The Gibeonite Deception Joshua 9:3-16

3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 5 And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.

6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. 7 And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? 8 And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?

10 And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. 11 Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. 12 This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:

13 And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. 14 And the men took of their victuals, and

and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.

15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. 16 And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.

Joshua and the Elders of Israel Had been deceived!

Men Deceive and Men can be Deceived … Gal. 6:7-8 Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap. 8 For he that soweth to his flesh shall of the flesh reap corruption; but he that soweth to the Spirit shall of the Spirit reap life everlasting.

I John 4:1 TEST 4 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

The tongue is used to deceive Psalms 52:2 - Thy tongue deviseth mischiefs; like a sharp razor, working deceitfully. Psalms 52:2

The reason Satan tries to deceive us, is to get us to believe something that is simply not true. Believers who are ignorant of God's Word are more likely to be deceived and they begin to accept Satan's lies as truth.

Look at: Naaman… “I thought… 2 Kings 5:11 “Behold, I thought… Moses… Num. 20:10-11 “Hear now, ye rebels; Must we fetch you water out of this rock?” Cain … Gen. 4: 3..it came to pass that Cain brought of the ground an offering unto the Lord…..4:4 And Abel,he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. “.. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering;but unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect.” “

Num. 15:32-33 Man who picked up sticks on the Sabbath Day: 32 And while the children of Israel were in the wilderness, they found a man that gathered sticks upon the sabbath day. 33 And they that found him gathering sticks brought him unto Moses and Aaron, and unto all the congregation.

Saul.. I Sam. 15:13 “And Samuel came to Saul: and Saul said unto him, Blessed be thou of the Lord: I have performed the commandment of the Lord… 14 “And Samuel said: What meaneth then this bleating of the sheep in mine ears,and the lowing of the oxen which I hear?” Man on the Sabbath.. ”Went out and picked up sticks…

In the Pattern of the church a great deception: Concerning Salvation.: You can save yourself by your good works… Eph. 2:8,9 It is the gift of God John 3:16..God gave We cannot be saved by works of men. No man or woman can be so good as to earn Salvation!” “We are not saved by good works of our own, but we are saved to do good works of the Lord.”

Giving: Give whatever you want as long as you are sincere… Giving: Give to God whatever you want…As long as you are sincere, God will be Pleased! One of the greatest deceptions about giving is used in Acts 5:1-11 Ananias and Sapphira v. 3 Why hath Satan filled thine heart To lie to the Holy Ghost…”

Giving to God is serious…He beholds What you give to Him… Matt. 6:19-21 Mal. 3:8 Will a man rob God? Yet ye have robbed me. But ye say, Wherein have we robbed thee? In tithes and offerings. I Cor. 16:1-3 Acts 20:35

Being deceived and departing from the Living God! Heb.3:12 12 Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God. Gal. 5:4

Why would any brother in the Lord ever depart from God? Heb. 3:13 But exhort one another daily, while it is called To day; lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin.

Sin deceives! Mtt. 19:16-22 Rich Young Ruler… He was deceived in thinking His riches Were more important than being poor And following Jesus Christ! 2 Tim. 4:10 Demas. “For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world.. Cf. I John 2:15-17

Besetting Sin …Heb. 12:1-2 We all have one or more…. Is it gossip? Is it fornication? Is it just plain lying? Is it a game of hypocrisy? Is it filthy language? Is it selfishness?

The Gibeonite Deception Don’t be like Joshua and the elders of Israel… Ask God for His counsel and direction And seek to follow His Son. Don’t fall for the ‘deception’ from Satan!

I Tim. 4:16 “Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that Hear thee.!” If the good man Timothy needeth that exhortation …surely we all need it!