WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:12.359 So let's read together Joshua chapter 9 and let's learn about the Gibeonites and what's going on here. 00:00:12.439 --> 00:00:14.220 So let's hear God's word together. 00:00:15.359 --> 00:00:19.240 Now, when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things, 00:00:19.780 --> 00:00:22.640 the kings in the hill country, in the western foothills, 00:00:23.019 --> 00:00:26.699 and all along the entire coast of the Mediterranean Sea as far as Lebanon, 00:00:26.699 --> 00:00:31.019 the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites, 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:35.000 they came together to wage war against Joshua and Israel. 00:00:35.119 --> 00:00:40.079 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 00:00:40.859 --> 00:00:42.480 they resorted to a ruse. 00:00:43.200 --> 00:00:47.840 They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn out sacks and old wineskins, 00:00:48.200 --> 00:00:49.039 cracked and mended. 00:00:49.539 --> 00:00:53.200 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. 00:00:53.200 --> 00:00:56.239 All the bread of their food supply was dry and mouldy. 00:00:56.700 --> 00:01:00.000 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, 00:01:00.600 --> 00:01:01.920 We have come from a distant country. 00:01:02.320 --> 00:01:03.380 Make a treaty with us. 00:01:03.840 --> 00:01:05.320 The Israelites said to the Hivites, 00:01:06.159 --> 00:01:07.500 But perhaps you live near us. 00:01:07.760 --> 00:01:09.159 So how can we make a treaty with you? 00:01:10.020 --> 00:01:11.879 We are your servants, they said to Joshua. 00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:14.520 But Joshua asked, Who are you and where do you come from? 00:01:14.939 --> 00:01:18.379 They answered, Your servants have come from a very distant country 00:01:18.379 --> 00:01:20.620 because of the fame of the Lord your God. 00:01:20.620 --> 00:01:24.280 For we have heard reports of him, all that he did in Egypt, 00:01:24.620 --> 00:01:27.880 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan, 00:01:28.120 --> 00:01:32.740 Sion king of Heshbon and Og king of Bashan who reigned in Ashtaroth. 00:01:32.739 --> 00:01:36.640 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, 00:01:37.099 --> 00:01:38.379 Take provisions for your journey. 00:01:38.679 --> 00:01:39.919 Go and meet them and say to them, 00:01:40.319 --> 00:01:41.539 We are your servants. 00:01:41.799 --> 00:01:42.659 Make a treaty with us. 00:01:43.280 --> 00:01:47.060 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. 00:01:47.099 --> 00:01:49.119 But now, see how dry and mouldy it is. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:01:52.060 And these wineskins that were filled were new. 00:01:52.780 --> 00:01:54.159 But see how cracked they are. 00:01:54.679 --> 00:01:57.759 And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey. 00:01:57.760 --> 00:02:03.020 The Israelites sampled their provisions, but did not inquire of the Lord. 00:02:03.540 --> 00:02:07.340 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, 00:02:07.780 --> 00:02:10.439 and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by O. 00:02:11.800 --> 00:02:14.379 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, 00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:16.939 the Israelites heard that they were neighbours living near them. 00:02:17.280 --> 00:02:20.680 So the Israelites set out, and on the third day came to their cities, 00:02:20.860 --> 00:02:23.860 Gibeon, Kepherah, Beiroth, and Kiriath-Jerim. 00:02:23.860 --> 00:02:26.360 But the Israelites did not attack them, 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:31.000 because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:02:31.720 --> 00:02:33.920 The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders. 00:02:34.420 --> 00:02:35.460 But all the leaders answered, 00:02:35.580 --> 00:02:38.080 We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, 00:02:38.340 --> 00:02:39.760 and we cannot touch them now. 00:02:40.400 --> 00:02:41.760 This is what we will do to them. 00:02:42.180 --> 00:02:43.240 We will let them live, 00:02:43.540 --> 00:02:47.080 so that God's wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them. 00:02:47.840 --> 00:02:48.560 They continued, 00:02:48.560 --> 00:02:54.039 Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers in the service of the whole assembly. 