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We Have Met Our Enemy and He is Our Neighbor. Be Strong Chapter 9 Joshua 9:1 – 10:28 By Warren W. Wiersbe. “It’s only those who do nothing that makes no mistakes” Joseph Conrad Believing the Enemy (9:1-15)
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We Have Met Our Enemy andHe is Our Neighbor Be Strong Chapter 9 Joshua 9:1 – 10:28 By Warren W. Wiersbe
“It’s only those who do nothing that makes no mistakes” Joseph Conrad • Believing the Enemy (9:1-15) • The City-states in Canaan were not always friendly, but they come together when they have a common enemy • Israel’s danger: not the confederation of Canaanite king but deception from Gibeon • Satan as a roaring lion (I Peter 5:8) & also a deceiving snake (II Corinthians 11:3) • We must be alert & wear the spiritual armor (Ephesians 6:10-18)
What the Gibeonites did (3-5) • 25 miles from Gilgal • Deuteronomy 20:10-20 states that Israel must destroy all the cities in Israel • Cities were offered peace after conquest • Gibeon knew before the conquest • Gibeon's preparation • Foreign delegation • Clothing, food, & equipment • Satan is a counterfeiter (II Corinthians 11:4) • Easier to identify lion than snake
What the Gibeonites said (6-13) • Easier to tell lies than the truth • Lies • They were “from a very far country” (9:6, 9) when they actually lived 25 miles away • Clothing & food (12) • “Your servants” when they were enemies (8, 9, 11) • Fear vs. faith • Satan uses “religious lies” to give the impression that they were seeking the Lord • Seekers Sneakers • Of all the liars “religious liars” are worst (II Peter 2 & Jude)
Why They Succeeded (v. 14-15) • Joshua and Princes were impetuous & didn’t take time to consult the Lord • Walk by sight, not faith • Depending on senses • Logical & convinced yet wrong • Same mistake as Ai, not seeking His direction • The will of God from the heart of God (Psalm 33:11) • Reveals to His children when He knows they are humble & willing to obey
“If any of you really determines to do God’s will, then you will certainly know” (John 7:17 TLB) - a basic principle for victorious Christian living. • Proverb 3:5-6 – not lean on own understanding • “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him” (James 1:5) • “True faith involves exercising patience” (Hebrews 6:12) • “Whoever believes will not act hastily” (Isaiah 28:16 NKJV) • “Be careful not to make a treaty with those who lives in the land where you are going, or they will be a snare” (Exodus 34:12 NIV)
Oath couldn’t be broken • Psalm 15:4 • Enlisting the Enemy (9:16-17) • Joshua discovered that they had blundered men of their word • King Saul violated (II Samuel 21) • If making mistake, admit it & make it work for you • Gibeonites:” hauling woods & water for the service of the tabernacle • Nethinims: Labors in the temple as servants (I Chronicles 9:2, Ezra 2:43, 58: Nehemiah 3:26) • 500 returned to Jerusalem after the Babylonian captivity (Ezra 2:43-58; 8:20)
Defending the Enemy (10:1-28) • The king’s call to the armies (1-5) • 5 kings against Gibeon • Joshua conquered 5 kings and armies at once • God can use our mistakes to accomplish His purpose • Success as “the art of seeing victory where other people see only defeat” • The Gibeonites’ call to Joshua (6-7) • Joshua’s call to the Lord (8-15) • The Promise • “Whatsoever is not of faith is sin” (Roman 14:23) • “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God” (Roman 10:17) • “There has not failed one word of all His good promises” (I Kings 8:56 NKJV)
The Strategy • All-night march & surprise attack • Large hailstones only on the enemy soldiers • The Prayer • Extension of the day to secure a complete victory over the enemy • Miracle by faith • “Nothing is too hard for Him” Jer. 32:17,27 • Day and night belong to God (Psalm 74:16) • “Hasted not to go down” shows “a retardation of the movement, not a complete cessation • Sun & moon were held back so the daylight was lengthened • Refraction
“the mind which asks for a non-miraculous Christianity is a mind in process of relapsing from Christianity into mere ‘religion’ C.S.Lewis • Joshua call to his army (16-18) • Divide and conquer • 5 kings trapped in a cave & slaying soldiers with a very great slaughter • The kings on the ground showed that Joshua had a total victory • Feet on kings’ necks symbolize o the past victories & coming victories • Kings slain & hung on 5 trees until sundown • Corpses back in the cave with a pile of stones closing the entrance • A monument speaking of the power & victory of the Lord
Joshua a type of Jesus who defeated all His enemies & will return one day & destroy them forever • Lesson: • Warning to be alert and prayerful let not the devil deceive us nor walking by sight, not faith • Encouragement : God can take over our blunders (mistakes) and turn them into blessings • “And this is the victory that overcome the world - one faith” (I John 5:4 NKJV)