Gibeon’s Deception

Gibeon’s Deception

Joshua 9:3 – But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 – they took the initiative by preparing their provisions shrewdly: they took tattered sacks for their donkeys worn-out, torn, and mended wineskins, 5 – worn-out, patched sandals for their feet, and worn-out clothes. All of their food was dried out and covered in mold.

Verse 6 – Then they approached Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and addressed him and the Israelis, “We’ve arrived from a distant country, so please make a treaty with us right now.” 7 – But the Israelis responded to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live in our midst. If this is so, how can we make a treaty with you?”

Joshua was right to be skeptical. Something about this strange people who couldn’t even name the ‘distant’ place they were from didn’t ring true. Joshua was convinced that their story was true and was sold on their deception after they checked and sampled their food which was offered as evidence.

The Bible specifically points out their critical error in verse 14 – So the leaders of Israel sampled their provisions, but did not ask the LORD about it. 15 – They made a treaty with them, guaranteeing their lives with a covenant, and the leaders of the congregation confirmed it with an oath to them.

What was their error? They did not ask the Lord about it.

I don’t even want to count how many times I’ve made rash decisions based on the evidence of my senses and later regretted not having asked God about it. Such was the fall of Eve at the beginning. Through the craftiness of the serpent, Eve was deceived into eating the forbidden fruit – she also became convinced by what she saw and decided to not ask God about it.

Joshua chose to trust the evidence of his senses rather than trust God for an answer. Eve chose to trust the evidence of her senses rather than trust God for an answer. Joshua and Eve both chose to eat the food when they should have had a conversation with God. One word from God would have unmasked the deception and revealed the truth.

When the disciples came to Jesus asking about the sign of His coming and of the end of the age Jesus answered them with these words – “see to it that no one deceives you, because many will come in my name and say, ‘I’m the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many people….” – Matthew 24:4, 5.

It was pointed out to me in a Bible Study yesterday that if a perfect, sinless person like Eve could be deceived into sinning, imagine how easy it is to deceive someone like you or me? How then can we keep from being deceived? – by coming to Jesus in His Word. Let us not assume that we have any answers on our own, no matter how experienced we are or how convincing the evidence may be. Let us always ask Jesus and trust Him to give us the truth. Let the Word of God unmask all Messianic claims no matter what signs and wonders accompany them.

“So keep on watching, because you don’t know on what day your Lord is coming.” – Matthew 24:42.