00:02:54.539 --> 00:02:56.500 So the leader's promise to them was kept. 00:02:57.199 --> 00:02:59.120 Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, 00:02:59.699 --> 00:03:02.599 Why did you deceive us by saying we live a long way from you? 00:03:03.420 --> 00:03:05.039 Well, actually, you live near us. 00:03:05.620 --> 00:03:06.980 You are now under a curse. 00:03:07.520 --> 00:03:11.860 You will never be released from service as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God. 00:03:12.480 --> 00:03:13.259 They answered Joshua, 00:03:13.259 --> 00:03:18.959 Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land 00:03:18.959 --> 00:03:21.959 and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. 00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:24.739 So we feared for our lives because of you. 00:03:25.159 --> 00:03:26.419 And this is why we did this. 00:03:26.679 --> 00:03:27.739 We are now in your hands. 00:03:28.319 --> 00:03:31.099 Do to us whatever seems good and right to you. 00:03:31.599 --> 00:03:33.519 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites. 00:03:33.520 --> 00:03:37.880 And they did not kill them. 00:03:38.520 --> 00:03:42.400 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly 00:03:42.400 --> 00:03:46.580 to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. 00:03:47.080 --> 00:03:50.580 And that is what they are to this day. 00:03:52.540 --> 00:03:53.760 Joshua, big theme. 00:03:54.219 --> 00:03:56.420 Same as his name means, God saves. 00:03:56.500 --> 00:03:57.520 It's the theme of the book. 00:03:57.520 --> 00:04:04.920 Tonight, what I want us to think about is activating our knowledge of God. 00:04:06.219 --> 00:04:08.360 We know about activation, don't we? 00:04:08.460 --> 00:04:11.260 For example, we think about our mobile phones. 00:04:11.860 --> 00:04:16.199 Nowadays, you have to wait for an activation code, don't you? 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:19.439 Or you might get a prompt to activate your device. 00:04:19.560 --> 00:04:19.860 Why? 00:04:20.720 --> 00:04:25.680 Well, without that activation code, with a phone, you cannot communicate. 00:04:25.680 --> 00:04:27.680 We cannot access information. 00:04:27.840 --> 00:04:28.879 Our phone is useless. 00:04:29.160 --> 00:04:30.360 It's off grid. 00:04:30.459 --> 00:04:33.540 But activation brings it to life. 00:04:34.780 --> 00:04:36.019 And the point is this. 00:04:36.480 --> 00:04:40.579 Your knowledge of God and my knowledge of God, it needs to be activated. 00:04:42.100 --> 00:04:48.220 The life of faith is putting what we know about God to work in our experience. 00:04:48.220 --> 00:04:55.820 The theme of Joshua 9 is that the Gibeonites are effective in activating their knowledge of God, 00:04:55.860 --> 00:04:57.240 and that leads to their salvation. 00:04:58.040 --> 00:05:05.060 And we see that the Israelites, they have mixed success in activating what they know of their God. 00:05:05.500 --> 00:05:10.140 So the big idea is that our knowledge of God must be applied to everyday life, 00:05:10.139 --> 00:05:15.779 in all aspects of our lives, to live by faith as God's people, 00:05:16.399 --> 00:05:22.539 to respond well to situations, circumstances, people, crises. 00:05:22.800 --> 00:05:26.899 We need to activate what we know is true about God. 00:05:26.959 --> 00:05:30.539 Now, how you do the Gibeonites and the Israelites help us to think about this, 00:05:30.819 --> 00:05:31.719 activating our knowledge? 00:05:32.219 --> 00:05:34.539 We see it in what they think about. 00:05:34.639 --> 00:05:37.639 They think about, we see themes of God's judgment. 00:05:37.639 --> 00:05:40.459 We'll think about God's wisdom. 00:05:40.659 --> 00:05:42.180 We'll think about God's honor. 00:05:42.819 --> 00:05:50.979 And we'll think about God's grace as those themes play out in the minds and the hearts of the Gibeonites and the Israelites. 00:05:51.719 --> 00:05:55.779 And in changing seasons of life, so with the Gibeonites, for example, in great fear, 00:05:56.399 --> 00:05:58.879 or with the Israelites enjoying peace and blessing, 00:06:00.120 --> 00:06:05.459 everybody, we need to learn to make our truth about God active. 