DECEIVED BECAUSE THEY DID NOT PRAY FIRST

PROCLAMATION

“And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying ‘Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, ‘We are very far from you;’ when ye dwell among us?’ ”  Joshua 9:22 (KJV)

 

“Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said, ‘Why did you deceive us by saying, ‘We live a long way from you;’ while actually you live near us?’ ”  Joshua 9:22 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These are the words of God which were revealed to and written by Joshua under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God.  After Joshua and the Israelites defeated Jericho and Ai, the kings in the surrounding areas heard what had happened and united to war against Joshua and Israel. (Joshua 9:1-2)  However, when the Gibeonites heard what had happened to Jericho and Ai, they decided to use deception to protect themselves.  They put on old clothes, packed their donkeys with worn out sacks, and filled their food sacks with dry moldy bread, then they went to the Israelite camp at Gilgal and said that they were from a far away land and wanted to make a treaty with them. (Joshua 9:3-6)  Joshua and the Israelites questioned them and sampled their provisions, but they did not inquire of The Lord and made a treaty with them. (Joshua 9:7-15)  Three days later, when the Israelites attacked the surrounding cities, they found out that the Gibeonites were their neighbors.  They did not attack the Gibeonites because they had sworn an oath and made a treaty with them but the Israelites were upset with their leaders for making a treaty with the enemy. (Joshua 9:16-19)  When the Israelites questioned the Gibeonites, they admitted what they had done and told them why they did it.  The Israelites did not kill them but made them servants, wood cutters and water carriers, for the nation of Israel. (Joshua 9:20-27)

 

APPLICATION

The Bible teaches us that we ought to always pray. (Luke 18:1 and 21:36)  In all things, before we act, or speak, or make decisions, we ought to pray.  We would not make so many bad decisions, or get in so much trouble, if we would just pray beforehand and ask The Lord God for guidance and direction.  In everything, before we do anything, pray first.