The Successful Ruse
Joshua 9:1-15
📖 Scripture
1 Now 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.”
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.
📘 Scripture Summary
Canaanite kings gather to fight against Israel. The Gibeonites, however, deceive Joshua by coming to him wearing worn out clothes and carrying moldy food, claiming to be from a distant land. Without consulting the Lord, Israel’s leaders make a treaty with them and ratify it by oath.
🔎 Reflection
An Elaborate Deception (9:1–6)
The kings in the area come together to wage war against Israel, but the people of Gibeon try a different tactic. They plan to trick Joshua and the Israelites by pretending to be people from a distant country. The Gibeonites seem to be aware that the almighty God is with the people of Israel, and to avoid being destroyed, they use deception to convince Joshua to make a treaty with them. The trickery is elaborate and carefully crafted: They have worn-out sacks, cracked and mended wineskins, worn and patched sandals, and moldy bread. The story reminds us to be alert as we do the Lord’s work. Otherwise, we may be easily deceived by those who might later influence us to compromise in our devotion to Him.
When have you made foolish assumptions based on what you saw and heard? Ask God to help you be alert and aware so that you are not easily deceived by appearances.
The Failure to Inquire (9:7–15)
The ruse of the Gibeonites is successful because the Israelites rely on themselves to figure out whether the group lives nearby, but they do not inquire of the Lord. Joshua decides to make a treaty of peace with the Gibeonites, and the other leaders of Israel agree to it by swearing an oath. Problems can arise when we do not seek God for His guidance. We may be quick to presume that a certain path is right. However, we should make a habit of going before the Lord in prayer, especially if we are considering important decisions or commitments as Joshua and the leaders were doing. We are reminded to be continually vigilant and to maintain a posture of humble dependence on the Lord.
What important decisions do you need to bring before the Lord? Confess to God any tendencies to rely on your own wisdom and ask for His wisdom and guidance.
📜 Today’s Inspiration
“God always knows the best way. It may not be the shortest way, the most obvious way or the way everyone else would take. It may seem like completely the wrong way. But the Lord’s way is always the right way—the best way—for his people.”
– Warren Peel
🙏 Prayer
Dear heavenly Father, I pray that I would be alert and aware as I work for Your glory. Help me not to be easily deceived but to walk with discernment, humbly depending on You and trusting in Your wisdom. In Jesus’ name I pray, amen.
🖋 Essay
Reflecting on the Journey
Recently, I have been taking time to study for exams as part of the ordination process for pastors. As you might expect, one of the exam topics is Bible content, and it is quite extensive! I need to memorize many details including key verses of the Bible, the ten plagues of Egypt, and the twelve tribes of Israel. I have been reviewing the content so much that I have already worn out several of my memorization flashcards.
Although the work is challenging, it has been such a blessing to review God’s faithfulness to His people. In particular, I took time to imagine several key moments along the Israelites’ journey. After being set free from the hand of Pharaoh, they continued to disobey and distrust the God who had repeatedly delivered them. Yet, God remained faithful, and He lovingly provided manna and quail while they wandered in the wilderness. When they finally reached the promised land, it was certainly not because they earned it. Rather, God was fulfilling His promise as a faithful, covenant-keeping Lord.
Such reflections remind me that the Israelites’ story is also my story. Many times, I have been unfaithful, and I have sometimes failed to trust in God. Yet, God repeatedly came through for me. Even when I experience periods of waiting, I know that God’s open doors always arrive on time. How good it is to remember the stories of God’s faithfulness, both Israel’s and mine!
Written by Bob Koo