00:06:05.459 --> 00:06:11.319 So let's begin with this theme of the judgment of God. 00:06:11.859 --> 00:06:16.839 It dominates the first half, first 13 verses, and then verse 24. 00:06:17.419 --> 00:06:20.839 The central drama, of course, is Gibeon's deception of Israel. 00:06:21.479 --> 00:06:23.439 They get their ancient costumes on. 00:06:23.659 --> 00:06:26.219 They've got their moldy food in their backpacks. 00:06:26.299 --> 00:06:28.039 They've got this elaborate disguise. 00:06:28.719 --> 00:06:30.139 And it makes for a great story, doesn't it? 00:06:30.159 --> 00:06:31.959 But why do they do it? 00:06:31.959 --> 00:06:35.379 Well, we need to know something about their location. 00:06:36.259 --> 00:06:41.099 Gibeon, for example, that city is only about six miles northwest of Jerusalem. 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:41.819 So it's nearby. 00:06:42.060 --> 00:06:43.819 So it's in the promised land. 00:06:44.299 --> 00:06:49.839 And that's significant because they know that the promised land, the people in the promised land, 00:06:49.879 --> 00:06:53.919 because of their sin, they stand under God's judgment, God's judgment on Canaan. 00:06:54.019 --> 00:06:55.000 And they know it. 00:06:55.000 --> 00:06:58.939 And their response, verse 6, 00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:02.660 we have come from a distant country, make a treaty with us. 00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:04.360 They want a peace treaty. 00:07:05.620 --> 00:07:08.920 They are afraid of the judgment of God and they want to be spared. 00:07:09.899 --> 00:07:11.519 There's a striking contrast, isn't there? 00:07:11.560 --> 00:07:13.319 At the beginning, verses 1 and 2, 00:07:13.819 --> 00:07:20.240 we discover all of the kings in the area have heard about God's successes, 00:07:20.439 --> 00:07:22.439 the success of the people of God. 00:07:22.439 --> 00:07:25.199 They've got the same knowledge of God's actions. 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:29.180 But all those kings want to reject God and his plan, 00:07:29.439 --> 00:07:32.120 want to fight against God's people, but not Gibeon. 00:07:33.620 --> 00:07:34.860 Gibeon moves towards. 00:07:35.019 --> 00:07:37.000 Gibeon is much more like Rahab, 00:07:38.420 --> 00:07:42.800 recognises what God is doing and shows faith. 00:07:43.779 --> 00:07:47.740 Gibeon activates his knowledge of the true God. 00:07:47.740 --> 00:07:53.079 So we see these messengers speaking of the fame of God in verse 9. 00:07:53.980 --> 00:07:58.220 Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. 00:07:59.240 --> 00:08:06.280 For we have heard reports of him, all that he did in Egypt and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan. 00:08:06.840 --> 00:08:11.660 So the fame, the mighty acts of judgment against God's enemies are known. 00:08:11.660 --> 00:08:14.860 The salvation of God's people is known. 00:08:15.220 --> 00:08:21.860 They appreciate that God is most powerful, that the most hostile enemies cannot compare or compete with God. 00:08:21.939 --> 00:08:25.900 And so the fame of God motivates them to act. 00:08:26.040 --> 00:08:27.140 And then in verse 24, 00:08:27.139 --> 00:08:31.379 They say to Joshua, 00:08:31.500 --> 00:08:39.659 Your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:42.500 So we feared for our lives because of you. 00:08:42.759 --> 00:08:43.819 And that's why we did this. 00:08:43.819 --> 00:08:48.500 So they'd heard and they'd seen the Lord's command being worked out in the promised land. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:52.580 And so they fear the certain judgment of God. 00:08:52.939 --> 00:08:55.899 And so their response is different to the kings around them. 00:08:55.899 --> 00:08:57.379 They don't fight and they don't resist. 00:08:57.879 --> 00:09:05.220 Fear rather made them run towards God to seek peace, to avoid the penalty that was due. 00:09:06.699 --> 00:09:11.500 So on the surface, you know, the Gibeonites, they're acting a bit like our friend the gecko over here. 00:09:12.079 --> 00:09:15.639 You know, we could say, well, here's them putting on their camouflage to escape from a predator. 00:09:15.799 --> 00:09:22.439 But if we dig a little deeper, this is a confession of faith, having activated their knowledge of God. 00:09:22.440 --> 00:09:25.140 God is the powerful king and they stand under God's judgment. 