Deception and Victory… (4 things)

• 1^st – The deception of Gibeon… vs. 1-13 Read: Joshua 9:3-15
  • The people of the city of Gibeon heard about Jericho and Ai… vs. 1-6
    • Two things were now very apparent to the inhabitants of the Land of Canaan…
    • 1^st – God fought for the people of Israel – so no one could stand against them…
    • 2^nd – Israel completely wiped out all the inhabitants of the cities they conquered…
    • The cities of Gibeon were next in line – next to be wiped out by Israel…
  • The put together a plan to deceive Israel…
    • They sent men in disguise as ambassadors to make a peace treaty with Israel…
    • The men had old sacks on their donkeys / old patched wineskins…
    • Worn out sandals / old clothes / and bread that was dry and moldy…
    • All of this to give the impression they had come a long distance to visit Israel…
  • The leaders of Israel were suspicious of the men… vs. 7-13
    • They could make peace with people not in the Land – Deuteronomy 20:11…
      • But they knew God had forbidden them to make peace with any of the people in the Land…
      • Deuteronomy 20:16 – “The towns of the nations the LORD your god is giving you as a special possession, destroy every living thing in them.”
    • The men of Gibeon assured them they were ‘their servants’ from a far country…
      • They flattered Israel telling them how much they had heard about them…
      • They had heard about the mighty works God had done for them in Egypt…
      • They had also heard about what God did to the Kings on the east side of the Jordan…
      • But they very wisely left off what they had heard about Jericho and Ai (to recent)…
      • They showed their worn clothing / old food – and Israel believed them!
  • Satan is smart – and very persistent…
    • 1^st – Satan wants to keep us away from Jesus – out of the Promised Land…
      • When the 12 spies returned they reported to Israel – Numbers 13…
      • The people are strong – the cities are fortified – and there are Giants in the Land…
      • But Israel eventually did the impossible and passed over the Jordan into the Land!
      • Following Jesus – means going to war with an enemy that looks terrifying…
      • The thought of overcoming sin – serving and following the Lord – can seem overwhelming!
      • But for those who desire to follow Jesus – they will find salvation is their reward!
    • 2^nd – Satan will try to stop us with strongholds of sin – Jericho…
      • But Jesus overcame the impregnable fortress – tearing down the walls…
      • Satan will try to get us bogged down in sin – so we are ineffective for Jesus…
      • But we do not fight the battle – as we look to Jesus He can tear down the walls!
    • 3^rd – Satan will try to trip us up with hidden sin – Achan…
      • He will try to get us to compromise our walk with Jesus – trip us with some hidden sin!
      • When things in life do not seem to be going our way – we need to check our hearts…
      • It may well be there is some ‘hidden sin’ that we have not dealt with…
      • And until we confess that sin before the Lord – we will be defeated…
      • But as soon as it is addressed – we will find God is back on our side!
    • 4^th – But if all else fails – he will try to join us – so he can wait for another day – Gibeon…
      • The people of Gibeon would end up living with Israel – influencing Israel…
      • Slowly turning their heart away from God – Judges 2:12
      • There are many believers – who are growing in the Lord – overcoming sin…
      • Who end up getting tripped up by those they spend their time with…
      • I Corinthians 15:33 – “Bad company corrupts good character.”
      • We are foolish if we think those around us do not affect us…
      • If you hang out with people who gamble – go to discos – and get drunk…
      • Choose VERY wisely who you spend time with – because you will become like them!
        
