Joshua 9:1-6

¹Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)— ² they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.
³ However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, ⁴ they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. ⁵ They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. ⁶ Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”

Introduction

Someone said, “If you can’t beat them, join them!” That’s exactly what a popular basketball player did when his team was beaten by an opposing team. The popular basketball player left his former team and joined the stronger team.
Several sports writers and basketball fans found it hard to appreciate his move. One person views it as survival stance. Well, it is great to be in a winning team. It’s tough to be in the losing end always. It’s no secret that there are victors and losers in a game.

Joshua and the Israelites were victorious in battle because the Lord was with them. Their victory became well-known to the people of Canaan. They anticipated that the Israelites would invade the whole land of Canaan. So, all the other kings in Canaan gathered and had a convention and planned to wage war against Israel.

1. Convention

‎ ¹Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things—the kings in the ‎hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Mediterranean ‎Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, ‎Hivites and Jebusites)— ² they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel.‎

The kings of Canaan had a convention and planned how they would face Israel. They assumed that with allied forces, they could defeat Joshua and the Israelites. Convention of allied forces has been employed during the past world wars, and has proven to be an advantageous concept. A convention is a gathering for common concern.
The plan of the kings of Canaan to wage war against the Israelites was not effective because the Lord favored Joshua and the Israelites to be victorious. Similarly, we are to depend upon the Lord to defeat spiritual forces attacking His church.
In says Ephesians 6:11-12, ¹¹ Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. ¹² For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.

We don’t ignore the forces of evil. Most often, we are on the defensive end. Wherever we are, inside or outside the church building, we experience spiritual struggle. As genuine believers in Christ, we should expect persecution. If you desire to live a life according to the will of God, you cannot escape persecution
In 2 Timothy 3:12-17, ¹² In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted, ¹³ while evildoers and impostors will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. ¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

Self evaluation: Are you persecuted Christian or are you a persecutor of Christians? Read your Bible and make sure that you are not deceiving yourself.
The word “persecution” is often compared to a ferocious lion chasing its victim. A lion wants to destroy its victim. The devil is compared to a roaring lion.
It says in 1 Peter 5:8, ⁸Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.

A roaring lion may not be able to bite its victim but it can confuse or disturb its victims. Similarly, the devil knows that genuine believers are secured eternally, but it can disturb or confuse the unsuspicious victim. Confusion affect decision making.
It says in 1 John 4:1-6, ¹ Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world. ² This is how you can recognize the Spirit of God: Every spirit that acknowledges that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God, ³ but every spirit that does not acknowledge Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the antichrist, which you have heard is coming and even now is already in the world.
⁴ You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because the one who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world. ⁵ They are from the world and therefore speak from the viewpoint of the world, and the world listens to them. ⁶ We are from God, and whoever knows God listens to us; but whoever is not from God does not listen to us. This is how we recognize the Spirit of truth and the spirit of falsehood.

Eloquent speakers can mislead a naïve victim. Be sure you know the difference between worldview and God’s word. Would it lead you to trust in Lord or trust in your wisdom? Worldview normally leads you to exert human effort. God’s word leads you to trust the Lord. When you decide, is there an avenue to trust in the Lord or yourself?

The Gibeonites did not trust in their strength. They accepted that they can do nothing to defeat the Israelites. So they decided to have a treaty, a covenant with Israel.

2. Covenant

‎ ³ However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, ^‎‎4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with ‎worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. ⁵ They put worn and patched ‎sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry ‎and moldy. ⁶ Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the ‎Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”‎

A covenant is a treaty or agreement between two parties. It is a binding contract.
There are condition and demands to be carefully observed by both parties.
While the other Canaanites nations had a convention to agree with other to wage war against the Israelites, the Gideonites preferred to make treaty with the Israelites.
The Gibeonites planned and presented themselves as convincing as they could. The Israelites were convinced of the trickery that the Gibeonites did, why?
The Israelites were not exactly ferocious warriors because they were easily scared when the people of Ai ran after them. It only proves that the Israelites have soft heart. And when they observed that the Gibeonites were not a threat to them, they decided on their own without consulting the Lord. They were not able to test the Gibeonite spirit.

The Gibeonites approached the Israelites after the defeat of Ai. The Israelites are still enjoying their victory. They were also feasting on their plunder. They were not preparing for war yet. Here is a warning about feasting during the holiday season. It says in Ecclesiastes 7:2, ² It is better to go to a house of mourning than to go to a house of ‎feasting, for death is the destiny of everyone; the living should take this to heart.‎

Social Dance

I know of a soldier who was a good-looking and nice person. One evening, this soldier and his comrades attended a social dance somewhere in the northern part of the Philippines. Many local ladies were attracted to him. The following morning, he was found dead. His remains were mutilated, head, hands, feet and private parts.
Whoever caused of his death, he might have been drunk that he was not able to defend himself. Feasting is relaxation. Relaxation is attracts defeat.

During Christmas or festivities, lighting firecrackers is accepted means of celebration. Not a few drunkards and other victims have severed their hands. There was even a dance party that turned out tragic lately. In victory or defeat, remember to pray.
In any team sports, basketball, hockey, or football, relaxing play is not advisable. Similarly, as disciples of Christ we need to be prayerfully alert always. We don’t know when the enemy attacks. Attack is most damaging during vulnerable times.

In 1 Thessalonians 5:17-21, ¹⁷ pray continually, 1⁸ give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. 2⁰ Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹ but test them all; hold on to what is good.

Christians can also be deceived if we ignore the prompting of the Holy Spirit. When we think we know something, double check if it is from the Holy Spirit or from the self. Ideas from self glorify us. Ideas from the Holy Spirit glorify the Lord.
No amount of explanation can convince anyone who doesn’t have the Spirit of Christ. Only those who are filled with the Holy Spirit are sensitive and respond positively to the message of the Lord. Keep praying until you find overwhelming peace in the Lord.

><((‘> … ><(((‘> tmec\2020 <‘)))>< … <‘))><