00:09:25.280 --> 00:09:26.400 And so they want peace. 00:09:26.500 --> 00:09:27.480 They want salvation. 00:09:28.700 --> 00:09:37.080 The question that arises for us then is how seriously do you and I take God's judgment? 00:09:37.940 --> 00:09:39.720 It's a reality often ignored. 00:09:41.040 --> 00:09:44.840 Or if we think about it, we think, well, it's something for something distant in the future. 00:09:44.840 --> 00:09:48.920 It's for another time or it's for other people. 00:09:50.620 --> 00:10:00.480 But the Bible presents that reality that we will all stand before the judgment seat of God one day to give an account of our lives 00:10:00.480 --> 00:10:10.300 and especially to give an account of how we have responded to the offer of salvation as Jesus comes as the Savior. 00:10:11.740 --> 00:10:22.220 When we think about the judgment of God, it is always wise for us to see it as it plays out at the cross where Jesus dies. 00:10:22.220 --> 00:10:28.500 Because there we see the holy judgment of God. 00:10:29.600 --> 00:10:38.240 There at the cross, we see the seriousness of sin as Jesus goes under the just judgment of God. 00:10:38.300 --> 00:10:46.899 And he feels forsaken and abandoned by his father as he becomes the sin bearer of the world, as he becomes a curse for us. 00:10:46.899 --> 00:10:51.480 We go to the cross and we see the cost of our salvation. 00:10:52.439 --> 00:10:54.600 Our sin is no small thing. 00:10:55.720 --> 00:10:58.159 The holiness of God is no small thing. 00:10:59.199 --> 00:11:07.079 It required the blood sacrifice, the death of Jesus as our way to be forgiven and to be right with God. 00:11:09.659 --> 00:11:14.360 Have you come to Jesus to seek peace? 00:11:14.360 --> 00:11:20.139 Are you reconciled with your God this evening? 00:11:21.519 --> 00:11:25.460 Well, if not, let me urge you to follow the example of the Gibeonites. 00:11:25.860 --> 00:11:27.019 Turn from your sin. 00:11:27.740 --> 00:11:32.740 Recognize the just judgment that you stand under and turn to Jesus as Savior. 00:11:32.899 --> 00:11:35.600 Seek peace from him because he will not refuse you. 00:11:36.639 --> 00:11:38.539 If you turn to him as Lord and Savior. 00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:46.159 So the Gibeonites, they activate their knowledge of the judgment of God. 00:11:47.419 --> 00:11:55.000 Let's now think about the wisdom of God as it is ignored by Israel. 00:11:55.480 --> 00:11:56.959 Verse 14 and 15. 00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:03.040 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. 00:12:03.420 --> 00:12:06.280 Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live. 00:12:06.320 --> 00:12:07.420 So what's going on here? 00:12:08.060 --> 00:12:11.280 Here is Joshua and the leaders in Israel using common sense. 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:15.160 What they think is common sense at the expense of seeking God's wisdom. 00:12:15.580 --> 00:12:20.240 Common sense without God's wisdom is no sense at all as they discover. 00:12:20.240 --> 00:12:23.620 Joshua thinks there is no threat. 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:25.360 The leaders think there's no threat here. 00:12:25.919 --> 00:12:29.259 So they don't recognize they need God's help and God's wisdom. 00:12:29.519 --> 00:12:32.500 It's the I've got this mentality. 00:12:33.060 --> 00:12:38.159 I wonder does that sound familiar to you as often it does to me. 00:12:38.560 --> 00:12:41.620 So let's remember God had clearly given a command. 00:12:41.740 --> 00:12:43.320 Gibeon has remembered. 00:12:43.960 --> 00:12:47.200 God had given the command destroy the nations in the promised land. 00:12:47.200 --> 00:12:51.640 Because they were a threat to the people of God because of their sinful practices. 00:12:52.180 --> 00:12:53.720 Because of their idolatry. 00:12:54.080 --> 00:12:55.560 They would pull the people away from God. 00:12:55.600 --> 00:12:56.420 So this is a big deal. 00:12:56.480 --> 00:12:57.879 There's no small thing. 00:12:59.120 --> 00:13:02.240 But what happens is Joshua and the leaders, they look at the food. 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:04.060 Look at the clothes. 00:13:04.340 --> 00:13:05.640 Well, it looks old and moldy. 00:13:06.280 --> 00:13:06.840 They're no threat. 00:13:06.900 --> 00:13:07.740 Let's make peace. 