Fear-less
Lesson 9 Joshua Chapter 9
The Enemy’s Strategy
Fear… More than anything FEAR is what keeps us from
everything that God has for us. His purpose, obedience and total love and joy in
our relationships. Even future blessings are adversely affected by our fears.
Future blessings such as ministry opportunities, better circumstances and
children who follow the Lord can evade us because of decisions made in the
shadows of present fears. We fear failure, we fear speaking up, being different,
not liked and acting assertively. All of which keep us stuck in a normal life.
God has a plan and strategy for your victory. But there is
one who seeks with every fiber of who he is to derail you from God’s plan. His
name is Satan. His title is the devil. Jesus called Him the enemy of God, the
evil one, the thief and He prayed that believers would be delivered and
protected from him. God has a plan and Satan has a plan. Jesus said,
The thief comes only to steal and kill and
destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. John
10:10 In a nut shell Satan’s plan is to do anything and everything to ruin God’s
plan because His plan is for good. God’s plan for Israel was to depend and trust
in Him and take the land for Him and them. God’s plan for you and I is to depend
and trust in Him and take the world for Him (Matt.28:19 / Acts 1:8).
Common strategies…
Read 2Corinthians 10:11
As a believer in Jesus Christ, why is it good to know Satan’s common
strategies?
It
should be said clearly that we will never outwit Satan. He is far too
intelligent for that. We are overmatched in a battle of wits with this evil
genius. That’s why we need God. So much of our awareness is dependent on a step
by step relationship with God. Remember God’s words to Joshua:
Be careful to obey all the law my servant
Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be
successful wherever you go. Joshua 1:7
It’s a step by step relationship with God…
Read Joshua 9:1-2
What did all the Kings hear about? The victories of Israel,
that’s what! They were angry and afraid! They knew they didn’t stand a chance
against this force of God. And so what does vs.2 say they did?
This is one of Satan’s most common strategies. Get people
together- get them good and scared and get them thinking the same twisted way.
Like a lynch mob- a group of scared / angry people thinking they are right is
like putty in Satan’s hands!
Read Matthew 24:28
What does this mean?
As believers- we should be very slow to jump on any band
wagon! Especially if it’s the express-way of someone’s downfall… Yuk!
Read the following examples and see how common this
“numbers” strategy is…
1 Kings 18:22
What happened here and who would have seemed right?
The
official national religion had become Baal worship. The wicked King and Queen
would be quick to have anyone killed that worshiped Jehovah God. People had a
difficult choice – given the numbers. What if you were alone with God?
Matthew 27:22-23
What happened here and who would have seemed right?
It appeared to the masses of people that Jesus had come out
against the Roman government and been arrested. It looked as if He was losing a
battle for takeover. People who sided with Jesus or even expressed His innocence
might very well be killed in the blood thirsty- crazy crowd.
Revelation 16:14 & 19:19
What happens here and who will seem right?
God’s word says that at this time
false messiahs and false
prophets will rise up and perform great miraculous signs and wonders so as to
deceive, if possible, even God’s chosen ones. Matthew 24:24
In
other words wrong will seem like right and right will seem like wrong. It is
very much that way today. To stand against the destructive powers of this age
can make you appear to be the enemy of what is good. It always produces a crisis
of belief when you are the minority standing with God. Satan will play mind
games with you; you must be wrong- look at the odds. You will feel internal and
external pressure to conform. You will be faced with faith or fear choices.
Read Joshua 9:3-15
Not everyone was so anxious to join the coalition to fight
Israel. The Gibeonites must have been convinced that they could never defeat
Israel in war so they considered ways to make peace (Joshua 9:9-10).
Gibeon was known as “an
important city” (10:2). It was the capital of a small confederation that
included at least three neighboring towns (see 9:17). The problem with making
peace was this; Israel wasn’t interested in peace. Peace wasn’t their purpose.
Peace wasn’t in their orders from headquarters. God had said,
“drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites and
Jebusites.” Exodus 33:2
Read Leviticus 20:23-24 / Deuteronomy 7:1-4
What was Israel’s commission and why were they to do it?
