They Heard about God

 DEVOTION

JOSHUA

THEY HEARD ABOUT GOD

Josh 9:16-27

16 Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, 19 but all the leaders answered, "We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 20 This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them." 21 They continued, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for the entire community." So the leaders' promise to them was kept. 22 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? 23 You are now under a curse: You will never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God." 24 They answered Joshua, "Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you." 26 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day.

NIV

Although there was deception from the Gibeonites, the leaders of Israel held firm to the oath they made in the presence of their God. Because of the oath they allowed the Gibeonites to live while making them woodcutters and water carriers for the whole community of the Israelites. However, the story here points to another great truth we must consider. When the Gibeonites were questioned why they deceived Joshua and the elders of Israel, their answer is our truth for today. They answered, “Your servants were clearly told how the LORD you God had commanded his servant Moses to give you  the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you, So we feared for our lives because of you”. Everyone in the land must have known about the LORD God of Israel and feared the Israelites and what they would do. The only time so far the Israelites were routed was because Joshua only sent a few men, and he did not consult with the LORD before sending those men. The question that is before us is regarding how many people in this land know we are Christians? Of course, they would not fear for their lives, but maybe they might fear having their sins exposed by the light of Jesus, or for that matter, the light we now have within us. Yet, it seems we simply walk among them hiding both our light and the light of Jesus, so as not to offend anyone. How did the Gibeonites know all about the LORD God of Moses and the miracles that happened? Word spread about the LORD God and all He did for the Israelites. However, in our land, many people are aware of God, with some refusing to accept his existence, while others, know something about him but still live in the darkness of their own passions, and even some who know of God and attend some church, but have not committed to his ways and still live according to their own designs for their lives. How are they going to know unless someone tells them? Who will God send to tell them? How are they going to see the miracles of  the LORD God for his people unless he does miracles among us? We wonder why there are no miracles among us. Do we not believe in miracles? Maybe if we believed there would be many miracles then the people would hear, but then we might still have to show or tell them about Jesus and all the wonderful miracles he has done in our lives. Of course, our salvation is a miracle. Of course, the presence of the Holy Spirit within us is a miracle. Then we have all the provisions that have been given to us by the hand of God. But have we just blended in so well with the world or separated ourselves, isolated us from them so they are not aware of all the wonderful things the Lord has done for us, and in us? Perhaps we need to be more vocal as we live among them. Maybe, God needs to do some explosive miracles that would draw their attention. Do they love the darkness so much that they would even refuse the truth if they were to be told? Yet, we have been told to go into the world and spread the good news about Jesus. Let us live large, out loud, raising our voices for Jesus wherever we go, and let God do what God does.