Spiritual Discernment
Joshua: Strong and Courageous • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Introduction
Anyone here ever involved in deception? Anyone here an international spy?
Jonna Mendez served 27 yrs in CIA - retired in 1993 as Chief of Disguise
One morning Ms mendez entered the White House and Oval Office disguised as a colleague - Latina woman with curly black hair
Sat with CIA director and gave her full briefing to pres without raising any suspicion
As she described her role as chief of disguise, she explained to pres bush she explained the effectiveness of the CIAs masks and also how expensive they can be to create
Her hope was to secure more funding for her dept
She then told the pres she had brought an example of the type of disguise they use
The Pres looked around for a briefcase / box that might be holding the mask
That’s when Ms Mendez told the Pres she was wearing it
“He said, ‘Hold on, don’t take it off yet.’ Then he got up and took a closer look,” she recalls. “He said, ‘Okay, do it.’ ”
Similar to what you might see in a good spy movie, Mendez slowly peeled off a remarkably lifelike mask, revealing her true face: blue eyes, fair skin and short, dark blonde hair. When she held up the disguise that duped everyone in the room, Bush and his advisers seemed dazzled.
After securing the funding needed, she went on to lead critical disguise operations in the Cold War’s most hostile locations, from Moscow to Havana to Beijing.
Was it a good thing or a bad thing?
Joshua 9
1 As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, 2 they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.
3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5 with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6 And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” 7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” 8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” 9 They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.” ’ 12 Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.”
14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them. 16 At the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, they heard that they were their neighbors and that they lived among them. 17 And the people of Israel set out and reached their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim. 18 But the people of Israel did not attack them, because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. Then all the congregation murmured against the leaders. 19 But all the leaders said to all the congregation, “We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we may not touch them. 20 This we will do to them: let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath that we swore to them.” 21 And the leaders said to them, “Let them live.” So they became cutters of wood and drawers of water for all the congregation, just as the leaders had said of them. 22 Joshua summoned them, and he said to them, “Why did you deceive us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell among us? 23 Now therefore you are cursed, and some of you shall never be anything but servants, cutters of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.” 24 They answered Joshua, “Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you—so we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing. 25 And now, behold, we are in your hand. Whatever seems good and right in your sight to do to us, do it.” 26 So he did this to them and delivered them out of the hand of the people of Israel, and they did not kill them. 27 But Joshua made them that day cutters of wood and drawers of water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, in the place that he should choose.
Israel was deceived.
The problem with deception is that it is deceiving.
If it was obvious you wouldn’t be deceived and it wouldn’t be a deception.
God wants us to consult him about the common as well as the confusing
Consult God about the common and confusing
Consult God about the common and confusing
Common / Clear
This is the second time the Israelites made a decision based on their own understanding of a situation
3 And they returned to Joshua and said to him, “Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few.”
Joshua: No Falling Words The Lack of the Wisdom of God (9:3–15)
Do we need the guidance of God only when we are in doubt? Do we not need to be careful when we begin to think, ‘There is no need to consult the Lord on this matter—it’s quite clear’? ‘No proposed course of conduct can be so clear to a Christian as to excuse him from the duty of seeking direction from above.’2 Not that you have to ask the Lord whether you should get a haircut at four o’clock. The Scriptures do not require wilting in the everlasting arms, only leaning on them. But we must beware of that subtle unbelief that assumes ‘I have this under control.’
What are the chances God allows confusion or crisis at times because we will not seek him in the common
The Israelites used scientific decision-making rather than spiritual discernment
They leaned on logic instead of their Lord
Though God will generally use the science of the world HE made, spiritual discernment always trumps what we see
How do we know if God wants us to see the science or discern beyond what we see? Seek God!
Seek God to know what to see
We want to see what is actual not what is obvious
Obviously what was obvious in this story was not obvious.
What was obvious (things that were seen) were not actual
We need to see what is actual, not only what is obvious.
Reality is: There are those in the world that are looking to deceive the people of God.
Paul notes this when he warns the church in Corinth about listening to teachers
13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. 14 And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. 15 So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their deeds.
Paul is saying that what might look like an obvious teacher of righteousness might actually be a false teacher and servant of Satan!
Whoa!
How would one know? In their specific situation Paul gives a brief resume of his status as an apostle which is the title given to someone who has been directly commissioned by Jesus himself. In addition, Paul reminds the Corinthians that unlike the false teachers, he is not doing all he does for himself but for Christ. And he reminds them that everything they hear should align with the gospel they already know and have already accepted.