The
Bible teaches us that this is always a problem. We should not be unequally yoked
with unbelievers (2Cor.6:14). A Yoke is the apparatus that connects two oxen. So
you see if on oxen is going one way and the other is going another way… someone
has to give. You cannot have the same friends you had before you became a friend
of Jesus. These kinds of close associations will always drag us into sin. And
often these associations happen because we want to make peace.
Read Matthew 10:34-39
What does Jesus say about this?
We often assume that Jesus came to bring us peace with
everyone. As if we are to compromise and have peace with everyone and everything
no matter what lines that crosses in priorities, God’s word and loving Him with
All I am… Not so. That, He says, is compromise for the sake of peace and
constitutes losing your life- not gaining it…
Back to Israel… They couldn’t sign a peace treaty with
anyone inside the area that God had said was to be their land. Apparently these
crazy Gibeonites knew that little piece of info… So, what did they do? Resorted
to another of Satan’s common schemes. By the way, unbelievers don’t have many
options; you and I do.
Read Joshua 9:4
What common scheme did resort to? (one or two words)
Deception
Lies deceit
Man,
they went all out to pull this off. They adopted an educated and ingenious plan
to send an envoy to Joshua
disguised as travelers who were so worn out from their long journey that
their provisions were all but depleted. One morning
this goof troop arrived…
their old broken down wineskins and their
sandals worn thin, their
clothes all tattered and
torn, and don’t forget their bread. Their bread was
dried out and moldy.
Like so many deceptions, the agenda is so overpowering in
the minds of the deceivers that they spill it the moment the opportunity is
given. As soon as the Gibeonites found Joshua they told him,
We
have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us. Like little
kids who have cooked up a lie.
Read Deuteronomy 20:15
Why the instant emphasis on being from a far country and all the effort
to ”prove“ it?
Apparently the Gibeonites had become aware of the Mosaic
Law permitting Israel to make peace with cities that were at a considerable
distance, but requiring them to wipe out completely the cities of the seven
nearby nations that would threaten their faith.
In defense of evil
scheming…
Read Joshua 9:3, 4, 7 &12-27
Your
guess is as good as mine as to why they fell for such a ridiculous scheme.
Maybe, like you and I, in the heat of things it was a tougher call than it
appears to be through the retrospect of ink on paper. At any rate they got
sucked in by the strategy of Satan through the Gibeonites.
The leaders of the Israelites
ratified a formal treaty with
these deceivers. But
Joshua and the Israelites made a
few pretty clear mistakes that are no-doubt recorded here to help you and I with
our own tendencies to get sucked in (1Cor.10:11).
So… Here’s what let’s do; let’s look at this portion of the
narrative and take this baby straight to application alley (that’s where the
rubber meets the road man).
Five ways that Satan will try to take you out of God’s
plan…
#1- Playing on your feelings…
Read Joshua 9:4-6
Beside appearing as though they had come a long way, what emotions does
it seem they wanted to play on?
Here
comes this pathetic looking group of people; rotten food and worn out clothes
displayed like “help me” sign at the side of the road. How often the opportunity
comes along to feel sorry for someone and with it, the temptation to act on that
feeling. Be very wary of feeling sorry for people and acting on that surface
sentiment… Compassion is a feeling worthy of action; but compassion and sympathy
breed two entirely different results.
Read Mark 6:34
What was the emotion and the result of the emotion?
The difference between sympathy and compassion is action.
God Himself is described as compassionate (Ps.86:15). So when you are
compassionate it is because you are like God.
Compassion is a God given emotion that generates God
directed results.
Read Isaiah 54:8
How does God’s compassion for us differ from sympathetic emotions?
You may feel sorry for someone and just do what makes you
feel better- but when you have compassion for someone you do what is best and
what is needed. Often compassion keeps you from just making life easy for
someone. Why? Because sometimes that is not what’s best!
Read Joshua 9:10-11
What feeling might Satan be working on here?
Looks
like another play on feelings to me. This time it looks like these strangers are
playing on our love of flattery. Man we love to be told we are great! Trouble is
nothing takes us down the path to wrong thinking like accepting praise from
people (John 5:41).
Read Romans 16:17-18
What’s the lesson here?
