JOSHUA - Chapter 9 - The Spirit of Deception
JOSHUA – CHAPTER 9
The Spirit of Deception and the Covenant of Compromise
Tuesday Morning Bible Study
August 9, 2016
As we come out of our annual conference, I am blessed at the harmony, sweet fellowship, Presence of the Lord, Power of the Holy Spirit gifts, beautiful friendships; and confidence that we fulfilled the Lord’s calling for the conference.
A victory in the faith came to me from a surprising direction. Three years ago at one of our conferences we unwittingly hit a religious spirit of false prophetic authority over the city of Houston. As we have processed our move these past 2+ years, there was also this “talking” and nipping at our heels of a false narrative coming from a spirit of false prophetic authority.
I can assure you I gave it no place as I followed wholly after the Lord with what He was showing me to do. I certainly refused to compromise with the demands which were made of me. As far as I was concerned, it was another fly-on-the-wall yet for the past three years, I knew it was out there. At the time of our conference, I had actually forgotten about it. It was secondary to my focus to apprehend through love and faithfulness our present calling.
While I was dressing for the Saturday evening service, the Lord spoke to me that spirit had been broken from affecting the Eastgate Church. Our weapons of warfare have been “Faith”, “Perseverance in our Kingdom Assignment, and Faithfulness. As we took care of the Lord’s business, He took care of breaking any false power over the ministry of false authority.
As the WORD OF GOD has brought us to Chapter 9 of Joshua, I stand amazed at the on time word for our church and our nation.
The Gibeonites want to play a game with God. LET’S MAKE A DEAL. They want to bargain and scheme with Joshua. Our intellect (opinions), emotions (feelings), and will (desires and ways) are not wanted at the negotiating table, for there is no negotiating table with GOD. Jesus Christ has come with a SWORD, and not peace.
Matthew 10:34: “Think not that I came to send peace on the earth; I came not to send peace, but a sword.”
As a leader, Joshua had just been victorious at Jericho and Ai. But, he did not seek Jehovah’s counsel concerning these hypocrites, and paid the price. The Gibeonites are an analogy of the spiritual forces that beguile, the wiles and stratagems of Satan, who often come as an angel of light to deceive rather than attack us openly (2 Cor. 2:11) “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”
This kind of people will always come wrapped and robed with the Word of God. It sounds good, but be careful. They are always clothed in deception. We know that locusts sound like rain, but they are devastating the vineyard of the God (and only experienced watchmen know the difference). (Heb. 5:11-14)
God has been good to Israel. Ai was their 8th victory. The six larger tribes had stood on Mt. Gerizim, and the six smaller tribes had stood on Mt. Ebal. The heap of stones (altar) on Mt. Ebal overshadows the heap of stones at the gate of Ai. Last week I related the King of Ai to the spirit of corruption. (This week while browsing some old notes I came across a reference to a dream I had 12/26/10. In the dream I ripped the spirit of corruption out the belly of a large demon of corruption. We must know there is a spirit of corruption so powerful in our government that people have lost ability to discern it.
In Joshua chapters 9-10, we see a confederacy of kings against Joshua. We can apply this to the confederacy of powers in the U.S.A. against Christianity; and Donald J. Trump who is our present apparent civil Christian advocate.
However, we must consider that even when men and women go to Washington with apparent good intentions, the spirit of corruption soon takes them over.
9: 1-2: “It came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side of Jordan, in the hills, and in the valley, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite; the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel in one accord.”
Israel had outnumbered Ai, so the carnal minds of the Kings imagine that victory is certain if they can outnumber the Israelites. The ungodly join hands with their individual interests are threatened. We are seeing this as the Republican moderates join with the Democrats to attack the candidate chosen by the people. (I pray Donald J. Trump is also the Lord’s choice.)
The capital city of the Hivites (Gibeon) was a key to conquering central Canaan. They were mixed with the Nephilim. Roger Teale mentioned the Nephilim spirits are now mixed in with the multitudes. At prayer recently I had a Word that a Beast spirit had been released into men on the earth.
The world (kosmos) is making and will make a united attack against the Kingdom of Jesus Christ. Satan is a roaring lion (confederacy) and a subtle serpent.
Israel had just the reviewed the LAW and now their HEARING is tested, for the Gibeonite strategy was based upon their knowledge of the LAW (WORD):
- Ex. 23:31-33: They knew no Canaanite city was to be spared.
- Deut. 20: 10-12: They knew that God made provisions for those cities outside the land of Canaan.
