Devotions from the Book of Joshua

Word was spreading across the land and the people of Israel were becoming feared. The people of Gibeon had heard of what God did to the Egyptians for Israel and how they had and conquered the city of Jericho and Ai. They didn’t want to be next. They didn’t want their city to lie in ruins while they were defeated by this group of people. They feared losing everything to them, so what should they do? They didn’t feel they could defeat them; God was on their side. They were so powerful; they were defeating everyone. Fighting a battle just didn’t seem like the best idea, so the bible says that the people of Gibeon gathered their provisions, put on worn-out clothing, mounted their donkeys, and traveled to the people of Israel. They went to Joshua with their worn-out shoes and clothing and their dried-out bread, and in verse 6 the bible says they looked to Joshua and said, “We have come from a distant land. Please make a treaty with us.” Joshua questions the people and tried to determine who they were and where they had come from, but the people told him that they had come to be their servants and asked for a treaty. They go on to tell Joshua that they have heard of them, they have heard of all God has done for them, so they have traveled to them to be their servants. They made Joshua believe that they had made such a great sacrifice to be there to serve them.

Joshua 9: 14 and 15 says that the leaders of Israel took the provisions, failed to seek The Lord’s decision and that Joshua made peace with the people. Joshua gave the people the treaty of protection they were seeking and made them the servants of Israel. Three days after this, Joshua and the leaders of Isreal realize that the Gibeonites had not traveled so very far to get to them. Nope, as a matter of fact, they were their neighbor. These people were from the next city over. The next city on the list for Israel to visit. Joshua went to the Gibeonites and asked them why they had lied and deceived him. The Gibeonites responded in verses 24 and 25 by saying that they had heard of Isreal and how God had promised them all the land. They said we knew that you were led to destroy the land and all the inhabitants and we feared for our lives.  Did you notice how the Gibeonites acknowledged that the people of Israel were strong and protected because of God, but no matter of their plan to obtain their own protection involved surrendering to God. It just involved getting close enough to the people of God that they might be protected. Almost like trying to stand under someone else’s umbrella in the rain. I don’t want to make the sacrifice of buying or holding my own umbrella but I don’t want to get wet, so I will just crowd in under yours and maybe you can keep me dry. The Gibeonites said, I don’t want to make the sacrifice to worship your God, but I don’t want to lose everything I have to you and your God, so maybe if I just get close enough to you or do something for you then I can be protected by you.

Joshua had made the treaty with the people for their safety, so he had to protect them. Although the people of Israel were frustrated with their leaders and the decision they made, they could no longer overtake the city. They had to let the Gibeonites live. So the Gibeonites became their slaves. Delivering water and wood to the people of Isreal and keeping their city.  The people of Isreal might have gained servants for water and wood, but what did it cost them? It cost them a piece of the promise God had given them. An entire city, the land, all the spoils of the city, and to be rid of a group of non-believer’s influence on their people. That was the biggest thing. The people of Israel had been given strict instructions about the people who inhabited these cities and their beliefs. They had been warned how the people worshipped false idols and did not follow God. They were warned to not mingle with any of these people for the negative influence they might have on them, but now these people were their servants. So, they tied themselves to non-believers and lost a piece of their promise from God.

Today, many people see the blessings that Christians receive from God. People also still fear God and the power a Christian can hold when they call out to and rely on God. This doesn’t always mean that those people want the peace you got, but they might want a piece of what you have got.  Similar to my metaphor about the umbrella. So many people today do not want to make the sacrifices they feel it takes to surrender their life to God. It can look nice having an umbrella to stand under to keep you dry and protected from the elements. People get envious to see your hair and makeup is still fixed and your clothes are dry while they are getting pelted by the rain and elements of the weather. They see you standing peacefully in the storm of life, while they ride it out in their rain jacket in misery. Sometimes this isn’t enough for someone to make the sacrifice and buy the umbrella and hold onto it in the storm, but it is enough for them to come closer to you. Enough for them to want just a piece of the shield your umbrella offers. What happens when you try to share an umbrella though? Usually, the storm ends up getting both of you wet. You find yourself pushed out from under your umbrella and the shield from the storm it was offering you. So the promise of keeping you dry that umbrella offered now has you a little less dry than you should have been.

By no means am I saying to not share God with the world. By no means am I saying don’t’ show love, grace, and mercy to others. By no means am I not saying to share peace! By all means, go testify for God! Share God with everyone!!

But what I am saying is, sometimes people will see your blessings, peace, and protection in the storms of life. They will see what all God is promising you and doing for you. They might fear how your blessings might impact them. They might become envious of what God is giving you, but no matter what they feel, they might try to get close to you so that they can have a piece of what you have. They don’t want to make the sacrifice to God, just like the Gibeonites, but they will try to make you see how they can benefit you. Seek God! Don’t be like Joshua and act on your empathetic heart and have blind compassion for others. Pray and seek out God’s direction. If not, you could be like Joshua and the people of Isreal, you could end up losing a piece of your promise.