Joshua 9: Deceived
SATAN'S PRIMARY STRATEGY is deceit. He seduces us into believing that a lie is truth, that evil is good and that a "suicidal plunge is really a leap into life" (Derek Kidner, Genesis [Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1967], p. 68).
Warming Up to God
How do you decide whether to make a decision on your own or to pray about it first?
Read Joshua 9. »
Discovering the Word
- When they hear about Israel's victories, how does the Gibeonites' reaction differ from that of the kings west of the Jordan (vv. 1-6)?
- What made the Gibeonites' deception so convincing to the Israelites (vv. 7-13)?
- The Israelites were fooled because they "did not inquire of the LORD" (v. 14). Why should they have known that this was not a decision to be made on their own?
- Why did the Israelites take their oath so seriously, even though it was based on a lie (vv. 16-19)?
- The Gibeonites are similar to Rahab in that, for both, their faith led them to lie (vv. 22-27). Why aren't the Gibeonites commended for their faith as Rahab was?
Applying the Word
- What tricks does Satan use to keep us from seeking God's guidance?
- In what areas are we tempted to make peace with a sinful world?
Responding in Prayer
Pray for those who are even now under Satan's deceitful influence.
For Further Study
A Theology of the Dark Side by Nigel Goring Wright