00:13:08.400 --> 00:13:09.700 They're fooled into thinking. 00:13:09.860 --> 00:13:10.860 They're distant travelers. 00:13:10.980 --> 00:13:11.680 There's no problem. 00:13:11.800 --> 00:13:13.300 So they don't consult with God. 00:13:13.300 --> 00:13:16.500 They don't pray for the wisdom he provides. 00:13:17.740 --> 00:13:20.360 Remember at the beginning we read from James chapter 1. 00:13:20.460 --> 00:13:22.160 God loves to give wisdom. 00:13:23.120 --> 00:13:26.960 But we need to ask to express our dependence. 00:13:27.180 --> 00:13:29.840 And we need to trust that he will supply that wisdom. 00:13:30.300 --> 00:13:33.100 And we see Joshua and the leaders fail in that. 00:13:34.400 --> 00:13:36.759 And Israel then becomes for us a warning sign. 00:13:36.759 --> 00:13:44.679 Not to be tempted to rely on our own wisdom when everything seems to be sort of flat cam and plain sailing. 00:13:44.779 --> 00:13:45.620 When there's no crisis. 00:13:46.899 --> 00:13:51.220 God's design is that we always live conscious of him. 00:13:51.600 --> 00:13:53.740 That we are always dependent on him. 00:13:54.319 --> 00:13:57.939 As God's children, we never outgrow our need of him. 00:13:58.319 --> 00:14:00.460 Yeah, it's unlike in our own families. 00:14:00.460 --> 00:14:03.580 We want to train up our children towards independence. 00:14:03.720 --> 00:14:06.120 So that they can stand on their own two feet. 00:14:06.879 --> 00:14:11.200 God wants us to remain completely dependent on him. 00:14:12.120 --> 00:14:15.780 Knowing his help and grace and strength and presence every day. 00:14:15.779 --> 00:14:23.120 And so it teaches us that you and I are too busy not to pray. 00:14:23.819 --> 00:14:27.120 To borrow from Bill Hybel's helpful book title. 00:14:27.120 --> 00:14:30.460 And maybe you've heard it said of Martin Luther. 00:14:30.899 --> 00:14:32.259 As he put it in his own words. 00:14:32.379 --> 00:14:37.980 I have so much to do that I shall spend the first three hours in prayer. 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:48.440 A recognition that my to-do list and your to-do list isn't a moment for us to roll our sleeves up. 00:14:48.639 --> 00:14:51.840 And to redouble our efforts and just to grind it out. 00:14:51.840 --> 00:15:05.259 But rather, as we recognise our dependence, that we would turn to God in prayer to commit our to-do list, our day to him and to seek his wisdom. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:13.080 So Israel, we're asking the right questions about these men to find out where they're from. 00:15:13.740 --> 00:15:16.540 But they didn't enquire of the Lord. 00:15:16.539 --> 00:15:21.839 It's a challenge to humble ourselves. 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:25.179 To not rely on our own wisdom. 00:15:25.939 --> 00:15:26.819 Our own initiative. 00:15:27.559 --> 00:15:28.779 Our own past experience. 00:15:28.919 --> 00:15:30.579 Our past successes. 00:15:32.939 --> 00:15:38.879 Think about how you typically go about life in your family. 00:15:39.500 --> 00:15:40.519 Maybe parenting. 00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:43.799 How do you approach your day to day work? 00:15:43.799 --> 00:15:48.299 What about if you have responsibility in church life? 00:15:49.259 --> 00:15:51.579 As you face decisions. 00:15:52.519 --> 00:16:06.259 Will you typically take time before that moment, before that conversation, before that decision to pray, to read, to seek wisdom, to humble yourself? 00:16:06.259 --> 00:16:14.259 By a negative example, Israel is teaching us to activate what we know of the wisdom of God. 00:16:14.480 --> 00:16:16.480 Think about Proverbs 3, verse 5 and 6. 00:16:16.559 --> 00:16:20.759 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. 00:16:20.879 --> 00:16:24.720 In all your ways acknowledge him and he will direct your path. 00:16:24.779 --> 00:16:29.299 That's the wisdom we need to activate in our lives. 00:16:29.480 --> 00:16:32.240 To draw on the wisdom of God. 00:16:32.240 --> 00:16:41.539 The next thing, and this is where Israel does get it right, is when it comes to the honour of God. 00:16:41.620 --> 00:16:43.159 This is verse 16 to 21. 00:16:43.299 --> 00:16:48.460 As they begin to deal with sort of the situation now that they've made the peace treaty. 00:16:49.600 --> 00:16:52.100 Dale Ralph Davis has got a very helpful book on Joshua. 