Israel has a problem.
There is a “enemy” in the Camp!
The “Gibeonites,” as we have studied for several days, had “tricked” the Jews into a peace treaty!
One could almost observe and be right: “SIN in the CAMP!”
And there’s little that could have been done about it, about them, those lying Gibeonites!
So, one must MAKE THE BEST of an ugly situation.
And here’s the solution the “Princes” (as in “Wise Men”) of Israel reached.
“And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but LET THEM BE HEWERS OF WOOD AND DRAWERS OF WATER unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us? Now therefore YE ARE CURSED, and there shall none of you be freed from being BONDMEN, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. And Joshua made them that day HEWERS OF WOOD AND DRAWERS OF WATER for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.” Joshua 9:21-27
Wow!
They (the Jews) just turned their “weaknesses” (the Gibeonites were an exceedingly “sinful” people) into “salves!”
These reminders of Joshua’s “mistakes” will now “serve” the Jewish people all their days! Chopping wood and carrying water, menial labor!
What’s the point here?
In Christian terminology … TURN YOUR SINS INTO SLAVES, RATHER THAN LETTING THOSE SINS “RULE” OVER YOU!
That temptation to gossip, for example … instead of letting it boss you around, whipping you into those “loose tongue” syndromes known as “slander” or “lying” or “grumbling” …
Instead … overcome that temptation to gossip … and rather than hurting someone with your words … ENCOURAGE SOMEONE, PRAISE SOMEONE, PRAY FOR SOMEONE!
… FROM TYRANTS INTO SERVANTS …
That’s what Joshua did to the Gibeonites.
That’s what we should do to our sinful weaknesses, too!
But, is there a verse to help me here?
Paul’s command in Romans 6:12 might work well. “Let not SIN therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof.”
Wow!
Then, who should “reign” in my body?
That’s easy … GOD THE HOLY SPIRIT!
— Dr. Mike Bagwell
One more verse to ponder … “For as ye have yielded your members (body parts) servants to uncleanness and to iniquity unto iniquity; even so now yield your members servants to righteousness unto holiness.” Romans 6:19
Something to think about!