A League of Their Own
A League of Their Own
Joshua 9
When the kings of Canaan heard what Israel had done to Jericho and Ai, they gathered together to fight against Joshua and Israel. The Gibeonites heard the same report, but they responded differently. Rather than joining the resistance, they sought peace with the people of God.
The Gibeonites understood that Israel’s victories were not merely the accomplishments of a superior army. They had heard what the LORD had done in Egypt and what he had done to the kings beyond Jordan. They realized they faced an enemy they could not defeat and a judgment they could not escape.
Their method was unquestionably wrong. Joshua 9:4 says that they “did work wilily.” They disguised themselves, misrepresented their identity, and deceived Joshua. Israel also “asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD” before making peace with them.
Nevertheless, their eagerness to escape judgment and obtain mercy provides a powerful picture of how sinners should respond to the gospel. The illustration has an important limitation: Joshua could be deceived, but Jesus Christ cannot. A sinner does not come to Christ by hiding who he is. He comes honestly, acknowledging his spiritual condition and trusting Christ for mercy.
They Came Having Heard
The nations of Canaan and the Gibeonites had heard the same message. Judgment was approaching, but mercy had also been demonstrated. They had heard about the fall of Jericho and Ai. They may also have heard how Rahab and her household had been spared when she received Israel’s messengers in peace.
The gospel likewise contains a warning of judgment and an offer of mercy: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
—Romans 6:23. Ephesians 2 describes sinners as children of disobedience and “by nature the children of wrath.” Then comes the wonderful declaration: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.”
The nations believed what they heard and prepared to fight. The Gibeonites believed what they heard and sought peace. One group believed in defiance; the other believed in favor of the message.
Hearing the truth is necessary for believing the truth. Ephesians 1:13 says that a person trusts in Christ after hearing “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” The Thessalonians received the message not as the word of men, “but as it is in truth, the word of God.” James then reminds us to be doers of the word and not hearers only.
The Gibeonites acted upon what they had heard. Their example confronts every person who has heard the gospel: What will you do with the message? Will you continue resisting God, or will you come to Jesus Christ for mercy?
The Gibeonites also came as ambassadors. This provides an application for Christians. God has appointed believers to carry the gospel to others: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
The woman at the well returned to her city and told others about Christ. The healed man of Gadara went home and told his friends what great things the Lord had done for him. God still uses ordinary people to carry the extraordinary message of salvation.
They Came Humbled
Gibeon was not an insignificant or impoverished city. Joshua 10:2 describes it as a great city, “as one of the royal cities,” and says that all its men were mighty. Yet its ambassadors did not approach Joshua boasting about their city, strength, accomplishments, or importance. They came with old sacks, old and rent wineskins, old shoes, old garments, and dry, moldy bread.
Their appearance of poverty was part of their deception, so it should not be confused with genuine repentance. They appeared humble outwardly, but God looks upon the heart. Man can be deceived by outward appearances; God cannot. He knows whether a person comes in genuine humility or merely performs a religious act.
Still, their worn-out possessions provide an appropriate picture of what sinners bring when they come to Christ. We bring the old baggage of sin, the failure of our old way of life, the filthy rags of self-righteousness, the habits of the flesh, and religious efforts that cannot give life. Nothing we possess can purchase salvation. Nothing we have accomplished can earn favor with God. “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” —Ephesians 2:9
A sinner must recognize his spiritual poverty. He must acknowledge not only that he has committed sins, but that he is a sinner. Salvation is not earned through improvement, religion, or good works. It can only be received by believing the gospel.
J. C. Ryle urged sinners not to wait until they felt sufficiently worthy or sufficiently humbled before seeking Christ. Staying away from Christ will never make a sinner better. We must come as we are—but we must come honestly. Christ already knows everything about us. We do not need a disguise; we need mercy.
They Came and Received Hope
The Gibeonites came to Joshua with a specific request: “Make ye a league with us.” Joshua 9:6. They wanted peace instead of war and life instead of death. Joshua made peace with them and entered into a league to let them live. Although they entered that relationship through deception, the covenant itself became binding. Centuries later, God held Israel accountable when Saul attempted to destroy the Gibeonites.
Their relationship with Israel illustrates the lasting relationship believers receive through Jesus Christ. Those who trust Christ receive peace, promises, protection, provisions, and participation.
We receive peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We receive the promises of God, which are yea and Amen in Christ. We receive the assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We receive God’s faithful provision for our lives. We are also given the privilege of participating in his work.
The gospel does not merely rescue us from something; it brings us into something. We are delivered from judgment and brought into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Joshua 21:17 tells us that Gibeon eventually became a Levitical city, a place associated with the priesthood, the altar, and the worship of God. Those who once stood as strangers under judgment were spared, brought near, and given a place of service.
This provides a beautiful picture of what the local church is designed to be: an assembly where God’s spiritual priesthood gathers to serve and worship him. We come to hear the word of God. We come humbled before the word of God. We come to receive hope through the word of God—hope in the peace of God, the promises of God, the protection of God, and the provisions of God. Then we leave prepared to participate in God's work.
The gospel does not merely save us from judgment. It brings us into a people, gives us a place to worship, and prepares us to serve. You have heard the gospel. What will you do with what you have heard? Will you resist like the kings of Canaan, or will you come honestly and humbly to Jesus Christ for mercy?
Joshua 9
When the kings of Canaan heard what Israel had done to Jericho and Ai, they gathered together to fight against Joshua and Israel. The Gibeonites heard the same report, but they responded differently. Rather than joining the resistance, they sought peace with the people of God.
