Men's Group Study Guide
Introduction
Israel has begun their successful entry into the Promised Land. With the defeat of Jericho and Ai under their belts, the rest of the inhabitants of this land are planning for their survival. Some plan for a united frontal attack on the battlefield and others try for a more deceptive survival. In our Christian walks we often go to lay hold of the victory promised to us only to meet with similar opposition. We begin to make ground with our eyes on the Lord when the world, our very own flesh, and the devil quickly come to stand in disagreement to our efforts of obedience. Again we are faced with the choice of going to the Lord or leaning upon our own understanding (Prov. 3:5-7). So many times we fail to seek the will of God and instead go with what is in plain sight or with our instincts. We can avoid many of these troubles with a simple biblical principle (2 Corin. 5:7).
STUDY NOTES: verses 1-27
Vs.1-2 And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon---the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite---heard about it, that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord. All of the inhabitants of the land had heard what had happened to the last two cities, and were not going to lie down and wait for their defeat. The majority of these people were going to unite forces in an effort to stop this from continuing in the direction of their own cities.
Vs.3-6 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, .......... vs.6 And they went to Joshua, to the camp of Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” It is a fantastic thing to see the enemies of the children of God choose a more wise approach (Prov. 9:10). In a similar fashion to that of Rahab in chapter 2, these people of Gibeon recognized their imminent defeat. The word ‘craftily’ from verse 4 means to deal with prudence. The men from Gibeon acted in good sense by evaluating their situation carefully so as to avoid risk. The risk of what? The same risk we take into consideration when we ask ourselves if we are ready to face judgement on our own. Outside of the Almighty God we are doomed. As Christians we know that when we humble ourselves and recognize our need for God, He can and will work with us.
Vs. 7-15 Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you?” But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “ Who are you, and where do you come from?” So they said to him, “ From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt,.........
Vs. 14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. So Joshua made peace with them, and made covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.
Vs 7-15 continued- The deception of the Hivites was well planned out. Even though they were from just around the way, Joshua and the rest of the elders were fooled. If they had gone to the Lord as before, with other concerns, this deception might not have happened.
But the men of Gibeon did show the proper respect to the Lord God of Israel in verse 9. It isn’t so much the lies of these people that is the cause for alarm. When the children of God do not seek His counsel, this is a sign for concern.
Vs.16-21 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.... vs.18 But the children of Israel did not attack them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers....
Vs. 21 And the rulers said to them, “ Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.” Here we see the trickery of the Hivites uncovered. It only took three days for the information to get back to the Israelites (Prov. 19:5). God’s children knew that they had already made a mistake in not seeking His counsel. Now they had to stand by their word (James 5:12) and let these people live and be part of this whole corporation. Needless to say there would be punishment for the original misleading by the Hivites. Woodcutters and water carriers would be their new stations in life. As we will see they were more than happy to accept the judgement of Joshua.
Vs.22-27 Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, “ Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us? vs. 24 So they answered Joshua and said, “ Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your 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 very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing........ vs. 27 And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, in the place which He would choose, even to this day. Here is another example of the proper heart condition of people that would otherwise be condemned (Psalm 34:18). They looked at their situation and took into serious consideration the God of Israel. As the tales of great victories went out into all the land these people were not so prideful as to stand ignorantly against Him. Woodcutters and water carriers were positions that were in no way coveted. These people handed themselves over to Joshua and left their fate to his discretion. Believe it or not there are things we could learn from the Hivites. Would we take joy in any service to the Lord? Can we as Christians truly hand over our fate fully to the Lord and have no expectations other than the life promised to us. Will we humble ourselves before Him?
TRUTH APPLIED:
Q. 1 Do you have spiritual battles in your life right now? What are they?
Q. 2 Like Rahab the harlot and the Gibeonites, have you truly recognized your helplessness before God? Do you see Him as the only way out of your difficulties?
Q. 3 Has there ever been a time in your Christian walk when you were flowing with the Lord and a great struggle of some sort arose? What were the choices you made as a result of this struggle? Was there any fruit from it?
Q. 4 Does anyone you know ever manipulate you? How do you react?
Q. 5 When you are taken advantage of by others, what are the thoughts that go through your mind?
Q. 6 Do you ponder on the mercy that is shown to you everyday by God? Do you teach it by practicing it on your friends and family?
Q. 7 If God sent you to a dry barren village in the middle of Africa, would you complain?
CONCLUSION:
In this chapter of Joshua we see a tribe of people (the Gibeonites) that are not of the twelve tribes brought into God’s fold. We see mercy and acceptance. We see a correct heart attitude in these foreign people. As Americans we live in an extremely blessed place. But with these blessings come great responsibilities, that unfortunately we to often take for granted. As a Christian in America, could you honestly say to the Lord what the Gibeonites said in verse 25 and mean it? Ask the Lord to reveal the motives and condition of your heart. Pray about it. Do it now.