Lesson 174 - Junior

Memory Verse

"We are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do" (Joshua 9:25).

Notes

Against Israel

The Canaanites had heard of the victories of the Children of Israel. Perhaps they had heard, too, that the God of Israel had promised to drive out their enemies, which meant destruction to the Canaanites. They could submit like Rahab ([JOS:2:11-13], [JOS:2:18]), or rebel. They chose to rebel, so they banded together to try to check the Children of Israel. No doubt they had fought among themselves many times, but now they banded together. They had one thing in common -" they were against Israel.

Those who rebel against God today do not succeed any more than did the Canaanites. They may band together and fight against God, only to their own destruction ([PS:2:2-4]). Some people yield to the power of God; others harden their hearts against the Lord. In this lesson we learn of a third class of people who try to find some other way to Heaven rather than God's plan.

Deceit

The people of Gibeon did not go to war with the others. They made peace by deceit. The Children of Israel were encamped at Gilgal, only a few day's journey from the Gibeonites. Into Israel's camp went some men as if they were ambassadors from a faraway country. They were wearing old shoes and clothing. Their food provisions were dry and mouldy. Their wine bottles (perhaps made of skin) were torn and mended. One would think from their appearance that the men had come a long way.

How soon one sin leads to another! The Gibeonites deceived the Children of Israel by their looks and they did not tell the truth when they asked for peace to be made with them. This lesson reminds one that it is just as much a sin to deceive others by looks and actions as by words.

Upon another occasion the Lord told Samuel: "The LORD seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the LORD looketh on the heart" (I Samuel 16:7). So it was with the Gibeonites and their dealings with the Children of Israel, who thought that the Gibeonites were telling the truth because of the outward appearance. But the Gibeonites did not deceive God, for He looked on their hearts.

Their Own Understanding

Perhaps the Children of Israel were proud to be so honoured as to have foreign ambassadors call on them. They trusted their own wisdom instead of asking God what to do ([JOS:9:14]).

Even though the Gibeonites appeared to be telling the truth, the Children of Israel seemed to suspect some fraud and asked from what country they came. The Gibeonites did not tell. Lest they would be caught in their scheme, the Gibeonites began to enlarge their story, telling that their bread was fresh-baked the day they left, but was now dry and mouldy. Their clothing was in worse condition than that of the Children of Israel after they had wandered in the wilderness forty years ([DEU:8:4]).

The Gibeonites seemed to know a great deal about God. They had heard even of the miracles He had performed for the Children of Israel in Egypt, and the victories over the kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan river. They must have known, too, that God had not forbidden the Children of Israel to make peace with the inhabitants of far-off cities ([DEU:20:10-16]), for they posed as such people. They professed a respect for God. They wanted peace at any cost and submitted to be servants of the Israelites. Then they asked for a league.

No Repentance

The Gibonites' only chance for life was to make peace with the Children of Israel. After the Israelites had entered their cities it would have been too late. The way to avoid judgement is to meet it with true repentance. We do not read that the Gibeonites renounced their gods and cast themselves upon the mercy of God. By deceit they made a treaty, which permitted them to live. That was all they asked for " to live. The evil they did was not justified by the good. Even though they were permitted to live, they would still have to stand before God to account for the deceit and lies in their lives.

All sinners today stand in the place of the Canaanites. God's judgement and destruction lie ahead of them. What will they do? Some will rebel as did many of the Canaanites who were eventually destroyed. Some will imitate the Gibeonites. By deceitfulness and lies they will try to climb up "some other way" (John 10:1). Such people Christ called thieves and robbers, and they will never go to Heaven.

Other sinners are like what the Gibeonites pretended to be: their souls are thirsty because sin has failed to satisfy. Their bread is mouldy and dry; there is always a spiritual famine in the world. Their garments are old: their own "righteousness are as filthy rags" (Isaiah 64:6). They have heard the news of the power of God to deliver and to give victory. They are willing to make peace with God on any terms. They realise it is their only chance to have eternal life. These sinners will become willing servants of God, renounce their idols and come in repentance. The only way a person can be saved from eternal destruction is to call upon God for mercy and receive forgiveness for his sins.

A Covenant

The Children of Israel did not ask counsel of God. They trusted their own judgement. A covenant was made between them and the Gibeonites. Then they discovered their mistake, for the Gibeonites were nearby Canaanites instead of ambassadors from a far-off country. Deceit and lies may be hidden for a time, but sooner or later they will be discovered. "A lying tongue is but for a moment" (Proverbs 12:19), and the truth will be revealed.

When the Children of Israel journeyed three days, they came to the four cities of the Gibeonites. A treaty had been made to let them live, so the Gibeonites were not destroyed. It was a covenant of life. The Israelites knew that God holds sacred an agreement that is made. An oath is not to be jested about or mocked at. God will hold us to a strict account in our covenant with Him.

May children learn from the lesson to be careful about making vows. God would have one to consider what he vows, with a purpose in his heart to pay, instead of making hasty, thoughtless, and reckless vows. God is not pleased with a vow that cannot be kept. It would be better if the vow had not been made than to have been made and broken. "When thou shalt vow a vow unto the LORD thy God, thou shalt not slack to pay it: for the LORD thy God will surely require it of thee; and it would be sin in thee" (Deuteronomy 23:21). This lesson is not for the purpose of discouraging one from making vows and consecrations. God required all Christians to consecrate their lives continually unto Him.

Some people would try to excused themselves by saying that they were deceived or that it was a rash vow or covenant. Yet no excuse is accepted by God. He holds one to the oath that has been made. A covenant with God is an everlasting one ([ISA:55:3]). Christ offered one sacrifice for sins forever ([HEB:10:12]). It is not made for a convenient season but is everlasting and forever. One who has made an agreement with God, a covenant of life, should hold it sacred lest by breaking it he would cause the wrath of God to fall upon him. Even many years later, when Saul slew the Gibeonites (which was breaking the covenant) God sent a famine for three years among the Children of Israel ([2SM:21:1]).

Not Brethren, but Bondmen

The Gibeonites had purchased their lives with a lie. They probably lost their cities, for they became a part of the inheritance of the tribe of Benjamin ([JOS:18:25-28]). They lost their liberties, for the Gibeonites were made bondmen or servants -" "hewers of wood and drawers of water" (Joshua 9:23). The Gibeonites made no excuse for themselves. They told the Israelites to do to them as seemed right. They were in the hands of the Children of Israel and at their mercy.

The Children of Israel had trusted in their own wisdom, which was not sufficient. They suffered for their failure to ask God's advice, and for their haste. Because they spared the Gibeonites, the Children of Israel were required to fight to protect them ([JOS:10:6]).

Questions

1. Why did the Gibeonites want to make a league with the Israelites?

2. What wrong did they do?

3. Why did they deceive the Children of Israel?

4. When was the deceit uncovered?

5. Instead of brethren of the Children of Israel, what did the Gibeonites become?

6. What mistake did Israel make?

7. How can asking God's advice be a help to us?