What about us?
1 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. 2 By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God,
While some things are common and might feel easy to answer, this passage also raises some questions which are. . .
Confusing
Did the Gibeonites believe God? That is really hard to know for sure.
Looking at the outcome for the Gibeonites, did God honor their deception?
While this was a deception, the author states that the Gibeonites acted with “cunning.” (arma)
This word is usually not used pejoratively and when used in Proverbs it is translated as “prudence”
Prov 1:4; 8:5, 12
5 O simple ones, learn prudence; O fools, learn sense.
12 “I, wisdom, dwell with prudence, and I find knowledge and discretion.
If you say someone is deceptive it is not good, but many would like to be known as prudent.
The reality is regardless of the Gibeonites motivation, the leaders of Israel should have been more discerning . . . or better yet, they should have used spiritual discernment.
The author seems to indicate that even though the Gibeonites were deceptive, the leaders would not have been tricked had they sought God first
When something seems confusing, How do you come to a conclusion and make a decision? Some options are:
Scientifically
Applying logic, math, powers of observation
Making decisions very matter-of-factly
Communally
Asking others what they think, collective wisdom
(We’re not saying these are all bad resources to employ when making decisions)
Emotionally
Choose whichever feels right
Randomly
Roll the dice
Apathetically
You really don’t care and probably won’t make a decision if it is confusing
Magically
in 1 Sam 28 Saul consults with the Witch at En-dor
Most of these are helpful in decision-making (thought I don’t recommend consulting with witches); however, when faced with a difficult decision, we must confront it first. . .
Spiritually
Meaning, we recognize that the omniscient God is the best source of wisdom
9 Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”
125 I am your servant; give me understanding, that I may know your testimonies!
Joshua: No Falling Words The Lack of the Wisdom of God (9:3–15)
We need not only the power of God to overwhelm our obvious enemies but also the wisdom of God to detect our subtle enemies. Unfortunately, the church too often craves God’s power while it ignores God’s wisdom.
Even in thinking through the confusing parts of the this message I could use a scientific hermeneutical method. I could consult with others through commentaries, etc. I could see how this passage makes me feel. I could have come up with a random interpretation of this passage (we should all go and try to trick someone this week), or I could just not care.
In reality, we only get the best and true understanding when we approach it first spiritually. We do this in two ways:
Prayerfully
Prayerfully
Joshua: No Falling Words The Lack of the Wisdom of God (9:3–15)
It was not that they were sloppy in their investigation but that they were alone in their decision. It wasn’t that they didn’t think but that they didn’t pray. They did not have because they did not ask (
5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.
Notice James doesn’t say if you lack wisdom here are a bunch of options. He says to ask God.
*What was the last decision you can remember praying about and asking God for direction?
*What decision(s) are you currently facing that you have yet to pray about?
Biblically
Biblically
(What is the gift of discernment of spirits?)
They “did not ask counsel form the LORD” - Do you? (14)
Literally, “did not consult the mouth of the LORD”
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding;
16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
All Scripture (case in point - this passage!)
Whether you are facing common decisions or confusing ones, Seek God First!
and. . . Seek God Most because:
Anyone who truly seeks the Lord will be saved.
Anyone who truly seeks the Lord will be saved.
1 As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, 2 they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel. 3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai,
It is interesting that these kings consulted together to resist God and his people but the Gibeonites (however misguided their approach) sought to be with Yahweh and his people.
We don’t know for sure, but here is some evidence that perhaps the Gibeonites believed in Yahweh:
6 - They seemed to know and believe the Word of God in Deut 20(that the Israelites had the option to make people with some cities)
10 “When you draw near to a city to fight against it, offer terms of peace to it. 11 And if it responds to you peaceably and it opens to you, then all the people who are found in it shall do forced labor for you and shall serve you. 12 But if it makes no peace with you, but makes war against you, then you shall besiege it.
6 - The Gibeonites stated they were from a distant country. Why would this matter unless they knew (and believed) of the distinction Moses gave regarding the cities inside and outside the Promised Land Deut 20:10-18
13 And when the Lord your God gives it into your hand, you shall put all its males to the sword, 14 but the women and the little ones, the livestock, and everything else in the city, all its spoil, you shall take as plunder for yourselves. And you shall enjoy the spoil of your enemies, which the Lord your God has given you. 15 Thus you shall do to all the cities that are very far from you, which are not cities of the nations here. 16 But in the cities of these peoples that the Lord your God is giving you for an inheritance, you shall save alive nothing that breathes, 17 but you shall devote them to complete destruction, the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.
