They Resorted to Ruse
Comments for Study 7
Joshua 9:1-27
Memory Verse: 8
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I. Make a Treaty With Us (9:1-6)
>1. Who saw what the Lord had done for Israel to the kings east of the Jordan, at Jericho, at Ai, and at the crossing of the Jordan? (1)
* Joshua 9:1 "Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things--those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)--"
* "all the kings west of the Jordan"
* "in the hill country"
* "in the western foothills"
* "along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon"
* "Hittites"
* "Amorites"
* "Canaanites"
* "Perizzites"
* "Hivites"
* "Jebusites"
>What did they decide to do? (2)
* Joshua 9:2 "they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel."
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>2. How was Gibeon's response different? (3-4a, 10:2)
* Joshua 9:3-4a "However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they resorted to a ruse"
* Joshua 10:2 "He and his people were very much alarmed at this, because Gibeon was an important city, like one of the royal cities; it was larger than Ai, and all its men were good fighters"
* The other kings attached Israel. Rahab had the best response. She submitted herself to the God of Israel. (Joshua 2:4-7; Heb. 11:31; James 2:25; Matt. 1:5-16)
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>What are some responses when someone is confronted with the truth? (Luke 8:4-8)
* Luke 8:4-8 "While a large crowd was gathering and people were coming to Jesus from town after town, he told this parable: "A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path; it was trampled on, and the birds of the air ate it up. Some fell on rock, and when it came up, the plants withered because they had no moisture. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up with it and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown." When he said this, he called out, "He who has ears to hear, let him hear."
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>3. What was the nature of Gideon's ruse? (5-6)
* Joshua 9:5-6 "They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, "We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us."
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>Was their plan moral, ethical, and righteous?
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>How do you respond when confronted with a seemingly life threatening situation?
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II. We Have Heard of Your Lord (9:7-13)
>4. What was Israel's initial response to the Gibeonites? (7)
* Joshua 9:7 "The men of Israel said to the Hivites, "But perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?"
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>How did the Gibeonites use flattery? (8a)
* Joshua 9:8a "We are your servants," they said to Joshua."
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>How can we tell between truth and a deception? (John 14:6-7; Rom. 12:1-2)
* John 14:6-7 "Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really knew me, you would know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him."
* Romans 12:1-2 "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is--his good, pleasing and perfect will."
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>5. Did Joshua initially believe them? (8b)
* Joshua 9:8b "But Joshua asked, "Who are you and where do you come from?"
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>6. Review the Gibeonites story in verses 9-13?
* Joshua 9:9-13 "They answered: "Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan--Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, 'Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, "We are your servants; make a treaty with us."' This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey."
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>Mark out the words of truth and the lies.
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>How does Satan use this same tactic today?
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>What kind of people mix truth and lies? (John 8:44)
* John 8:44 "You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father's desire. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies."
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>How should we live our lives? (John 4:23-24)
* John 4:23-24 "Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth."
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III. Gibeonites Made Woodcutters (9:14-27)
>7. What mistake did Israel make? (14)
* Joshua 9:14 "The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD."
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>What did they do? (15)
* Joshua 9:15 "Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath."
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>What happened to the Gibeonites after this? (2 Sam. 21:2-3; and 1 Chron. 12:4; Neh. 3:7)
* 2 Samuel 21:2-3 "The king (David) summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. (Now the Gibeonites were not a part of Israel but were survivors of the Amorites; the Israelites had sworn to spare them, but Saul in his zeal for Israel and Judah had tried to annihilate them.) David asked the Gibeonites, “What shall I do for you? How shall I make amends so that you will bless the LORD’S inheritance?”
* 1 Chronicles 12:4 "and Ishmaiah the Gibeonite, a mighty man among the Thirty, who was a leader of the Thirty; Jeremiah, Jahaziel, Johanan, Jozabad the Gederathite"
* Nehemiah 3:7 "Next to them, repairs were made by men from Gibeon and Mizpah—Melatiah of Gibeon and Jadon of Meronoth—places under the authority of the governor of Trans-Euphrates"
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>What can we learn about what to do in a time of decision? (Heb. 5:7; Phil. 4:6-7)
* Hebrews 5:7 "During the days of Jesus' life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission."
* Philippians 4:6-7 "Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
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>8. When confronted with the truth what did Israel do? (16-18)
* Joshua 9:16-18 "Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 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,"
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>What did they know would happen if they broke their oath? (19-21)
* Joshua 9:19-21 "but all the leaders answered, "We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now. 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." 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."
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>What can we learn?
* Ecclesiastes 5:1-2 "Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong. Do not be quick with your mouth, do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God. God is in heaven and you are on earth, so let your words be few."
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>9. What was the nature of the curse on Gibeon? (22-23)
* Joshua 9:22-23 "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? You are now under a curse: You will never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God."
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* "water carriers"
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>Was the Gibeonites acting in faith that pleases God? (24-25)
* Joshua 9:24-25 "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. We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you."
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>Did they know that the Israelites would keep their oath?
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>10. Was there an altar to the Lord at this time? (Ex. 30:1-6, 40:26-27)
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* Exodus 30:1-6 “Make an altar of acacia wood for burning incense. 2 It is to be square, a cubit long and a cubit wide, and two cubits high—its horns of one piece with it. 3 Overlay the top and all the sides and the horns with pure gold, and make a gold molding around it. 4 Make two gold rings for the altar below the molding—two on opposite sides—to hold the poles used to carry it. 5 Make the poles of acacia wood and overlay them with gold. 6 Put the altar in front of the curtain that is before the ark of the Testimony—before the atonement cover that is over the Testimony—where I will meet with you."
* Exodus 40:26-27 "Moses placed the gold altar in the Tent of Meeting in front of the curtain 27 and burned fragrant incense on it, as the LORD commanded him. 28 Then he put up the curtain at the entrance to the tabernacle."
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>Was it permanent?
* No.
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>Would there be a permanent altar? (26-27)
* Joshua 9:26-27 "So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 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."
* "the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose"
* Deuteronomy 27:1-8 "Moses and the elders of Israel commanded the people: “Keep all these commands that I give you today. 2 When you have crossed the Jordan into the land the LORD your God is giving you, set up some large stones and coat them with plaster. 3 Write on them all the words of this law when you have crossed over to enter the land the LORD your God is giving you, a land flowing with milk and honey, just as the LORD, the God of your fathers, promised you. 4 And when you have crossed the Jordan, set up these stones on Mount Ebal, as I command you today, and coat them with plaster. 5 Build there an altar to the LORD your God, an altar of stones. Do not use any iron tool upon them. 6 Build the altar of the LORD your God with fieldstones and offer burnt offerings on it to the LORD your God. 7 Sacrifice fellowship offerings there, eating them and rejoicing in the presence of the LORD your God. 8 And you shall write very clearly all the words of this law on these stones you have set up.”
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>Is an altar needed now?
* Hebrews 13:10 "We have an altar from which those who minister at the tabernacle have no right to eat."
* Hebrews 13:15-16 "Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that confess his name. 16 And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased."
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