Thank you all for joining me in yet another week in the powerful book of Joshua. I pray that, through our time here together, each of us may experience the presence of God in a real and powerful way. That each of us may gain something from the Word of God that may impact our lives, impact our relationship with God, and in turn cause us to impact our community. I pray that we continue to be strengthened in the Word of God as leaders. We are leaders in our homes, for our families, for our friends, and for the world who looks to the Christian to have an answer. So I encourage you to have the answer. Be strong and courageous in your faith to the Lord. And may the light of our powerful God shine on us and through us so that others may find the hope radiating through us. 

Today we are taking a look at Joshua 9. This is an interesting chapter, one that speaks largely to leadership. To this point, the Israelites have come into the Promised Land and have been a major threat to the people living there. The Israelites came and completely wiped out Jericho. Then, after a setback in Ai, the Israelites remove the sinner Achan from their midst and renew their covenant with the Lord so they may have victory over Ai. After this victory, Joshua does not want any more mistakes, so he takes the moment of victory to read the entirety of the Law to the people of Israel. This was so that they may obey him and waver not to the right or left. They were not to just be strong and courageous, but also obedient. Obedience is what kept God on the people’s side. But even though Joshua renewed the covenant and refreshed the Law for the people, it was Joshua and the leaders who slip up in this chapter. Let us take a look, verse by verse:

• Vv. 1-2 The people of the land hear of a second victory for the Israelites and are in fear. So, they come together so that they may team up against the Israelites. 

• Vv. 3-6 The people in Gibeon, members of the Hivites, were not confident that even as one group the people living in the land would be able to defeat the Israelites who had just defeated Jericho and Ai. So they decided an attempt to deceive the Israelites would work better. They dressed as people who traveled a great distance so that it appeared like weary and humble travelers. As actors, they presented themselves as those seeking for a covenant of peace. 

• Vv. 7-13 We see inklings of doubt and wisdom on part of the Israelites. It shows that the Israelites know that they cannot make a covenant with inhabitants of the land. But these actors from Gibeon press for the covenant of peace and show there stage props of travel worn items. 

• Vv. 14-15 The people’s bellies get in front of their wisdom. They took the gifts of wine and other provisions without consulting the Lord for discernment. And Joshua, the leader of Israel, made a covenant with the Hivites without once looking to the Lord. 

• Vv. 16-21 Joshua hears three days later that he has just made an oath to the enemy that he will protect them. What foolishness. This causes unrest among the Israelites and they begin to question the leadership. The leaders had been blinded by provisions of wine and goods as well as the power that comes from alliances. This blindness caused a misstep in guiding the people. 

• Vv. 22-27 The Hivites did this out of fear for their lives. Because of their deception, a curse is brought over them. They will be servants in the land the rest of their days. 

I leave you with these concluding thoughts:

Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing: The leaders of Israel, as well as Joshua, were able to be fooled by actors. All it took was dirty faces and some good props. How easy is it for us today to also be fooled. We live in an age where technology allows us to connect to teachings from people all over the world. We can pick messages from people we like, who think similarly to ourselves. We can pick messages that make our hearts happy and comfortable. We no longer have to feel the pressure of a local community keeping us responsible. It is so easy for us to twist the message of the Gospel because all of the voices we are listening to. Not all of them are guides and good shepherds! It is so important that with every study, even this one, will discern critically by the wisdom of the Holy Spirit that the message presented is of God and aligned with the Gospel. 

Christian Leadership: We as Christian leaders are held to a higher standard. Joshua and the other leaders were deceived and had not turned to the Lord for guidance about their decision. The people were not happy about the covenant made with the enemy. We have a responsibility to the people around us that we will lead not just with them in mind but also lead with the Lord as guide. Whether they believe in God or not, if they know you are a believer they expect you to be God’s hands and feet. In all our decisions and actions, the will of God ought to be on full display. We need to be prayed up, connected to the Father, and asking for wisdom and discernment. You are a witness to the light at all times. Do not let your eyes deceive you or your belly/desires get in the way of leaning into God’s discernment. 

No Exceptions:The big problem that comes with allowing the inhabitants of the Promised Land stay in the land is that the Israelites often sway from their own God. They begin to take the idols of the people around them and sin against the One True God. We should not be passive to foreign gods as the Israelites were. The Israelites here and in other places will make alliances and covenants with other nations, and we see them time and again turn to their idols. We should not be making apathetic oaths of peace with the world around us. We have been making such treaties for so long and have, in turn, lost some of our distinctiveness from the world. How long will we be content? Meanwhile we, without thought, serve the idols of self, seen in rampant individualism, money, and entertainment. This is not a policy or governmental issue but a heart issue. We have lost the courage to be faithful. To be different. To not be content or sacrifice our time and resources on the altar of being liked by others. We’d rather have flavorless, watered down Christianity and be liked than be powerful and impactful but offensive. The Gospel is an offense! Where is your heart? To what do you give your time to? And where does your money go? Your thoughts? What do you talk about? These are all indicators of your heart. Take back your heart, give it to the Lord. Be devoted to your Creator who has designed a life in him that is full of excitement and joy. Choose to be strong, courageous, and obedient, no exceptions.