Last
week we saw how Joshua upheld his oath, even though the Gibeonites deceived him
into making a peace treaty. However, what do you think happens when the
Gibeonites are attacked by the Amorites and ask Joshua for help?
Joshua
10:6-11 6 The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at
Gilgal: “Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us!
Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces
against us.”
7 So Joshua
marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best
fighting men. 8 The Lord said to Joshua, “Do not
be afraid of them; I have given them into your hand. Not one of
them will be able to withstand you.”
9 After an
all-night march from Gilgal, Joshua took them by surprise. 10 The Lord threw them into confusion before
Israel, so Joshua and the Israelites defeated them completely at
Gibeon. Israel pursued them along the road going up to Beth Horon and
cut them down all the way to Azekah and Makkedah. 11 As
they fled before Israel on the road down from Beth Horon to Azekah, the Lord hurled large
hailstones down on them, and more of them died from the hail than
were killed by the swords of the Israelites.
Not only does Joshua willingly help the
Gibeonites, but God confirms Joshua is to help them and then God does most of
the work!!! If I was Joshua, I might have told the Gibeonites that they were on
their own. I might have thought God was bringing judgment on them for their
deception. I would uphold my oath of a peace treaty, but nothing extra.
God clearly helped Joshua and the Israelites
not only uphold their oath, but love their neighbor (without holding a grudge)
by sacrificially helping them in crisis. Even though Joshua and the Israelites
had made a big mistake in making a treaty with the Gibeonites, they obediently
did the next right thing and the next right thing. God rewarded their steps of
obedience despite their previous disobedience.
God can do the same for us today. Even after
making a big mistake, God wants to help us make the next right move. God is
willing to help us in a mighty way, just like He did for Joshua! Where will you
and I seek His help to make the next right step?
Alice
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