00:16:52.100 --> 00:17:02.259 He says we must glorify and magnify the grace of God in our messes. 00:17:03.080 --> 00:17:06.700 And here is a mess of Israel's own making. 00:17:07.200 --> 00:17:11.779 Here is a foolish lack of wisdom and now they're dealing with the consequences. 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:15.639 And in that moment, they are not to make things worse. 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:22.920 Rather, they must resolve to act in accordance with God's will and God's word from that moment on. 00:17:23.299 --> 00:17:29.500 So verse 16 tells us that three days later, after they made the treaty, 00:17:30.119 --> 00:17:33.339 the Israelites heard that the Gibeonites were neighbours living near them. 00:17:33.339 --> 00:17:38.959 So what happened is Israel, the army marches on Gibeon. 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:48.059 But, verse 18, the Israelites did not attack them because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. 00:17:48.500 --> 00:17:51.579 And that oath, the leaders say, must be honoured. 00:17:51.699 --> 00:17:56.379 It was foolish, but it must be honoured because it was an oath before God. 00:17:56.380 --> 00:18:03.840 And what we see is that the people, the whole assembly, they grumble against the leaders, against their foolish leaders. 00:18:04.020 --> 00:18:07.040 But, verses 19 to 21, all the leaders answered, 00:18:07.600 --> 00:18:11.820 We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 00:18:12.180 --> 00:18:13.980 This oath must be kept. 00:18:14.500 --> 00:18:19.100 Otherwise, verse 20, 00:18:19.960 --> 00:18:24.220 Otherwise, God's wrath would follow them for breaking their oath. 00:18:24.220 --> 00:18:26.279 So, what's happening? 00:18:27.319 --> 00:18:31.640 Israel is now living faithfully in the mess that they had made. 00:18:32.100 --> 00:18:38.079 They didn't think about the wisdom of God, but they do think about the honour of God. 00:18:38.240 --> 00:18:42.000 And that shapes their response to the mess that they made. 00:18:42.079 --> 00:18:43.620 So what truth have they activated? 00:18:44.860 --> 00:18:50.240 The reality that God's honour matters more than their national pride. 00:18:50.240 --> 00:18:55.279 They must obey now while they live with the result of their foolishness. 00:18:55.460 --> 00:19:00.700 This is not the time for them to try and save face or to attack, to break the oath. 00:19:01.380 --> 00:19:06.019 No, they must honour that oath because they want to honour the Lord. 00:19:06.519 --> 00:19:11.400 Again, Dale Ralph Davis, he tells a story from his family. 00:19:11.400 --> 00:19:24.259 One of his sons who, I think in primary school, placed a bet of $3 with another classmate on a particular baseball match. 00:19:24.620 --> 00:19:26.420 And the team lost. 00:19:26.540 --> 00:19:28.920 And so he had lost the bet. 00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:35.259 Now, Ralph Davis appreciates that gambling is wrong, that it is folly. 00:19:35.259 --> 00:19:40.879 But he made his son honour that day. 00:19:42.480 --> 00:19:54.579 Because of this principle, that we are to be obedient in the middle of our folly and mistakes and bad judgment. 00:19:55.460 --> 00:19:59.220 That we don't keep going down the same road that leads us away from God. 00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:05.360 Rather, we resolve to put things right and live God's way, regardless of circumstances. 00:20:05.579 --> 00:20:08.980 God's desire is that we would confess our sin and our folly. 00:20:09.319 --> 00:20:15.220 And from that moment on, resolve to honour, to obey, even as life might be a total mess. 00:20:17.500 --> 00:20:20.500 And in moments like that, we need to activate gospel truth. 00:20:22.319 --> 00:20:26.380 Think about Jesus, the true, the greater Joshua. 00:20:27.019 --> 00:20:28.519 What do we know about Jesus? 00:20:28.519 --> 00:20:32.200 Jesus always lived for the Father's glory. 00:20:32.639 --> 00:20:34.900 Always lived for the Father's honour. 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:37.339 Never engaged in folly. 00:20:37.779 --> 00:20:39.059 Never led into sin. 00:20:39.680 --> 00:20:42.139 Always living by the wisdom of God. 00:20:43.500 --> 00:20:51.379 And we know that Jesus went to the cross for us in what's often known as the great exchange. 