Episode 2542 - Lesson 2 - Wednesday Oct. 08 - Conflicting Values

Conflicting ValuesRead Joshua 9:1–20. What are the similarities and differences betweenthe story of Rahab and that of the Gibeonites? Why are they meaningful?________________________________________________________________________________________________________This chapter of Joshua starts by informing us that the Canaanitekings who usually ruled over small city-states decided to create acoalition against the Israelites. By contrast, the inhabitants of Gibeondecided to establish a covenant with Israel.In order to trick the Israelites into making a covenant with them, theGibeonites resort to the scheme of being ambassadors from a foreigncountry. According to Deuteronomy 20:10–18, God made a distinctionbetween the Canaanites and people who lived outside the PromisedLand.The word translated as “craftily” or “cunningly” can be used with apositive meaning, denoting prudence and wisdom (Prov. 1:4; Prov. 8:5,12), or negatively, implying criminal intent (Exod. 21:14, 1 Sam. 23:22,Ps. 83:3). In the case of the Gibeonites, behind their treacherous actionlies a less-destructive intent of self-preservation.The speech of the Gibeonites is strikingly similar to that of Rahab.Both acknowledge the power of Israel’s God, and both acknowledgethat Israel’s success is not simply a human feat. In contrast to otherCanaanites, they do not rebel against Yahweh’s plan to grant the landto the Israelites, and they admit that the Lord Himself is driving thesenations out before Israel. The news of the deliverance from Egypt,and the victories over Sihon and Og, prompt both Rahab and theGibeonites to seek an alliance with the Israelites. However, instead offully acknowledging their willingness to surrender to the God of Israel,as Rahab does, the Gibeonites resort to a subterfuge.The law of Moses made provisions for learning the will of God insuch cases as this (Num. 27:16–21). Joshua should have inquired forthe will of the Lord and avoided the deception of the Gibeonites.The fundamental duty of a theocratic leader, and of any Christianleader, is to seek God’s will (1  Chron. 28:9, 2  Chron. 15:2, 2  Chron.18:4, 2  Chron. 20:4). By neglecting it, the Israelites were compelledeither to violate the fundamental conditions of conquering the land or tobreak an oath made in the name of the Lord, which was equally binding.How often have you found yourself struggling between whatappears to be two conflicting biblical values?