Jesus said, “I do not accept praise from men.”
John 5:41 Accept is a word that means to absorb.
Absorbing the praise of people would have taken Jesus off God’s plan for
Him and turned Him on to fame, fortune and whatever else. Bottom line? Satan
will try to take you out of God’s plan by playing on your feelings…
A great lesson is this: You will lose at life when you
begin acting on your feelings.
Another way that Satan will try to take you out of God’s
plan is by getting you to ignore discernment.
#2- Ignoring discernment…
Satan
will try to take you out of God’s plan by giving you reasons to ignore
discernment. What is discernment? Its good-Godly judgment…
Read Joshua 9:6-8
What do you see from Israel’s leaders in the initial meeting that’s seems
to get lost the more they converse with the Hivites (Gibeonites)?
Discernment is good Godly judgment. But isn’t judgment a
pretty awful sin? Yeah it is. But a blanket, “I shouldn’t judge” is a great way
to get into big trouble.
Read the following and determine this: are there times when
you, as a believer are called to make judgments?
Read 1 Corinthians 2:15
Read 1 Corinthians 6:1-2
After all weren’t Joshua and Israel’s leaders supposed to
judge the words of these Hivites? Sometimes good godly judgment is vitally
important. Often in leadership, we are called to protect the church by making a
difficult judgment (1Cor.5:2 / 2Tim.4:14-15). Consider North Park’s strategy
statement: “we will protect unity at all costs”. The question for each of us
should be this: what is the difference between good Godly judgment and bad
ungodly judgment?
Read the following and determine what makes it wrong or
right to judge:
Matthew 7:1-5
What
if the struggle is a lesson for you and not something you are supposed to be
straightening out in someone else? Make sure it’s not a lesson for you before
you try to fix someone else. Making a good godly judgment rarely involves fixing
someone and usually involves some person self-repair before you can even begin
to accurately judge anything. (See Romans 2:1)
Matthew 18:15
There are a few really important criteria here; 1st-
has there really been a sin committed or have you just had a bruised nerve
stepped on? 2nd- If you are not willing to go talk to them your sin
is greater than theirs so shut up and grow up. 3rd- Don’t spread it
around. This is between you and it is not necessary for you gain a following. If
it is- you must not be very convinced of your own righteousness in this matter.
Furthermore if you go to others instead of the accused or in addition to the
accused- your sin just became greater and far more dangerous. This
behavior will cost you dearly and probably is.
John 7:24
1Samuel 16:7
Discernment or good Godly judgment is often necessary in
the life of a believer. However it is absolutely always WRONG when that judgment
is merely the assumption of another’s motives or heart condition. However- Jesus
said, you will know a tree by its fruit. In other words, wait. And while you’re
waiting- consider this; what kind of fruit are you growing?
Satan will try to take you out of God’s plan by getting you
to ignore your relationship with God.
#3- Ignoring your relationship with God…
You say duh… But are sure you recognize what it means to
ignore your relationship with God?
Read Joshua 9:14
How did they ignore their relationship with God?
They
failed to ask God. Wisdom, discernment, understanding… All of these are promised
provisions from God. But only if you ask! Do you involve God in each and every
decision you make? Common now… really? Think of the different situations and
circumstances where you fail to ask God what to do or fail to wait for a clear
direction before you do something.
Examples?
Read James 4:13-15
What do these verses have to say about your everyday decision making
process?
Read 1Corinthians 10:11
Why is Joshua 9:14 in your Bible?
Read Matthew 7:7
What does Jesus say to do?
Remember
how we said that we are overmatched? Satan is much smarter? See what happens
when we leave God out of the match (see Jude 9)? Flattery; feelings; bouts of
pride and ego… And who’s gonna win? Without God you and I are proud little
sitting ducks.
Read Proverbs 3:5-6
In light of what we’ve read about Israel here in Joshua- what does this
verse say about the reason they didn’t ask God?
The evil one’s plan to derail you always includes pride. If
he can make me think the matter is small enough or I am smart enough- then he
has a chance.
Satan will try to take you out of God’s plan through your
own impatience.