00:20:52.160 --> 00:20:57.480 Jesus on the cross takes our punishment for our lack of wisdom. 00:20:57.480 --> 00:21:00.220 For our dishonouring of God. 00:21:00.220 --> 00:21:02.779 For our folly and our sin. 00:21:03.599 --> 00:21:10.720 He takes our sin and he gives us his perfect record of righteousness. 00:21:10.960 --> 00:21:11.980 Always honouring. 00:21:12.620 --> 00:21:13.599 Always obeying. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:19.419 And so when God looks at us as we are trusting in Christ. 00:21:19.659 --> 00:21:26.779 God can and God does gladly accept us as he sees us in Christ. 00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:31.319 And so there is hope and there is good news for us. 00:21:31.319 --> 00:21:36.460 So maybe we find ourselves like Israel. 00:21:37.099 --> 00:21:40.019 Having to deal with the mess of our own making. 00:21:40.019 --> 00:21:43.759 Turn to Jesus. 00:21:43.759 --> 00:21:43.799 Turn to Jesus. 00:21:44.799 --> 00:21:46.420 Confess your sin. 00:21:47.139 --> 00:21:50.779 And with his help honour God today. 00:21:51.720 --> 00:21:53.099 Whatever that looks like. 00:21:53.759 --> 00:21:59.019 Remembering that in Jesus your sins have been forgiven. 00:21:59.019 --> 00:22:05.139 That in Christ our mistakes don't write us off. 00:22:05.680 --> 00:22:07.859 That there is grace for us. 00:22:08.139 --> 00:22:12.680 And that's the last thing that we are going to see in our story. 00:22:12.799 --> 00:22:18.759 This last great truth that needs to be activated is the grace of God. 00:22:19.720 --> 00:22:20.900 Verse 22 to the end. 00:22:20.900 --> 00:22:23.440 I love how this story ends up. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:30.580 These Gibeonite geckos become part of God's worshipping people. 00:22:31.540 --> 00:22:33.160 So remember Israel has marched. 00:22:33.280 --> 00:22:35.040 The leaders have said no we can't attack. 00:22:35.140 --> 00:22:35.960 We must keep the oath. 00:22:36.019 --> 00:22:37.180 But then there's a confrontation. 00:22:37.480 --> 00:22:40.740 Joshua verse 22 summon the Gibeonites out. 00:22:41.940 --> 00:22:43.460 And say why did you deceive us? 00:22:44.480 --> 00:22:46.680 You are now under a curse. 00:22:47.660 --> 00:22:48.519 There's the verdict. 00:22:48.640 --> 00:22:50.660 They are under God's curse. 00:22:50.660 --> 00:22:53.960 That was remember God's verdict on Canaan. 00:22:54.360 --> 00:22:57.100 That is their just deserts. 00:22:57.400 --> 00:23:00.759 But Gibeon. 00:23:01.080 --> 00:23:03.759 They're activating again their knowledge of God. 00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:06.300 And they're going to appeal for mercy. 00:23:08.660 --> 00:23:09.960 Verse 25. 00:23:10.200 --> 00:23:12.220 We are now in your hands. 00:23:12.960 --> 00:23:16.580 Do to us whatever seems good and right to you. 00:23:16.660 --> 00:23:18.340 They appeal to the people of God. 00:23:18.339 --> 00:23:21.799 Ultimately they're appealing to Israel's God. 00:23:22.000 --> 00:23:29.059 And the outcome is the one time in the book where we read verse 26. 00:23:29.319 --> 00:23:31.379 Joshua saved them. 00:23:32.759 --> 00:23:38.220 Joshua, God's leader, shows them God's grace. 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:39.220 Joshua saves them. 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:48.500 And so, you know, the story begins where they're terrified for their lives and they're dressed up trying to fool the people of God. 00:23:48.500 --> 00:23:50.500 Joshua saves them. 00:23:50.500 --> 00:23:51.500 Joshua saves them. 00:23:51.500 --> 00:23:53.180 And the story ends. 00:23:53.400 --> 00:23:54.539 Not with them being rejected. 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:56.440 Not with them being destroyed. 00:23:56.759 --> 00:24:09.200 But that day he made the Gibeonite woodcutters and water carriers for the assembly to provide for the needs of the altar of the Lord at the place the Lord would choose. 00:24:09.200 --> 00:24:11.000 And that's what they are to this day. 00:24:12.200 --> 00:24:12.960 Where are they? 00:24:14.340 --> 00:24:15.740 They're serving the altar. 00:24:16.580 --> 00:24:18.740 They're part of the worshipping community. 00:24:19.240 --> 00:24:22.580 They become servants of the living God. 00:24:23.319 --> 00:24:27.660 For Gibeon, the curse is reversed. 