I might call today’s Lesson something like this: “The Occasional Value of WAITING!”

And our thought still centers on the 9th chapter of Joshua. Yes, the story of the Gibeonites and the way they deceived Joshua and the Jews. (A massive amount of Bible Literature exists on this event, nearly every commentary on the book of Joshua is “heavy” with discussion over this ruse.)

Here’s the essence of it: A neighboring Canaanite tribe (most often called the Gibeonites), among the enemies of God who were to be destroyed … came to Joshua “in disguise!”  Dressing in old clothes like they had marched a long distance, eating bread that looked old and ruining … they asked for asylum! “And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, they did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; and old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.” Joshua 9:3-5, wherein notice that (apparently) one can lie by “actions” as well as by words!

So … Joshua (unwisely) made a treaty with them. “And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware (agreed) unto them.” Joshua 9:15

As a result, Israel will be perpetually living near her wicked enemies, at least some of them! In fact, these (blatantly ungodly) “cursed ones” will be living “within” Israel’s God-given Territory, the Promised Land! (Once you make a promise, a vow, it clearly NEEDS to be kept, upheld! Here’s one trait of a godly man: “He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not.” Psalm 15:4, keeping his word, even if it hurts! Parents … that probably even means promises made to children!)

A “blot” in Israel’s handling of life in their new land, the deceptive Gibeonites.

Oh, I nearly forgot.

The point of today’s Lesson. “And it came to pass AT THE END OF THREE DAYS after they had made a league with them, that THEY HEARD that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.” Joshua 9:16

Wow!

Had they only waited!

Just a few hours, only 72 it looks like!

They would have “heard” the truth!

There are verses (lots of them) like this: “But they that wait upon the LORD …”

But, in the Gibeonite case, Israel did not WAIT on anyone!

So verses 17-19 tell … “And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their (the Gibeonite’s) cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim. And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.”

Whole cities (at least 4) full of iniquity, abominable people … whom Israel cannot touch, due to a premature decision!

In a sense, bad leadership!

In a sense, a mistake the consequences of which will impact Israel for many years!

In a sense, a Lesson on (at least sometimes) … WAITING A BIT!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Of course if one has a precise verse of Scripture telling him or her what to do … DO NOT WAIT. Obey immediately. Not to do so becomes (in that case) sinful delay!

Isaiah 28:16 ends with these words, further admonition: “He that believeth shall not make haste.”

One more “Wow!”

 

A full plane, early this morning from Chattanooga to Charlotte! And as nearly always, I was in the rear, but I did get my window seat!

Yes, before dawn this morning we were up … driving to the Chattanooga Airport! Where I caught a flight to Charlotte, North Carolina … connecting to Jacksonville, Florida. To preach three Sermons at the Saint Augustine Road Baptist Church here. Brother Harper Bumpers is the good Pastor here.

Would you mind a few pictures?

When flying, I love to look for other aircraft in the sky. Here’s the vapor trail of a westbound airliner early this morning. I made the photo from 22,000 feet, so he’s at least at 35,000, I would say.

See the coast, the Atlantic? Our flight (from Charlotte) into Jacksonville was out over the ocean for quite a while. Amazing machines, indeed!

And when flying I always try to have a book handy, too. Today I have been studying for a new Series on the Flood, Genesis 6-9, the Lord willing.

Oh, I was about to forget to tell you. Sunday night, the Lord willing, I will have the honor of once again preaching at the Grace Baptist Church in Baldwin, Florida. Where Brother Dewayne Jowers is the good Pastor.

Pray for these Meetings, please.

Tomorrow morning I plan to resume our Joshua Lessons.

I just couldn’t get it all done today!

I’m writing you now from a nice motel room (Hampton Inn) not for from the Church.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

I sure do not want to disappoint anyone eager to study God’s Word!

 

(If someone enjoys this little diversion, please let me know.)

 

Joshua chapter 9 … records one of the most deceptive plots ever employed upon Israel. A tribal people, the Gibeonites (who were wicked Canaanites slated for destruction) were also known as Hivites, according to verse 7 of our chapter. See Exodus 34:11 for God’s “will” concerning these people: “Observe thou that which I command thee this day: behold, I drive out before thee the Amorite, and the Canaanite, and the Hittite, and the Perizzite, and the HIVITE, and the Jebusite.” Add Deuteronomy 7:2 here as well: “And when the LORD thy God shall deliver them (including the Hivites, the Gibeonites) before thee; thou shalt smite them, and utterly destroy them; thou shalt MAKE NO COVENANT with them, nor shew mercy unto them.”

Well, apparently these Gibeonites/Hivites fell under the “fear of the Lord!” And subsequently devised a plan to “spare” their own lives! (The city of Gibeon was near Ai and no more than five miles from Jerusalem! Yet the inhabitants of that place met Joshua and the Jews and “acted” as if they were from far, far away!)

They “marched” those very few miles to Joshua and said/lied: “We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us.” The word used for “league” (in Hebrew beriyth”) is the same word as “covenant,” a strong word of “bond!” A genuine commitment, far more significant than a mere “contract” even!

This is a dangerous situation for Israel!

The enemy portraying himself as a friend!

Yet verse 3 says: “The inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,” again this is the Fear of the Lord, folks! These words are similar to those of Rahab earlier in the Book!

Anyway … verse 15 tells us more: “And Joshua MADE PEACE WITH THEM, and MADE A LEAGUE with them, to LET THEM LIVE: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.” Based on the false evidence the Gibeonites presented.

