Too Friendly with the Enemy Joshua 9: /16/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles

Too Friendly with the Enemy Introduction The people of Israel have just defeated the city of Ai and are preparing to march deeper into Canaan as they claim the Promised Land that the Lord had given to them.

Too Friendly with the Enemy They had to learn a difficult lesson before they defeated Ai, and there are more lessons for them to learn as they move forward to possess the land that God has promised them.

Too Friendly with the Enemy The next lesson they must learn deals with becoming too friendly with the enemy. There is danger in becoming too friendly with our enemy.

Too Friendly with the Enemy 1 Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things- those in the hill country, in the western foothills, and along the entire coast of the Great Sea as far as Lebanon (the kings of the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites)- (Joshua 9:1, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 2 they came together to make war against Joshua and Israel. 3 However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, (Joshua 9:2-3, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. (Joshua 9:4, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 5 The men put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. (Joshua 9:5, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.” (Joshua 9:6, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 7 The men of Israel said to the Hivites, “But perhaps you live near us. How then can we make a treaty with you?” 8 “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?” (Joshua 9:7-8, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the LORD your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, (Joshua 9:9, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan- Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. (Joshua 9:10, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.” ’ (Joshua 9:11, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. (Joshua 9:12, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.” (Joshua 9:13, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy  The Enemy Can Be Deceptive. Background Information. Satan Uses Deceptive Schemes. 11 Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. (Eph 6:11, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy The Gibeonites’ Deception.  Things are not always as they may appear.  When Satan comes against us it isn’t openly, it is with tools of deception. 14 And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. (2 Cor 11:14, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy Satan Uses Deceptive Words (9:6-13).  They claimed to be something they were not.  The devil will give us every reason in the world to justify the things he wants us to do.

Too Friendly with the Enemy 10 If you forgive anyone, I also forgive him. And what I have forgiven-if there was anything to forgive-I have forgiven in the sight of Christ for your sake, 11 in order that Satan might not outwit us. For we are not unaware of his schemes. (2 Cor 2:10-11, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy  The Enemy Can Be Destructive (9:14- 21). Their Ability to See Clearly Was Disrupted (9:14).

Too Friendly with the Enemy 12 For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double- edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. (Heb 4:12, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy 14 But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. (Heb 5:14, NIV)

Too Friendly with the Enemy  The Enemy Can Be Defeated (9:22- 27). The Enemy Must Be Confronted (9:22).  Satan cannot stand in the presence of the truth!  If we will confront him with the Word of God, he will flee from us! The Enemy Must Be Controlled (9:27).

Too Friendly with the Enemy Conclusion Will we fail the Lord as we go through life? However, our sins and mistakes do not have to knock us out of the Lord’s work! We can’t undo the things we have done, but we can bring them to Jesus and He can use them to help us grow in Him.

Too Friendly with the Enemy Joshua 9: /16/2007 Dr. Dane Boyles