Making
decisions based on bad information or wrong assumptions can lead to big
mistakes. It certainly did for Joshua, as we saw last week. However, what are
we to do when we realize it after the fact? We aren’t to go back on our word,
or sin again to try to fix it. We may have to live with the consequences.
After
Joshua made a mistake by making a treaty with the Gibeonites, as we saw last
week, he didn’t try to undo the treaty after he realized his mistake.
Joshua
9:16-21 Three days after they made the treaty with the
Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17 So the
Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah,
Beeroth and Kiriath Jearim. 18 But the
Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn
an oath to them by the Lord, the God
of Israel.
The whole assembly grumbled against the
leaders, 19 but all the leaders
answered, “We have given them our oath by the Lord, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them
now. 20 This is what we will do to
them: We will let them live, so that God’s wrath will not fall on us for
breaking the oath we swore to them.” 21 They
continued, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water
carriers in the service of the whole assembly.” So the leaders’ promise to
them was kept.
Even
though the Gibeonites had been deceptive, it didn’t negate God’s expectation
that Joshua and the Israelite leaders uphold their oath (which God confirms in Joshua
10 and II Samuel 21).
What
about your and my unconditional oaths
and promises? Whether they seem little (like promising to take a kid to a park)
or big (like a marriage vow) or a typical contract with a customer (that
doesn’t have a conditional clause), we’re to keep our promises. How well are
you and I keeping our word? Is there something we said with which we still need
to follow through or uphold, even if the other party did wrong?
Next
week we’ll see how God is ready and willing to help us uphold our unconditional
oaths, move forward in the midst of consequences from previous mistakes, and make
the next right step.
Alice
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