The Gibeonites understood that Israel’s victories were not merely the accomplishments of a superior army. They had heard what the LORD had done in Egypt and what he had done to the kings beyond Jordan. They realized they faced an enemy they could not defeat and a judgment they could not escape.
Their method was unquestionably wrong. Joshua 9:4 says that they “did work wilily.” They disguised themselves, misrepresented their identity, and deceived Joshua. Israel also “asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD” before making peace with them.
Nevertheless, their eagerness to escape judgment and obtain mercy provides a powerful picture of how sinners should respond to the gospel. The illustration has an important limitation: Joshua could be deceived, but Jesus Christ cannot. A sinner does not come to Christ by hiding who he is. He comes honestly, acknowledging his spiritual condition and trusting Christ for mercy.
They Came Having Heard
The nations of Canaan and the Gibeonites had heard the same message. Judgment was approaching, but mercy had also been demonstrated. They had heard about the fall of Jericho and Ai. They may also have heard how Rahab and her household had been spared when she received Israel’s messengers in peace.
The gospel likewise contains a warning of judgment and an offer of mercy: “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”
—Romans 6:23. Ephesians 2 describes sinners as children of disobedience and “by nature the children of wrath.” Then comes the wonderful declaration: “But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us.”
The nations believed what they heard and prepared to fight. The Gibeonites believed what they heard and sought peace. One group believed in defiance; the other believed in favor of the message.
Hearing the truth is necessary for believing the truth. Ephesians 1:13 says that a person trusts in Christ after hearing “the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation.” The Thessalonians received the message not as the word of men, “but as it is in truth, the word of God.” James then reminds us to be doers of the word and not hearers only.
The Gibeonites acted upon what they had heard. Their example confronts every person who has heard the gospel: What will you do with the message? Will you continue resisting God, or will you come to Jesus Christ for mercy?
The Gibeonites also came as ambassadors. This provides an application for Christians. God has appointed believers to carry the gospel to others: “Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God.” 2 Corinthians 5:20
The woman at the well returned to her city and told others about Christ. The healed man of Gadara went home and told his friends what great things the Lord had done for him. God still uses ordinary people to carry the extraordinary message of salvation.
They Came Humbled
Gibeon was not an insignificant or impoverished city. Joshua 10:2 describes it as a great city, “as one of the royal cities,” and says that all its men were mighty. Yet its ambassadors did not approach Joshua boasting about their city, strength, accomplishments, or importance. They came with old sacks, old and rent wineskins, old shoes, old garments, and dry, moldy bread.
Their appearance of poverty was part of their deception, so it should not be confused with genuine repentance. They appeared humble outwardly, but God looks upon the heart. Man can be deceived by outward appearances; God cannot. He knows whether a person comes in genuine humility or merely performs a religious act.
Still, their worn-out possessions provide an appropriate picture of what sinners bring when they come to Christ. We bring the old baggage of sin, the failure of our old way of life, the filthy rags of self-righteousness, the habits of the flesh, and religious efforts that cannot give life. Nothing we possess can purchase salvation. Nothing we have accomplished can earn favor with God. “Not of works, lest any man should boast.” —Ephesians 2:9
A sinner must recognize his spiritual poverty. He must acknowledge not only that he has committed sins, but that he is a sinner. Salvation is not earned through improvement, religion, or good works. It can only be received by believing the gospel.
J. C. Ryle urged sinners not to wait until they felt sufficiently worthy or sufficiently humbled before seeking Christ. Staying away from Christ will never make a sinner better. We must come as we are—but we must come honestly. Christ already knows everything about us. We do not need a disguise; we need mercy.
They Came and Received Hope
The Gibeonites came to Joshua with a specific request: “Make ye a league with us.” Joshua 9:6. They wanted peace instead of war and life instead of death. Joshua made peace with them and entered into a league to let them live. Although they entered that relationship through deception, the covenant itself became binding. Centuries later, God held Israel accountable when Saul attempted to destroy the Gibeonites.
Their relationship with Israel illustrates the lasting relationship believers receive through Jesus Christ. Those who trust Christ receive peace, promises, protection, provisions, and participation.
We receive peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. We receive the promises of God, which are yea and Amen in Christ. We receive the assurance that nothing can separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus. We receive God’s faithful provision for our lives. We are also given the privilege of participating in his work.
The gospel does not merely rescue us from something; it brings us into something. We are delivered from judgment and brought into a relationship with Jesus Christ. We are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Joshua 21:17 tells us that Gibeon eventually became a Levitical city, a place associated with the priesthood, the altar, and the worship of God. Those who once stood as strangers under judgment were spared, brought near, and given a place of service.
This provides a beautiful picture of what the local church is designed to be: an assembly where God’s spiritual priesthood gathers to serve and worship him. We come to hear the word of God. We come humbled before the word of God. We come to receive hope through the word of God—hope in the peace of God, the promises of God, the protection of God, and the provisions of God. Then we leave prepared to participate in God's work.
The gospel does not merely save us from judgment. It brings us into a people, gives us a place to worship, and prepares us to serve. You have heard the gospel. What will you do with what you have heard? Will you resist like the kings of Canaan, or will you come honestly and humbly to Jesus Christ for mercy?
Posted in Deception, Eternal Life, Faith, Gospel, Hearing God, Local Church, Peace, Promises, Salvation
Posted in gospel, Hearing God, Deception, faith, salvation, Believing, Word of God, hope, peace, Eternal Life, Local Church
Posted in gospel, Hearing God, Deception, faith, salvation, Believing, Word of God, hope, peace, Eternal Life, Local Church
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