• 2^nd – Not asking the Lord… vs. 14-27 Read: Joshua 9:22-25
  • Israel looked at the Ambassador’s provisions – but did not ask the Lord…
    • The mistake Israel made was trusting in what they could see…
    • Sin can come in very pretty packaged – satan can make himself look very convincing…
    • II Corinthians 11:14 – “Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.”
    • Satan can and will imitate God – he looks like the real deal…
    • Satan can come in pretty packages – sin / false teachings – can look really good…
    • We do not trust what we can see – we test everything against the Word of God…
    • I John 4:1 – “Do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God.”
  • After three days Israel arrived at Gibeon – Joshua asked – ‘why have you deceived us’…
    • The people of Gibeon had heard about the command to wipe them out…
    • They were terrified for their very lives – rightly so – so they deceived Israel…
    • But Israel could not attack them because of the covenant they made with them…
    • God had commanded Israel to wipe them out – but they could not break their word…
    • God does not treat words lightly – He expects us to fulfill our promises – Numbers 30:2
    • If you do not follow through with your promise – then it is sin – Deuteronomy 23:21… 
    • That is why it is so important to seek the Lord before you make any promises!
• 3^rd – The southern war… vs. 1-14 Read: Joshua 10:3-4, 8-14
  • The five Kings of the south heard about Gibeon… vs. 1-6
    • They were afraid – Gibeon was a Royal city – and they made peace with their enemy Israel…
      • So the Kings of Jerusalem / Hebron / Jarmuth / Lachish / Debir formed an alliance…
      • They came together to attack the destroy the people of Gibeon…
      • If someone makes fun of Jesus – mocks those who go to church – they are liked…
      • John 15:19 – “If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
      • But when someone starts to follow Jesus – they often become a target for the world…
      • The world sees them as a threat – they might convince others to follow…
      • So the world tries to defeat them – tear them down – tear them back from Jesus!
    • Gibeon called on Israel to come and save them…
      • It would seem to have been a great solution for Israel to let them be defeated…
      • True Israel could not destroy Gibeon – but why not let the 5 kings destroy them!
      • Yet Joshua and Israel came to their rescue – saved them from certain destruction…
      • The very people who hurl insults and make fun of us – need our help…
      • When the difficulties in life come – they WILL show up at our door asking for help…
      • It can seem tempting to want to leave them alone – perhaps they deserve it…
      • But we are here to reach out and save the very people who attack us – they need Jesus too!
  • Joshua and Israel attacked the armies of the 5 kings – and slaughtered them… vs. 7-14
    • As their armies fled before Israel – hail fell down from heaven…
      • There were more killed by the hail – then by the swords of Israel…
      • You have to wonder how big the hail was – to be able to kill a man!
      • God will reign down deadly 35kg hail on the earth in the Tribulation – Revelation 16:21
      • I am sure none of the armies of Canaan woke up worried about hail that day…
      • They thought they were fighting against a nation of former slaves – but…
      • God does not fight fair – it is no wonder we win in the end!
      • It is no wonder Paul says – ‘If God is for us, who can be against us…’ – Romans 8:31
    • Joshua commanded the sun and moon to stand still…
      • There were so many men to wipe out in the five armies – a day was not enough…
        • Joshua did not want to give them a chance to escape to their cities…
        • So in the sight of everyone – he commanded the sun and moon to stand still…
      • 1^st – Is it possible for the sun to stop moving…
        • It was not the sun that stopped moving – but the earth that stopped spinning…
        • Just like a car can comfortably go from 100kmh to 0 in a few seconds…
        • God slowed the earth’s spin from 1000kmh to 500kmh in a few minutes…
        • The result was that rather than a 24-hour day – it was a 48-hour day!
        • In fact there are records in other cultures about this very event…
        • There is a Greek myth of the sun standing still for a day…
        • There is a Mexican record of an extended night – other side of the planet!
      • 2^nd – Nothing is impossible for God…
        • If I was Joshua I might have asked for a bit more hail – I knew God could do that…
        • I might even have asked God to let the walls of their cities collapse – seen that…
        • But I would never have thought to ask the sun to stand still in the sky!
        • As we abide in Jesus – anything we ask of God He will do – John 15:7
        • That does not mean if we have a lot to do – we can ask the sun to stand still – no…
        • It does mean if God asks us to do anything – then by His grace it can be done!
      • 3^rd – The pagan nations worshiped the sun and the moon…
        • God wanted Israel to see – He was greater than any other ‘gods’…
        • We often put our trust in the things of this world – money / possessions…
        • But when they fail – when our foundation crumbles – we are left with nothing…
        • God wants us to learn to put our lives firmly on the solid foundation of Jesus!

A little sin can quickly spread out infect and destroy a whole family or church!

4^th – The destruction of the soutern cities… vs. 15-43 Read: Joshua 10: 22-25, 40-42

The five kings of the south hid out in a cave at Makkedah (place of shepherds)… vs. 15-27

Joshua had his men role a stone over the cave – and set a guard…

Then they went on to wipe out the southern nations – the remnants escaping to their cities..

Joshua returned to the kings and had the men of Israel put their feet on the king’s necks…

Then Joshua had them put to death – and hung on trees till nightfall…

We have no reason fear of our enemy – Jesus has given us complete power over satan!

 Luke 10:19 – “Behold, I give you the authority… over all the power of the enemy.”

And one day we will also take part in helping judging satan – with our foot on his neck…

We will look at him in amazement – this is the guy who caused all that trouble!

Isaiah 14:16 – “Everyone there will stare at you and ask, ‘Can this be the one who shook the earth and the kingdoms of the world?”

The remaining cities of the south…

Joshua went on from city to city in the south – completely destroying each one…

Makkedah / Libnah / Lachish (invincible) / Gezer / Eglon / Hebron / and Debir…

Not a single person – man / woman / or child was left alive in any of them…

God is love – I John 4:8 – how could He direct Israel to kill everyone in these cities…

God had allowed 400 years for the Canaanites to repent – Genesis 15:16

But they had only grown even more wicked – and now they were a threat to Israel…

They worshiped many false gods – Exodus 23:23-24

They offered their children as sacrificed to demons – Leviticus 18:21-24

They practiced every for of sexual immorality – Leviticus 18

Deuteronomy 9:5 – “It is not because you are so good or have such integrity that you are about to occupy their land. The LORD your God will drive these nations out ahead of you only because of their wickedness…”

God in His Grace had held back judgment on these sinful nations…

II Peter 3:9 – “No, [the Lord] is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to perish, so he is giving more time for everyone to repent.”

But because of their hardened hearts – they had refused to repent – and were like cancer…

God knew that if they were left alone – they would corrupt Israel…

I Corinthians 5:6 – “A little leaven – leavens the whole lump…”

When sin goes unchecked it encourages others to sin…

A little sin in the church – can quickly grow to be a HUGE problem…

It does not take much cancer to be dangerous – just a little can quickly spread…

The only solution is to cut it out – destroy the threat in order to save the body…

The longer the sin goes ‘untreated’ – the more dangerous it becomes…