#4- Impatience…
I have been a “class A” target for this one! Impatience…
Moving before you ask God. Thinking you need to do it now. Letting the pressures
make your choice for you or push you to make a choice or take an action that has
no good reason to have to happen now. These are dangerous signs of impatience.
Dangerous because they will cost you…
Read Joshua 9:16
What ridiculous thing happened three days after Israel decided to trust
the Gibeonites?
They
were lied to… Why did they think they had to decide right away? What was the
hurry? How do you think they felt?
I cannot tell you how many times I’ve watched someone do
this. They might even ask my council, I say just wait. Next thing I know they
have done something. I guess they thought I meant wait until you feel like doing
something! Listen- you will live with the choice to move forward when you should
have waited- for a very LONG TIME. And don’t be further duped; it will not only
affect you; it will affect many.
Read Isaiah 40:31
What is the promise here?
How about you? What are the pressures that make you decide,
choose or act without waiting on God or waiting all the way on God? I think of
the story of Herod in Mark 6. This was a guy who spoke to much, to quickly and
promised things only to impress others and all it did was cost him (and others).
The final way that Satan will try to take you out of God’s
plan is by getting you to take matters into your own hands…
#5- Revenge…
Such
an ugly word… isn’t it? That’s why we like to call it something else. It’s not
revenge it’s justice. It’s not revenge it’s just the way I am. It’s not revenge
it’s just the truth. It’s not revenge because I’m not doing anything to them
(only in my mind). It’s not revenge it’s just hard to forgive.
Read 2 Cor.2:10-11
What does this say concerning revenge?
Not unaware of his schemes has to do with un-forgiveness
which always has to do with revenge!
(See also Hebrews 12:15 / note: bitterness makes you miss
the grace of God and defiles those around you)
Read Joshua 9:15
What is this agreement called?
Why do you think Joshua felt he had to keep this agreement?
Read Joshua 9:19
What did the leaders sight as the reason they would not change the
agreement?
They recognized that the
agreement was sworn before God without asking God. What Joshua and the leaders
recognized here is a very great principle for principled people: Who’s fault was
it that they had made the agreement for ALL the wrong reasons and without
consulting God? Their own fault! There would be consequences for both parties;
In other words, Israel would have to live with this mistake. And the Gibeonites
would become slaves to Israel. So the very thing the Gibeonites hoped to attain
they lost. They desperately wanted to remain free men; in the end they became
slaves.
Read Joshua 9:21-23
How did the leadership handle the situation? What good principles do you
see at work here?
When
you get duped- and you are sure about it. Face that person. Look them in the eye
and tell them what they did and what it’s going to cost. One of two things will
happen; they will see their sin and you will win them back OR they will walk
away (Matt.18:15). Either way you will be surprised at the growth in yourself
when you obey God in the hard stuff. Do the hard work of being a real believer
in Jesus Christ.
When you have been deceived is your promise valid?
Let’s say someone gets you into something that is illegal
or unethical – are you bound to your agreement when you find out?
I would like you to get a-hold of another powerful thing
that took place because of this mistake.
Read Joshua 9:26-27
What would the Gibeonites specifically supply water and wood for?
Joshua understood that the threat of having another people
nearby was that they worshiped other gods. The slavery that was their sentence-
would take the form of their being
woodcutters and water carriers for the altar of the Lord. In order to
keep the Gibeonites’ idolatry from defiling the religion of Israel their work
would be carried out in connection with the tabernacle where they would be
exposed to the worship of the one true God. The Israelites however remained
personally distanced from the Gibeonites.
Read 2 Corinthians 6:14
What is God’s New Testament truth concerning our connections?
You will not bring them up- they will bring you down.
Recall the reason they were not to do this to begin with ( Exodus 34:15-16)?
It’s the devil’s scheme. Suck you into anything that keeps you or drags you away
from God.
Jesus said, The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that
they may have life, and have it to the full. John 10:10 In a nut shell
Satan’s plan is to do anything and everything to ruin God’s plan because His
plan is for good. God’s plan for Israel was to depend and trust in Him and take
the land for Him and them. God’s plan for you and I is to depend and trust in
Him and take the world for Him (Matt.28:19 / Acts 1:8).