So our elders and all our people instructed us, ‘Take supplies for a long journey. Go meet with the people of Israel and tell them,’ “We are your servants; please make a treaty with us.’” This bread was hot from the ovens when we left our homes. But now, as you can see, it is dry and moldy. These wineskins were new when we filled them, but now they are old and split open. And our clothing and sandals are worn out from our very long journey.
So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the LORD. Joshua 9:11-14 NLT
The Israelites had been victorious at Jericho, and after dealing with the sin of Aachan, had successfully destroyed Ai. Now Gibeon was in Israel’s “sights.” The word had gotten around that Yahweh had prohibited the Israelites from making treaties with any of the Canaanites, but they could do so with peoples outside of Canaan. If the Gibeonits could trick the Israelites into making a covenant with them, thinking they were from far away, the Israelites would have to keep their word, come what may.
So that is what the Gibeonites did, and their charade was so successful that the Israelites fell for it. Why did they fall for it? They did not consult the Lord. Why didn’t they? It seems so out of character for them at this point in their history.
I suggest the reason they did not consult the Lord was self-confidence. They had been successful twice now; they were on a roll. They had figured out how to do things. They had a reputation that had reached far away. They were no longer a rag-tag bunch of former slaves. They were in the driver’s seat.
How easily that can happen to us. We are hardly making it, and like the well-trained dog, our eyes are on our Master for his slightest direction. But let things begin to go well, and “I can take it from here.” This is such an important lesson. It is when we are successful that we are most in danger, because in that moment we forget that the walk with God is not about success, but about an ever-deepening relationship. So Moses says “Cling to him” (Deut 10:20) and the old Joshua, perhaps remembering this moment, says the same (Josh 22:5).
Called To Be Transformed 