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Monday, April 29 – Joshua 9, 10 – Additional Reading, Patriarchs and Prophets, Chapter 47, “League With the Gibeonites”

Study Questions:

1. Why was Israel deceived by the Gibeonites? Joshua 9:3-5

2. What punishment did the Gibeonites receive for their deception? Joshua 9:21, 22

3. How did the king of Jerusalem, Adonizedek, react to the treaty between the Gibeonites and Israel? Joshua 10:1-5

4. Who was the true commander of the army of Israel? Joshua 10:42

Commentary and Reflection:

Joshua 9 continues to highlight the result of God’s covenant renewal with His people through the erection, by Joshua, of an altar on Mount Ebal. The kings located on the western side of the Jordan River felt threatened by the act of renewing that covenant.

The six Canaanite kings formed an alliance to attack Israel and prevent their conquest from advancing. The cunning of the Gibeonites to achieve a treaty or alliance with Israel to avoid being destroyed by them is striking.
The author of the book emphasizes that both Joshua and the princes made their decisions without consulting the Lord (9:24). However, despite their mistake, God did not abandon His leader and His people and allowed them to proceed with the treaty.
It only took three days for the Israelites to discover the deception of the Gibeonites. They identified the region where they were from, in addition to the Gibeonites, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
From this we learn that before making important decisions regarding our spiritual life, we must ask God to show us the way to go. Even the people criticized the leaders.
The fact that the people of that city resorted to such a humiliating trick to save their lives demonstrates how much terror the Israelites inspired in the inhabitants of Canaan. This agreement precipitated the neighbors of the Gibeonites to unite to attack them for having concluded a peace agreement with Israel.
“But it would have fared better with the Gibeonites had they dealt honestly with Israel. While their submission to Jehovah secured the preservation of their lives, their deception brought them only disgrace and servitude. God had made provision that all who would renounce heathenism, and connect themselves with Israel, should share the blessings of the covenant. They were included under the term, “the stranger that sojourneth among you,” and with few exceptions this class were to enjoy equal favors and privileges with Israel.” PP 507
Many questions have been raised about Joshua 10:12-14 regarding what happened with the sun and moon standing still. Some argue that these verses must be taken literally; that is, that astronomically and physically the sun and moon stood still. Others suggest that in verses 7-18, historical events are given to us, and verses 12-14 give us the poetic interpretation from the Book of Jashar.
What I can conclude is that God does not always provide all the information and details of how a miracle is performed. What is certain is that God worked miraculously, from the hail to the prolonging of the sunlight and moonlight.
“This mighty miracle testifies that the creation is under the control of the Creator. Satan seeks to conceal from men the divine agency in the physical world—to keep out of sight the unwearied working of the first great cause. In this miracle all who exalt nature above the God of nature stand rebuked.” PP 509
A practical lesson for us,

“Those who achieve the greatest results are those who rely most implicitly upon the Almighty Arm. The man who commanded, “Sun, stand thou still upon Gibeon; and thou, Moon, in the valley of Ajalon,” is the man who for hours lay prostrate upon the earth in prayer in the camp of Gilgal. The men of prayer are the men of power.” PP 509

I would add, “men and women of prayer are the men and women of power.”
Rich blessings to all.
Professor Javier Diaz
Devotion April 28
Devotion April 30

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