Bible Verse: “The Israelites sampled (the Gibeonites’) provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.” Joshua 9:14-15
Scripture Reading: Joshua 6:1–9:27
Let’s be honest: sometimes, a little swagger feels good.
Not too much. Just the right amount of confidence puts a bit of bounce in our step, an easy smile on our faces, and the moxie to tackle challenges with a little more eagerness.
But it’s easy to get a little too confident, and when we do, well, you probably know the order of pride and falling (see Proverbs 16:18).
Joshua and the Israelites had just come out of a pretty trying ordeal. They had lost a battle with the people of Ai and lost some soldiers. The reason was as traumatic as the loss. An Israelite had stolen some things devoted to the Lord. After the display of God’s power at Jericho, Israel was quick to break faith.
Having remedied the situation of the stolen items, Israel defeated Ai and recommitted themselves to God. They were on a high. The bumps were surely behind them: sin – diagnosed and excised; enemy – out-maneuvered and defeated; covenant commitment – renewed.
Israel must have been riding high—until the low riders appeared on the horizon.
The travelers looked haggard and helpless. But appearances were intentionally deceiving, and the “high” the Israelites were riding put too much swagger in their step. They trusted their perception and the word of the travelers—that they were far-away foreigners—without asking God.
Make no mistake as you read; that is the crucial detail.
Israel makes a peace treaty with the presumed foreigners, not realizing that it was actually a local tribe of Canaan trying to save its own skin from the fearful Israelites—precisely the people that Israel had been commanded to drive out of the land.
The story doesn’t end terribly. Israel honours their treaty with the deceitful Gibeonites, but they become servants to Israel—which is better than the alternative.
We can probably relate to the mistake that Israel makes. The confidence trap is particularly seductive to men. We like to have the answers, to know how to fix, to be strong enough for the task, and wise enough for the problem. And that’s when we step in it. We can do it.
Sometimes it seems we only go to God when things are going poorly, when they are beyond our control. God is the source of help…when we need it.
But by then, it is often late in the game, sometimes too late. God wants us to come to Him first (and last).
Prayer: God, this is what I should always do first–come to You. Give me the humility to bring all of my life to You. Amen.
Reflection: Are there any decisions you are making that you are not taking to God?
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