves by making a peace treaty through deception.
What was God's command regarding covenants with the inhabitants of Canaan?
God commanded Israel not to make covenants with the inhabitants of the land to ensure their complete removal.
How did Israel respond to the Gibeonite deception?
Israel made a treaty without consulting God, later realizing the deception but honoring the covenant to avoid dishonor.
What spiritual lesson does this story teach?
It highlights the importance of obedience, seeking God's guidance, and the consequences of compromising God's commands.
How does God's sovereignty appear in this narrative?
Despite human mistakes, God works His purposes, using even deception to fulfill His divine plan.