- Deut. 7: 1-26: They knew there were to be no pacts made, and so they made the first move.
- Josh. 9:25: They knew nothing of the Covenant principle.
9: 3-6: “When the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they worked wilily (craftily). They pretended to be ambassadors. They took old sacks upon their donkeys, and old wine bottles rent and bound; old shoes upon their feet; wore old garments; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy. They went to Joshua to the camp of Gilgal. They said to him and the men of Israel. We came from a far country. Therefore make a league with us.”
Treaties were forbidden. The league the Obama Administration made with Iran was illegal. Only congress can ratify a treaty.
The Gibeonites were Hivites (beastiality, animation, human effort). Gibeon was the largest city in central Canaan. They had a strategy of smooth, cunning, subtle, trickery. They speak of the world, the hypocrite and the lusts of our own flesh.
9: 7-13: “The men of Israel said to the Hivites, perhaps you dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? They said to Joshua, we are your servants. Joshua said to them, who are you? Where do you come from? Their reply was we came from a very far country because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard the fame of Him, and all that He did in Egypt. We heard all He did to the two kings of the Amorites beyond Jordan, Sihon king of Hesbon, OG king of Bashan at Ashtoreth. Our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us saying, take food with you for the journey. Go to meet them. Say to them, we are your servants. Therefore, now make a league with us. We took our bread hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go to you. Behold it is dry. It is moldy. These bottles of which we filled were new. Behold they are empty. Our garments and shoes are old by reason of the very long journey.”
The repeated “Behold” to appeal to Israel’s natural senses and try to avert their spiritual sense.
The word for “men” is “ishy” which means the men of Israel were notable men of high degree who were the ones tricked. Some suspected treachery because they did question them. These were eastern politicians who appealed to Joshua’s pride. To make league would translate to confirm a covenant.
The name “Hivites” signifies “serpents”.
9: 14-17: “The men (Israelites) took of their provision, and did not ask counsel at the mouth of the Lord. Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the princes of the congregation swore to them. It came to pass at the end of three days after they made a league with them, they discovered they were their neighbors, and they dwelt among them. The children of Israel journeyed, and came to their cities on the third day. Their cites were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.”
Verse 14 is the key. They examined the BREAD and WINE of the imposters without seeking God. They ignored the Urim and the Thummim. Let us never take victory for granted and blow it because we get cocky.
After every victory of faith, be careful for a trap.
Gibeon had 3 suburbs:
Chephirah ---Home of Demons – “covered, overlaid”
Beeroth – Bitter wells of water
Kirjath-Jearim – Traditions – city of forests, dense thickets, redundant growths.
The Gibeonites are a picture of sinners surrendering to the spirit of antichrist.
The covenant of promise was solemnized. After three days they heard from the Spirit within that the Gibeonites were neighbors.
7: 18-21: The children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn to them by the LORD GOD OF ISRAEL. The entire congregation murmured against the princes. The princes said to the entire congregation. We have sworn to them by the LORD GOD OF ISRAEL. Therefore we may not touch them. We will let them live, less wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swear to them. The princes said to them, let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water to all the congregation; as the princes had promised them”
The shrewd and subtle serpent (Gibeonites) was a long thorn in Israel’s side. God hates a mixture.
The congregation murmured. The princes did the right thing by honoring the oath. A leader must stand by his obligation and be merciful to others.
The Gibeonites became slaves. They were descendants of Canaan and ancestors of the Nathinim (those who served at the temple).
9: 22-27: Joshua called for them. He spoke to them, saying, you have beguiled us, saying, we are very far from you; when you dwell among us. Now, therefore, you are cursed. None of you shall be freed from being bondmen, hewers of wood, and drawers of water for the house of my God. Joshua said, it was certainly told to your servants, how 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. We were afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. Behold, we are in your hand. As it seems good and right to you to do to us, do. So Joshua did to them and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel. They did not kill them. Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the Lord, even to this day, in the place when he should choose.”
Chapter 10 reveals that God will go to any extent in helping His people. Joshua the leader speaks with authority of faith. Even though he had just recently disobeyed the Lord. We should not become overly discouraged every time we make a mistake.
Carolyn Sissom, Pastor
Eastgate Ministries Church
Scripture from K.J.V. – I entered into the labors of Principles of Present Truth, Rev. Kelly Varner (1949-2009). Comments and conclusions are my own and not meant to reflect the views of Bro. Varner.