Church of the Nazarene East Rockingham Campus
Joshua: Part 6 East Rock
Joshua: Part 6 "Scammed"
Locations & Times
Church of The Nazarene- East Rock
East Side Hwy, Elkton, VA 22827, USA
Sunday 9:00 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
We are continuing in Part 6 of our teaching series through the book of Joshua.
Within the story of Joshua we read of the people of God encountering real obstacles to living out their faith in the Lord. Flooded rivers, fortified cities, and giant armies. real things that would cause any normal person to fear.
But what we see is that in the face of these challenges, is the power of God’s presence and his continued faithfulness to his people. That’s the story of Joshua, and that’s our story today.
Real challenges met with the real and true faithfulness of God.
Today we are in Joshua chapter 9 looking at the story of the Gibeonite deception.
Within the story of Joshua we read of the people of God encountering real obstacles to living out their faith in the Lord. Flooded rivers, fortified cities, and giant armies. real things that would cause any normal person to fear.
But what we see is that in the face of these challenges, is the power of God’s presence and his continued faithfulness to his people. That’s the story of Joshua, and that’s our story today.
Real challenges met with the real and true faithfulness of God.
Today we are in Joshua chapter 9 looking at the story of the Gibeonite deception.
On the heels of the massive destruction of the city of AI, the news about of the Israelites is making its way around to the other cities.
They hear of the power and might of the army and how God is fighting for them and they are terrified. Unsure how defend themselves, several neighboring cities decide to join forces and fight Israel together.
But the Gibeonites different approach, they are going to try to trick the Israelites into allowing them to live.
They gather up old worn-out clothing and sandals, old worn-out wine containers, and moldy bread and they take off pretending to be from a distant land.
They hear of the power and might of the army and how God is fighting for them and they are terrified. Unsure how defend themselves, several neighboring cities decide to join forces and fight Israel together.
But the Gibeonites different approach, they are going to try to trick the Israelites into allowing them to live.
They gather up old worn-out clothing and sandals, old worn-out wine containers, and moldy bread and they take off pretending to be from a distant land.
Something must have seemed fishy about this whole thing or they are remembering that God has specifically told them NOT to enter into treaties with other nations. Either way, Israel questions the supposed weary travelers.
At Joshua’s questioning the Gibeonites recite their story and they are careful to highlight all the things that should indicate they were from a distant place. They also say that they have come because they heard about all the Lord had done for his people delivering them from Egypt and giving them victory over the kings in the wilderness.
If you remember back to the story of Rahab and Jericho- she sited very similar reasons for her actions.
This whole story has been building up to this moment. The cards are on the table, the trap is set.
If you remember back to the story of Rahab and Jericho- she sited very similar reasons for her actions.
This whole story has been building up to this moment. The cards are on the table, the trap is set.
They looked over the evidence that was before them. They saw the molded bread, the looked at the old wineskins. They could see their clothes were worn out. The did the best they could do, it seemed good enough, so they did it.
They trusted their own ability, they trusted their own discernment, and in their own strength, they were deceived into breaking the command of God.
They did not seek the Lord.
The truth of the matter comes out a few days later. They learn that these ambassadors who were supposed to be from a far country are really from a town about 25 miles away.
They trusted their own ability, they trusted their own discernment, and in their own strength, they were deceived into breaking the command of God.
They did not seek the Lord.
The truth of the matter comes out a few days later. They learn that these ambassadors who were supposed to be from a far country are really from a town about 25 miles away.
With their future secured by the oath, they are free to come clean about their motives and actions. What is revealed is that they had faith that the Lord was going to do what he had promised.
They believed what they heard about him, and they took action. They responded in trying to save themselves by joining the people of God. And it worked.
God had mercy on the Gibeonites because they were responding to him in faith. They would have a long history among the poeple of God.
Even though they did it imperfectly, they lied, they cheated their way in, God did not turn his back on them.
But God’s mercy was present despite human failures on BOTH sides of the story. And friends, that speaks a lot about the Mercy of God that is available to us today.
So often we try to bargain with God, scheme our way into getting him to do what we want.
"Lord if you will get me out of this one, I promise ill never drink again."
"Lord, if you will save this relationship, I promise ill start reading my bible."
"Lord, if you get me out of this mess, I swear ill start living right."
Like the Gibeonites, We find ourselves in the midst of our own difficult circumstances, and we begin to bargain with God about how to get out.
But what if we just came to him in honesty and humility?
If God was willing to have mercy on the Gibeonites and give them a bright future- even to fight for them against their enemies- don’t you think he would do the same for you if you just came to him today and were honest with him?
So today, let's stop the bargaining, stop the scheming, and come to the Lord in honesty and humility, allowing him to transform our future!
They believed what they heard about him, and they took action. They responded in trying to save themselves by joining the people of God. And it worked.
God had mercy on the Gibeonites because they were responding to him in faith. They would have a long history among the poeple of God.
Even though they did it imperfectly, they lied, they cheated their way in, God did not turn his back on them.
But God’s mercy was present despite human failures on BOTH sides of the story. And friends, that speaks a lot about the Mercy of God that is available to us today.
So often we try to bargain with God, scheme our way into getting him to do what we want.
"Lord if you will get me out of this one, I promise ill never drink again."
"Lord, if you will save this relationship, I promise ill start reading my bible."
"Lord, if you get me out of this mess, I swear ill start living right."
Like the Gibeonites, We find ourselves in the midst of our own difficult circumstances, and we begin to bargain with God about how to get out.
But what if we just came to him in honesty and humility?
If God was willing to have mercy on the Gibeonites and give them a bright future- even to fight for them against their enemies- don’t you think he would do the same for you if you just came to him today and were honest with him?
So today, let's stop the bargaining, stop the scheming, and come to the Lord in honesty and humility, allowing him to transform our future!