Deception

Joshua Chapters 8 – 9

- The people of Ai had a victory and a chance to leave the country or maybe a surprise attack while Joshua and the Elders of Israel were sorting out their defeat. Israel was burying and mourning their dead and trying to figure out why GOD was absent in their situation.

- Ai’s response to their reprieve from judgement was like the people of Jericho, they did absolutely nothing.

- After everything gets straighten out with Achan, GOD is very specific in the conquest of Ai and Joshua is guided every step of the way. All the fighting men are to participate in the battle. The ambush plans of the men that were sent out by night, the 30,0000 can also be translated 30 captains of thousands, Mighty men, Joshua’s seasoned warriors. This makes more sense then trying to hide a group that large for ambush. GOD lays out the whole plan every step of the way.

- After the victory it records that they built an alter on Mount Ebal an offered burnt offerings and peace offerings to the LORD. Joshua then wrote a copy of the Law of Moses on the stones. Interesting, maybe he had helped Moses in recording the events of the wilderness journey? It says he blessed the people and read to them all the words written in the Book of the Law as Moses had commanded. The whole assembly was there, Men, woman, children, and foreigners (like Egyptians, Rehab, and family/friends) they all listened. As I am sure you can imagine this was not a quick stop either, which gives the people of Gibeon even more time.

- The people of Ai had gained a reprieve because of the actions of Achan. In first part of chapter nine it says when all the Kings beyond the Jordan heard about what happened they joined forces to assemble and attack Joshua and Israel. Instead of fleeing they chose to stay and fight. When the Gibeon’s heard about what happened, they opted for a plan of deception.

- Yet again we see that these people have a chance to get away, to “get out of dodge”, but they choose to stay and except servitude. I must admit that logic further boggles my mind. The enemy however is crafty, and the people of the land would eventually prove to be a snare to Israel just like GOD had warned them.

- Other interesting points apparently Joshua and the Elders had not heeded the previous lesson of letting their eyes and logic dictate their actions. Ai was seen as small and insignificant and should have been taken easily and by all the evidence they were shown, the Gibeon’s appeared to be people from a distant country. So again, they failed to consult with GOD on the matter.

- I’m also guilty of this in my own life, sometimes my eyes and logic fail me too, when my first thought should be go to GOD because his ways and thoughts are above all. Isaiah 55: 7-9 

- The people of Gibeon knew they were coming because someone told them, look again at what they tell Joshua when he asks, why the deception? They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. Joshua 9:24

- Not only did they know, but they have known for a while because they mention Moses and what GOD had commanded him.

- The Gibeon’s chose that day to become slaves to Israel, this was not GOD’s plan for Israel or Gibeon, they had entered into this agreement apart from GOD and just like what happened in the Garden, they reap the fallout of acting as God in the decision.

Next – “Don’t Let The Sun Go Down On Me”, a song?