00:24:27.660 --> 00:24:30.180 They don't receive judgment. 00:24:30.279 --> 00:24:36.240 Instead, they receive blessing at the hands of Joshua, God's chosen leader. 00:24:36.580 --> 00:24:40.120 And doesn't this take us to the very heart of the gospel? 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:49.980 You and I, when we stop to reflect for even a moment, we know that we are sinful. 00:24:49.980 --> 00:24:53.220 We know that we have not loved God perfectly. 00:24:53.640 --> 00:24:55.759 That we have not loved others perfectly. 00:24:56.279 --> 00:24:59.019 That we have broken God's commands. 00:24:59.559 --> 00:25:04.720 That we are guilty of making created things more valuable to us than God is. 00:25:05.519 --> 00:25:10.980 In our thoughts, our words and our actions, we are sinners against a holy God. 00:25:10.980 --> 00:25:17.319 And as a result, we stand under the curse of God. 00:25:17.960 --> 00:25:23.299 Deserving to be separated from God and all that is good forever. 00:25:24.460 --> 00:25:29.120 Deserving the judgment of hell because of our disobedience. 00:25:29.960 --> 00:25:31.079 That's what we deserve. 00:25:31.779 --> 00:25:36.539 But what we have is the God of grace who in love sends his son Jesus. 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:40.819 And Jesus in love goes to the cross and goes under the curse. 00:25:40.899 --> 00:25:43.619 He becomes a curse for us. 00:25:44.740 --> 00:25:49.839 So that the love of God and the grace of God might be poured out on people like us. 00:25:50.619 --> 00:25:53.500 Natural born enemies against God. 00:25:54.180 --> 00:25:56.839 Outsiders from God's kingdom. 00:25:57.680 --> 00:26:02.920 That we can be brought in and brought near and brought to enjoy God's love. 00:26:02.920 --> 00:26:06.539 To enjoy being the people of God. 00:26:07.019 --> 00:26:11.720 So the truth of the gospel is a truth that must be activated in our lives. 00:26:11.880 --> 00:26:13.380 Here is our source of joy. 00:26:14.060 --> 00:26:16.680 It's our amazing grace that God shows to us. 00:26:16.940 --> 00:26:19.180 Here is the source of our true identity. 00:26:20.000 --> 00:26:21.620 That yes, by nature we are rebels. 00:26:21.740 --> 00:26:23.759 But by God's grace we are worshippers. 00:26:23.759 --> 00:26:27.680 So let me say once again. 00:26:28.640 --> 00:26:30.660 As the people of God to the church. 00:26:31.039 --> 00:26:34.339 We must activate our knowledge of God. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:36.119 You know whether my phone. 00:26:36.440 --> 00:26:38.480 Whether my devices are activated. 00:26:38.640 --> 00:26:40.980 It determines what real value it brings. 00:26:42.140 --> 00:26:44.740 A phone that's not activated is just a brick. 00:26:46.079 --> 00:26:49.420 Likewise our faith has real value to us. 00:26:49.539 --> 00:26:52.960 When we put what we know about God to work in our lives. 00:26:52.960 --> 00:27:03.480 So that we allow God's word and God's promises and God's character to come to bear on the circumstances of our Monday to Friday. 00:27:06.160 --> 00:27:09.200 Maybe today you're feeling weary. 00:27:10.240 --> 00:27:11.299 Feeling discouraged. 00:27:12.460 --> 00:27:14.259 Feeling anxious and uncertain. 00:27:14.259 --> 00:27:19.660 You and I, we need to activate our faith. 00:27:20.480 --> 00:27:23.460 To understand the truths of God's powerful care. 00:27:23.539 --> 00:27:24.799 Of his love and grace. 00:27:24.859 --> 00:27:26.759 Of the wisdom and help he provides. 00:27:27.059 --> 00:27:29.680 Of the intimacy that we enjoy through prayer. 00:27:30.559 --> 00:27:35.180 So let Joshua 9 encourage you to lean into God. 00:27:35.559 --> 00:27:38.000 And lean into God's word. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:47.160 Misal Goblins and Zoe. 00:27:48.440 --> 00:27:51.160 ümü C�.com 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:53.359 I think folded each one in God's words and I can express you to many and God. 00:27:54.559 --> 00:27:56.000 Either way or hold you into, then there's time to watch. 00:27:56.440 --> 00:27:57.359 Samerifнм eval Laf.com 00:27:57.359 --> 00:27:59.119 I think so. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:01.559 I think that's how it is. 00:28:01.779 --> 00:28:02.740 I're having to memorize you. 00:28:02.740 --> 00:28:04.200 Because Mama 1000 is flowing through prayer.