9 - They knew of Yahweh specifically and believed the He saved His people from Egypt
They stated they knew Yahweh had done this
They were attempting to trick the Israelites out of fear that Yahweh might destroy them as He had the Egyptians
24 - They believed Yahweh’s command through Moses
This is not the first time in Joshua that we have seen God spare a Canaanite who believed in him (as limited as that belief may be)
Rahab in chap 2.
Possibility of the Gibeonites being part of the nethinim and seen as a positive part of the temple system (Ezra 2:43–58; 8:20)
The Anchor Yale Bible Dictionary Nethinim
There is evidence in the Talmud (m. Yebam. 2:4; m. Qidd. 4:1) that the Nethinim were viewed as foreigners, and the designation of them by Josephus as hierodouloi (“sacred slaves,” Ant 11.5.1 §128) implies their function as the menial laborers of the temple
In fact, if we explore the Old Testament, we will see that God will deal righteously with the righteous even when they are in the midst of the unrighteous:
Note Abraham's question to God regarding a similar situation in Sodom: "Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? Far be it from you to do such a thing-to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do what is right? Will you destroy the city if there are ten righteous in it?" Answer: No! (Gen. 18:23-32).)
5 And the people of Nineveh believed God. They called for a fast and put on sackcloth, from the greatest of them to the least of them. 6 The word reached the king of Nineveh, and he arose from his throne, removed his robe, covered himself with sackcloth, and sat in ashes. 7 And he issued a proclamation and published through Nineveh, “By the decree of the king and his nobles: Let neither man nor beast, herd nor flock, taste anything. Let them not feed or drink water, 8 but let man and beast be covered with sackcloth, and let them call out mightily to God. Let everyone turn from his evil way and from the violence that is in his hands. 9 Who knows? God may turn and relent and turn from his fierce anger, so that we may not perish.” 10 When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil way, God relented of the disaster that he had said he would do to them, and he did not do it.
Melchizedek (Genesis 14)
Egyptians (Exodus 12:38)
Jethro (Ex 18)
Balaam? (Num 22-24)
Caleb (Num 32:12)
Othniel (Judg 3:9)
Shamgar (Judg 3:31)
Jael (Judg 4-5)
Ruth the Moabite
Obed-Edom (2 Sam 6)
Uriah and Bathsheba (2 Sam 11-12)
Widow of Zarapeth (1 Kings17)
Naaman (2 Kings 5) Aramean commander came to Elisha
13 You will seek me and find me, when you seek me with all your heart.
This shows God’s heart is to save, not to destroy!
This is never seen more clearly than through the incarnation of Jesus!
If God’s default desire is to destroy the wicked, WE WOULD ALL BE GONE.
23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
We are ALL counted as and counted among the wicked!
Recognize the Seekers
Recognize the Seekers
God’s heart is for those seeking him
In one respect NO ONE seeks God without him beginning a work in their heart
Who told the Gibeonites the name of Yahweh?
Who told the Gibeonites about what Yahweh had done?
Who told the Gibeonites about the word of Yahweh?
Whomever did, told the Gibeonites enough about God for them to take action!
Who might God want to save around you?
We may be confused as to where someone is in their walk with Christ, but this doesn’t mean we stop - we put them in a place to see Jesus - through our words, actions, prayer, etc.
Joshua: No Falling Words The Hope under the People of God (9:22–27)
They were hereby brought into a situation where they would naturally acquire the knowledge of the true God and of his revealed will, were made to dwell in the courts of the Lord’s house, were honored with near access to him in the services of the sanctuary, and thus placed in circumstances eminently favorable to their spiritual and eternal interests.4
*How many of you attended a church before coming to Granger MC?
Recognize your Salvation
Recognize your Salvation
Recognize YOUR salvation
Recognize your SALVATION
Since God’s heart is to save, his heart is to save YOU!
However confused you may feel about God, Jesus, and where you really are, God’s heart will meet you as you reach for him.
You don’t need it all figured out!
11 Therefore remember that at one time you Gentiles in the flesh, called “the uncircumcision” by what is called the circumcision, which is made in the flesh by hands— 12 remember that you were at that time separated from Christ, alienated from the commonwealth of Israel and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. 13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.
COMMUNION
18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father. 19 So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, 20 built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus himself being the cornerstone, 21 in whom the whole structure, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord. 22 In him you also are being built together into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit.
