YOUTH STS LESSON 160 DECEPTION OF THE GIBEONITES

TEXT: Joshua 9:1-27.

MEMORY VERSE: “And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us” (Joshua 9:6).

The mighty power of God had caused fear, sorrow and unrest to the inhabitants of Canaan. Sihon and Og had earlier tried to withstand the advancement of Israel into the Promised Land but Jehova-nissi (The Lord my Banner – Exodus 17:15) could not be stopped. Both kings were eventually destroyed for fighting against God and His people (Joshua 9:1, 2).

Question 1: Was there any provision made by God for the salvation of the inhabitants of Canaan?

“When thou comest nigh unto a city to fight against it, then proclaim peace unto it. And it shall be, if it make thee answer of peace, and open unto thee, then it shall be, that all the people that is found therein shall be tributaries unto thee, and they shall serve thee” (Deuteronomy 20:10,11). God is merciful! He does not delight in the destruction of the wicked and has made provision of escape for any nation that would embrace peace from the Israelites. The Gibeonites deceitfully sought for peace with Israel and refused to join the rest of the inhabitants to fight against God. Youths should not be deceptive to have peace. God has made provision for us to have peace with Our enemies.

THE GIBEONITES REQUEST PEACE BY DECEIT (Joshua 9:1-13; 2 Samuel 3:26,27; Isaiah 44:20; Deuteronomy 2010 12: Proverbs 1:10-15)

The Gibeonites were the first and only inhabitant of Canaan that sought for peace from the children of Israel, though it was done by deception. They were ignorant of God’s command to Israel to first seek the peace of the land they intended to fight. If such embraced peace, they were to spare and make slaves of such surrendered nation. That means, if they had not put up a deception, Israel could still have made peace with them.

Question 2: Was it right that the Gibeonites lied to make Israel enter a league of peace with them?

It was not good that the Gibeonites deceived Israel by saying, “We be come from far country: now therefore make ye a league with us” (Joshua 9:6). Christian youths are not permitted to tell lies in any occasion to obtain favour. “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and ali liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone:
which is the second death” (Revelation 21:8). The Gibeonites were not born-again. Sinners in the world manipulate their ways to get what they want. This should not be a trait of heaven-bound believers. The Gibeonites, for fear of death, decided to deceive. Similar trait is exhibited by sinning and backslidden youths today.

Question 3: What are some of the things sinning and backslidden youths do today instead of repenting?

The Gibeonites adopted this method to escape sudden death. Sinners, instead of heeding God’s message preached to them, develop hatred for the preacher. Sometimes, they adopt withdrawal method and stop coming to fellowship. There are youths who form wayward and rebellious groups in the church today and cause lots of problems to their leaders. Others, instead of repenting, engage in religious activities such as singing in the choir, giving of alms, regular attendance in church, etc. forgetting that only genuine repentance can make them to escape judgment.

The kingdom of God is open to all and “the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (Revelation 22:17). No matter the weight of the sin committed by sinning youths and backsliders, if they seek God through prayer of repentance, they will obtain mercy.”

THE GIBEONITES RECEIVE PEACE AS DESIRED (Joshua 9:14 21; Genesis 26:26-31; 1 Kings 5:12; Isaiah 48:22, Psalm 119:165)

“And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation swore unto them. And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors, and that they dwelt among them” (Joshua 9:14-16). The Gibeonites’ strategy worked for them. Joshua did not seek counsel from God. The elders also did not ask God if they should enter into a league with them before they did. Many youths take decisions daily without asking direction from God.

Some youths grumble when asked to pray for divine direction in the area of choosing a career, life partner and so on. They feel it is unnecessary to do so. These youths should know that God is all- knowing and all-wise. He does not make mistakes. To avoid being deceived by yourself and others, lean on Him.

Question 4: What are the implications of this league made with the Gibeonites?

The peace accord made with them was with an oath. This means that they could not destroy them in all their generations. Years later, King Saul flouted this oath. God was angry with the whole nation for the act. He allowed famine to breakout in Israel. When King David prayed, “the LORD answered, It is for Saul, and for his bloody house, because he slew the Gibeonites” (2 Samuel 21:1). Saul’s house was punished for this: seven of his sons were hanged thereafter (verse 9).

The Scripture, however, enjoins youths in this New Testament dispensation not to swear an oath or enter into any covenant with any group of people (James 5:12). They are only allowed by Scripture to enter into Covenant with God. Had Israel known that they were their close neighbours, they would not have gone into such league. At a time of weakness, they could be a torn in the flesh to Israel. To the believing boys and girls, allowing anyone to deceive them in worship is damnable.

It leads to making shipwreck of one’s faith and eventual eternal damnation in hell. If allowed in the area of marriage, such home will not experience the peace of God. It could also lead to divorce or separation in marriage and such person will miss the joy, fellowship and pleasures that marriage brings.

THE GIBEONITES REPROVE“ AFTER OBTAINING PEACE BY DECEPTION (Joshua 9:22-27; Job 11:20; 31:3; Proverbs 11:21; 1 Timothy 5:24)

Question 5: What were the consequences of the deception of the Gibeonites?

The relief of the Gibeonites was a temporary one. The Israelites discovered after three days that the
Gibeonites were close neighbours. Joshua, after reproving them, placed them under servitude. This is always the outcome of deception: it leads to a breach of trust when discovered. Joshua made them know what would befall them. “Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God” (Joshua 9:23).

They tried explaining, but their explanation would not remove the curse from them. “And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing” (Joshua 9:24). Many sinning youths give excuses for their indulgences, but none of the reasons they give is acceptable before God.

The Scripture says, “Though hand join in hand, the wicked shall not be unpunished: but the seed of the righteous shall be delivered” (Proverbs 11:21). Just as the Gibeonites did not know that Israel would soon discover that they were deceivers, some hypocritical youths in the church do not realise that “Some men’s sins are open beforehand, going before to judgment; and some men they follow after” (1 Timothy 5:24). They do a lot of cover up. Of course, they are deceiving themselves. God cannot be deceived. The Bible says, “For there is nothing hid, which shall not be manifested; neither was any thing kept secret, but that it should come abroad” (Mark 4:22).

Question 6: What is the only remedy available today for sinning and backslidden youths to escape the wrath of God?

To the sinning and backslidden boys and girls, there is one option left for them. That is, repentance. Repentance means you consider yourself a sinner, confess all your sins which you are covering up to Jesus, forsake them and accept Him as your Lord and Saviour. He only can give you the power to go and sin no more.