Crafty Enemies

When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they acted deceptively. They gathered provisions and took worn-out sacks on their donkeys and old wine skins, cracked and mended. They wore old, patched sandals on their feet and threadbare clothing on their bodies. Their entire provision of bread was dry and crumbly. They went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "we have come from a distant land. Please make a treaty with us?"

Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the Lord's counsel. So Joshua established a peace treaty with them and let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them. Joshua 9:3-5;13,15

The men from Gilgal would probably be praised by Christ, he actually praised a similar character in a story He told about a man who had been caught doing wrong by his master who went out to his masters debtors and had them write down their debt to a lesser amount so as to make friends with them. Jesus said that the men of this world are wiser than the children of the Kingdom.

Joshua is caught by the cleverness of the deceivers who were trying to stay alive and managed to do so as servants. Yes he should have sought the Lord's counsel but I can guarantee we will be caught at times of business by clever individuals. Rather than beat ourselves up we can learn from it. What does God want us to learn from our mistakes? What is He saying rather than the voice of condemnation? Repentance is wonderful and He is more than willing to give it. Amen!