| Lesson 38: The Law Of The Old That Is Covered In The New Testament: The Covenant With The Enemy 3/1/2014 by turtle Joshua 9:1-27 KJV (1) And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; (2) That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. (3) And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, (4) They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; (5) And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. (6) 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. (7) And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? (8) And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? (9) And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, (10) And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. (11) Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. (12) This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: (13) And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. (14) And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. (15) And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. (16) 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 neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. (17) And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. (18) And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. (19) But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. (20) This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. (21) And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. (22) 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? (23) 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. (24) 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. (25) And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. (26) And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. (27) And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose. Why were there people of many faiths living among Israel. Some believed God was territorial and others heart the stories of God and feared Him and believed in Him, but were still seeped in Idolatry. If God’s people had wanted to rid the land of Idolaters they would never made an alliance with them, this would be their downfall. Yet one can not expect someone of another faith be so readily to give up their beliefs for God of the Bible, that would almost be a process, whether instant, or over time. The city of Ashtaroth and surrounding areas worship the Canaanite goddess of love. Yet this god of the Gibonites Israel in time and would sacrifice their children on the altars of this false deity. Joshua mistake was allowing them to serve in the temple of God as mere slaves or servants to Israel temple. There never anything wrong with allowing others to know of your faith, or allowing them to come and worship your God with you. However to give them place of Servanthood in your temple is a stupid move. To be followers of Christ is to be humble, but to be true followers and servants of God one must lay aside false gods, teachers and ministers without power in following not man, but God alone. Gibeonites/ Amorites/ Canaanites were cut down by Moses through out history for the worship of Baal, and Ashtaroth. This war between Israel and Amorites had long been established since that day and time, yet it was at the time of Abraham that these people were peaceful with Israel and had allowed Israel to live among them because of the fear of God. Today in America believers in Christ live among the heathens. Heathens who wish to worship their God and continue in service to other gods. In our land there is a freedom of religion. A freedom to worship and bow to whoever you want. Some groups more tolerant then others. Yet in truth God as said their shalt not be any gods before me. God is to be supreme ruler, Jesus/ the Word of God is to be followed. Yet the idolatry was allowed in the temple when the idolaters were let in. Most people would agree it better to live at peace with those different then you. Yet you can rest assured there is consequences for doing so. Daughters and sons would be sacrificed on the altars of pagan religions and this still continues on till this day around the world, yet most deny it happens. The point is God never allowed the heathens in the temple, nor the idolaters, but man did. God allows man to do certain things to prove His point. Joshua mistake in making an alliance with men that were already in fear of him was a mistake. Yet it was done not in ignorance. It was done with compassion. Yet it would cause sin in Israel. Because those that serve usually land up on top of the world and in power at some point in time. That is proof. Yet one of rank can not wash the servants feet so to speak and keep power. Covenant of peace is following the laws of a godly society, but not necessarily their religion. It is should not be a danger to godly people who serve the true God. Because faith should always win, yet we do not always live in holiness we should to be a witness for Christ. Sometimes our beliefs and our practices lead the heathens further from God and to their own. Abraham was a convert from a land of idolatry. God spoke to him. God has the ability to destroy and to speak to the heathens about who He is. Bad covenants can be our downfall or leading lost souls to the truth of real peace with God. Dear Heavenly Father let us as believers to put away any false idols among us and follow after the ways of Christ. Following after your Spirit in all truth and not after the ways of deception. In Jesus precious name, Amen. http://www.turtle30cshell.com _ |
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