Joshua 9:14-27 God blesses those who serve out of gratitude

Joshua 9:14-27  God blesses those who serve out of gratitude

So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. 15 Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. 16 It came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land. 17 Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath- jearim. 18 The sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders. 19 But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. 20 This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.” 21 The leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them.

22 Then Joshua called for them and spoke to them, saying, “Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living within our land? 23 Now therefore, you are cursed, and you shall never cease being slaves, both hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 24 So they answered Joshua and said, “Because it was certainly told your servants that the Lord your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you; therefore we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25 Now behold, we are in your hands; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.” 26 Thus he did to them, and delivered them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27 But Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

Background

Joshua discovered too late just three days into making the peace treaty that the strangers were in fact Gibeonite neighbors. Joshua’s impetuousness had added yet another “monument” of Israel’s many failures in regards to Israel’s relationship with the inhabitants of Canaan. However, the Gibeonites found salvation and were included in Israel’s covenant with God because they were willing to humble themselves in brokenness to serve God. In today’s devotion, we see God’s willingness to bless those who come to God without demands being willing to serve Him out of gratitude.

Observation

They heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land.

Having made a rash and ill-advised treaty, the evil consequences must now follow; Israel must bear with a Canaanite enclave in their midst which God had forbade (see Deuteronomy 7). It took three days for Israel to uncover the deception: the Gibeonites were neighbors, just 35 kilometers away and were part of a larger group of cities. The sanctity of the oath made by the leaders of Israel prevented them from killing the Gibeonites: We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.

Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you are living within our land?

Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and openly rebuked them. While the Gibeonites were spared, they were made slaves instead of remaining as allies. Although the oath made by Joshua cannot be undone, the Gibeonites were reduced to perpetual servitude to the Israelites as woodcutters and water carriers. Motivated by fear and the instinct for survival, they resorted to deceit which resulted in their state of being cursed in the eyes of men. They were however, blessed in the eyes of God. The treaty had included the Gibeonites within Israel’s covenant with God and they became servants at the tabernacle. Gibeon also became a priestly city; the Ark of the Covenant stayed at Gibeon often during the reign of King David and Solomon (see 1 Chronicles 16:39-40).

Truth

Slower is faster. It just took Israel three days to uncover the deception of the Gibeonites. Why didn’t Joshua do his due diligence to ascertain the truth before accepting the treaty? Why the rush? This moment of error could have been avoided if not for Joshua’s impetuousness. This episode became one of the “monuments” of Israel’s failure regarding God’s commands relating to Israel’s relationship with the inhabitants of Canaan.

Some of us have a tendency to jump to conclusions quickly. There is a fear of passing up the window of opportunity if one should pause and think. As a result, many made decisions with irreparable consequences only to regret later. Hence, especially for decisions that have far reaching and wide ranging effects, one must carefully consider before deciding on a course of action. Perhaps, one must wait until the pangs of haste disappear and one’s agenda is fully aligned with God’s. On that fateful encounter with the Gibeonites, Joshua might be fueling his need for alliances in the region or by a false sense of superiority. Or he could be so naïve so much so the possibility of deception escaped him. As believers, we must recognize that no matter how wise we may be, there is always something that escapes us. Therefore, it is wise to take time to ponder, to consult God as well as the opinions of learned men before we act.

God rescues those who are humble, and He blesses those whose hearts are filled with thanksgiving. The Gibeonites were relegated to destruction, but what saved them was their humility to come to God broken as they are. Both Rahab and the Gibeonites came to God as sinners, Rahab as a harlot, and the Gibeonites as liars. They were also willing to risk forsaking their former associations and be counted among God’s people. The Gibeonites were willing to do anything, “Now behold, we are in your hands; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us.” The Gibeonites were not thrilled so much at being wood cutters and water carriers, but in knowing where they would be if they were not serving the Lord.

Do we harbor the same heart as that of the Gibeonites? Are we willing to rejoice and accept our place of service while doing the Lord’s work? Many churchgoers present their conditions audaciously to God before deciding to become Christians: If the Lord answers this prayer, I will become a Christian! And they were not willing to serve in menial tasks within the church. Some even think that they are doing the church a favor by worshiping there. Remember, we are like the Gibeonites destined for destruction because of our sins. But God, in His kindness called us out of our prisons to be adopted as His sons. Hence, in receiving God’s grace of salvation, though broken and unworthy as we are, we must approach Him in humility while serving Him with gladness. The Psalmist wrote,

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
He rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Psalms 34:18

Application

1. Do you have the tendency to make snappy decisions thinking someone else is going to mop up the mess for you? Therefore, by taking time and consider the counsel of God, we may not fall into deception and suffer losses that we will later regret. Make it a habit to seek God’s counsel on the mundane things of life. What seem like a no brainer could result in irreparable consequences. In the same token, we can seek divine wisdom to do the same things differently and more effectively.
2. What is the motivation of your service towards God? Is it to fulfill your personal dreams or are you serving out of love and gratitude? Although it is effective to serve out of one’s passions and according to his strengths, one should above all consider the needs of the community. By first fulfilling the immediate needs of the community, we serve out of humility and gratitude. In due time, as we are found faithful in smaller things, God will entrust greater things to us.

Dear Lord, I ask you to imbue into me greater discernment and maturity in making decisions. As I read your word, impress upon me the truths that are able to make me wise. Use me in whatever ways you desire in order to fulfill the needs of the community. I put aside my personal vision and passion in exchange for yours. In due time, use me in a way that utilizes my passion and my fullest potential. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.