Looks like here … Joshua made a mistake!

Peace with a Canaanite people!

But if I am right … surely Scripture will give at least a “hint” that Joshua and his cabinet may have erred a bit! (Something we seldom read of that great Warrior, Joshua the Son of Nun.)

Now notice with me Joshua 9:14 … “And the men (Joshua and his advisors) took of their victuals (food that had been made to look old and mouldy), and ASKED NOT COUNSEL AT THE MOUTH OF THE LORD.”

They made a treaty with evil people … and did not seek God’s Counsel anytime during the whole process!

Wow!

Numbers 27:21, written specifically for Joshua, taught: “And he (Joshua) shall stand before Eleazar the priest, who shall ASK COUNSEL for him after the judgment of Urim BEFORE THE LORD … AT HIS (GOD’S) WORD THEY SHALL GO OUT, and AT HIS WORD THEY SHALL COME IN, both he, and all the children of Israel with him, even all the congregation.”

Seeking God’s “Will” in all we do!

Anyone reading here about to make a decision?

About to make some significant change in life?

Just met a new “friend?”

A “job” situation?

“Church” decision?

FIRST … before anything else you do … seek the Mind of the Lord in that matter at hand!

“Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

Though those words from Proverbs had not yet been written in Joshua’s day … the truth they represent existed!

Joshua had a clear avenue of approaching God … of seeking His Guidance … but in this (Gibeonite) situation, he obviously acted too hastily!

May we learn from his mistake!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

 

Reading the Word of God!

How important that single activity is in the life of a Believer!

“Then Joshua built an altar unto the LORD God of Israel in mount Ebal, as Moses the servant of the LORD commanded the children of Israel, as it is written in the book of the law of Moses, an altar of whole stones, over which no man hath lift up any iron: and they offered thereon burnt offerings unto the LORD, and sacrificed peace offerings. And he wrote there upon the stones a copy of the law of Moses, which he wrote in the presence of the children of Israel. And all Israel, and their elders, and officers, and their judges, stood on this side the ark and on that side before the priests the Levites, which bare the ark of the covenant of the LORD, as well the stranger, as he that was born among them; half of them over against mount Gerizim, and half of them over against mount Ebal; as Moses the servant of the LORD had commanded before, that they should bless the people of Israel. And afterward he read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was not a word of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.” Joshua 8:30-35, don’t “skip” reading this “Bible” paragraph, please. It’s the “heart” of today’s Lesson!

This is a congregational meeting, “all Israel” being in attendance.

The altar is build here by precise (Mosaic Law) specifications.

The “blessing” the Priests pronounced, be sure, was word-for-word what God had commanded them to say!

Then came the READING of the Word!

“And he (Joshua) read all the words of the law, the blessings and cursings, according to all that is written in the book of the law. There was NOT A WORD of all that Moses commanded, which Joshua read not before all the congregation of Israel, with the women, and the little ones, and the strangers that were conversant among them.”

No wonder Paul, so many years later, was still commanding his younger Preachers … “Give attendance to reading.” 1 Timothy 4:13

There’s Power in that Book, the divinely inspired Word of God.

In fact, let me ask you to read some therein today!

And the Lord willing, more tomorrow.

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Doctor’s appointment this morning. I may write more later today, concerning this lesson. To fill in the “gaps,” to add supplemental Scripture. To further share  my heart. I must study for a Revival Sermon tonight as well. That’s why I say “I may write more.”

 

I noticed this earlier today, just reading Joshua chapters 7 and 8.

Israel had just been defeated in battle, a rarity indeed!

Thirty-six soldiers, Jews, had died in the attack on a little city named Ai. (We later learned such a tragedy was due to “sin” in the camp. A man named Achan had stolen some cursed objects and kept them for himself!)

But now to the logistics of the Battle … and the point of today’s Lesson.

In the first skirmish against Ai (a heathen, sinful city for sure) Israel only fielded 3,000 soldiers, based on previous recon reports, reconnaissance. “And they (the spies) returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for they are but few. So there went up thither of the people about THREE THOUSAND men.” Joshua 7:3-4

And she (Israel) lost … as I’ve just said, due to sin, thirty-six military funerals, needlessly held!

Once that sin had been (thoroughly) confessed and judgment executed … Israel would live to fight another day! (The sad story of Achan and his death by stoning.)

Then the Lord commanded Joshua to attack Ai yet a second time! So, Joshua obeyed, one of the chief characteristics of that great leader’s life, “instant obedience” to His Commander-in-Chief!

But instead of just three thousand men … Joshua involved the whole army this time! Several hundreds of thousands of soldiers! (Just slightly more than 600,000 to be a little more precise!)

Wow!

And they (with the Lord’s Hand upon them) won the victory … this time!

Again, what’s the point today?

If on a certain occasion you do not achieve a (spiritual) victory, if the enemy (devil) overcomes you in a battle … REGROUP AND HIT HIM AGAIN  … WITH (FAR) MORE POWER AND STRENGTH AND (SPIRITUAL) WEAPONRY!

Go from 3,000 soldiers (I speak metaphorically, symbolically) to 600,000 soldiers!

In other words …

Pray more!

Read God’s Word more!

Memorize verses, more than ever!

Live right, more godly than in all your Christian days!

And the Lord just might give you the victory, as he did Joshua and all Israel!

In a line … TRY HARDER!

Be more and more filled with the Holy Spirit!

Wow!

— Dr. Mike Bagwell

Surely, enough has been said.