Joshua 9:7-15

⁷ The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?” ⁸ “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, ¹⁰ and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. ¹¹ And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ ¹² 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. ¹³ And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”
¹⁴ The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. ¹⁵ Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.

Introduction

It was mentioned earlier in the narrative that the people of Gibeon proposed a treaty with Joshua and the Israelites. Those people of Gibeon who wanted to have a treaty with Joshua and the Israelites were identified as Hivites. The inhabitants of Gibeon were Hivites. ‎Hivites could probably be Canaanite tribes or villagers. Some Bible scholars suggest that ‎Hivites were aboriginal tribes of Palestine.
Does it make sense that in this generation the Palestinians and Israelis are still fighting for their right of occupancy in the land?

The Israelites invaded Canaan because the Lord has promised it to them. Joshua and the Israelites were careless in their decision because they were still learning how to depend upon the Lord. Was it careless disobedience when they made treaty with the Gibeonites or they intentionally ignored the Lord ‎?

1. Ignore

^{‎ 7} The Israelites said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us, so how can we ‎make a treaty with you?” ⁸ “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”‎

The Israelites could have been emotionally touched by the Hivites’ appearance. Their clothes were old. Their sandals were patched. Their bread was moldy. They did not look like well-prepared enemy. They came not for war but willing to be servants to them.
The Israelites ignored it when the Hivites evaded their question. They suspected that the Hivites might be living near them, the Hivites answered that were servants to the Israelites. Servants! That was very appealing. The Israelites were slave for more than 400 years ‎and to have servants was a great privilege.
Joshua and the Israelites failed to discern such political deception or maneuver. The Lord has already warned them not to befriend the people of Canaan. They ignored the Lord’s warning because the Israelites might have been longing to have servants.

It says in Exodus 34:12, Be careful not to make a treaty with those who live in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare among you.
In Deuteronomy 23:6, Do not seek a treaty of friendship with them as long as you live.

The Israelites became careless because they did not seek the Lord first. Moreover, the Hivites did not reveal that they were Canaanites, and they came for peace not war.
This carelessness of the Israelites is also common among Christians. Many among us are easily deceived because we ignore God’s warning. We fail to discern which one is truthful and deceitful. Watch out! The Hivites were not intimidating and the Israelites were deceived. Deception comes from sweet-talkers. Warning is straightforward.
We don’t like people who point out mistake. We like people who agree with us.
It says in James 1:5-8, ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Dragons’ Den

Do you watch the reality TV show Dragons’ Den? How do you likeit ? A group of business people who called themselves Dragons are expert in business. They are also expert in choosing potential business partners.
When they interview potential business partners, they want straightforward answers. More have been rejected than appreciated for failure to impress the Dragons.
The approach of the Dragons is not very attractive. But determined business people would surely benefit from the behavior and mindset of the Dragons.

Similarly, God’s word is not very attractive to everyone. God’s instructions are attractive only to the repentant and contrite heart.
In 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not treat prophecies with contempt ²¹but test them all; hold on to what is good, ²²reject every kind of evil.

Human sinful nature resists God’s word. The human sinful nature prefers pleasant flatteries rather than honest to goodness sermons. Resistance to God’s word would quench the fire of the Spirit of Christ in your life.

The Israelites ignored how they were manipulated when they inquired who the Hivites were and where they came from. The Hivites were not aggressive. The Israelites were flattered when the Hivites offered themselves as willing servants. ‎

2. Inquire

^{‎ 9} They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because ‎of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in ‎Egypt, ¹⁰ and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon ‎king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. ¹¹ And our elders ‎and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and ‎meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ ¹² 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. ¹³ And these wineskins that we filled were new, but ‎see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long ‎journey.”‎

How did the Israelites failed to recognize that the Hivites’ flattering presentation had manipulated them? The Hivites told the Israelites that they heard reports about the Lord, what He did to Egypt and the kings of the Amorites. The Hivites were telling truth. The Israelites did not notice that their questions were not answered. They were flattered.
It was their first time to have a delegation from other nation who appreciated their victories. The Hivites were also willing to be their servants. So, what’s wrong with that?
Isn’t it great to have people who volunteer themselves as servants?
The Israelites forget their mission to conquer the land. They were not commanded to make friendship or gather servants. God’s instruction was to destroy.
¹⁴ The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. ¹⁵ Then ‎Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the ‎assembly ratified it by oath.‎

When God is ignored, decision may look great but will surely fail. What is our mission as a church? Church activities should be collaborated to make disciples, right?
In everything we do, personally or as a church, small or huge decision, we need to inquire of the Lord. What are practical decisions that we normally do? What are practical things that may involve thorough and well-planned decision making as a church?

Youth Pastor

A church decided to take a newly graduate seminarian as youth pastor. The youth pastor comes from a family of pastors. He has potentiality as good youth pastor. He loves to fellowship with young people. He was tall and young. ‎ He loves sports and outings.
The youth pastor was not satisfied with his salary though. Every time he went home for vacation, he would buy a product in his home town and sell them in the city. After few months, he quit as youth pastor and became a businessman.

The Israelites were careless in their decision. They made treaty with the Hivites based on what they saw, the food they tasted and the flattery they heard. They evaluated the Hivites as non-threatening but helpful servants. They forgot their mission to conquer the land. They failed to inquire from the Lord before they made careless decision.
It says in Proverbs 19:16, ¹⁶ Whoever keeps commandments keeps their life, but whoever shows contempt for their ways will die.

To show contempt is to dishonor, disregard or ignore which may lead to careless decision. God’s commands are instructions to Christian living. To ignore God’s word is to disregard Christian life. Many times we base our decisions because it seems good.
The Israelites were deceived because it looked good and enticing to have servants. They might have thought that the Hivites were helpful servants while they went to battle. They did not inquire of the Lord, first and foremost.

As a church, should we not decide based on the ‎Lord’s instruction? Do we need another pastor? We need to hear God’s right timing first!
Is it a coincidence that the church budget was not approved for us as a church to spend quality time with Lord and seek His plan and right timing for us?
If we cannot be active in making disciples now, does having more pastors inspire us to make disciples? Making disciples exhibits submission to Christ’s Lordship.

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