JOSHUA 9 OPPOSITION It often happens when we have had a victory and a significant spiritual experience that Satan will seek to take advantage of our sense of well-being and complacency. There was recovery after defeat Sin had been dealt with, and God had given a victory in a very strategic location. Israel had seen the smoke of the sacrifices rising above Mt. Ebal. The ark was in the center of the people. The word of God was read and written. Surely when all was going right, we are able to go ahead with confidence. However, we need to realize we can always expect opposition if we are going to "live godly in Christ Jesus." Satan knows we are most vulnerable when we are exhilarated by victory and think our fellowship with God is finally and permanently established. True we are positionally secure, but our spiritual condition is a daily matter. There is not a substitute for daily communion with God. We need God when we are at peace as much or more than when we are engaged in spiritual warfare. A battle won does not necessarily means a victorious war. A battle lost doesn’t mean everything is hopeless. As long as sin lasts, there will be conflict. No sin can be treated lightly. To compromise with Satan is to court disaster. The cause of defeat is discovered by prayer, but it takes more than prayer to recover lost ground. We do not subdue Satan in a sudden moment of victory. Faith and obedience to our Lord, are the secrets of victorious living. Israel was encamped at Gilgal as the well-planned conquest of Canaan was unfolding. Joshua had led the army right into the center of the land and the Lord had given victory in key locations. The north was now separated from the south and the leaders of the enemy buried their differences and came together in unity against Israel. When God is working His will through His people, there will be united opposition against anything that is against the world, the flesh and the devil. Joshua’s strategy for winning was to drive a wedge west from Jericho into the center of the land, thus splitting enemy opposition. Then they turned south to deal with the southern foes. Lastly, they turned north to finish up dealing with the enemy.
This was not a hit-and-miss strategy. We need to apply divine strategy to daily living rather than live our lives in a hit-and-miss fashion. Far too often Christians just let things happen rather than live with disciplined action. The result is, many times we are out-maneuvered by Satan who is a master at strategy. The roar of the lion is no more dangerous than the hiss of the snake. Joshua knew enough to talk to God before leading troops into battle. Open opposition will come when we refuse to compromise the truth of God in order to establish an ecumenical type of counterfeit Christianity. Satan promotes alliances between God's people and the world. He makes it seem so reasonable that any form of "Christianity" is okay and we should be part of it. It may not be exactly what people might say, but the deceptive motivation is that we will bring peace on earth ourselves when we make everyone happy.
This peace treaty seemed innocent enough, so Joshua and the leaders made this decision on their own. By failing to seek God’s guidance, they had to deal with angry people and an awkward alliance. It is important that we understand that "with one accord," those who do not want biblical Christianity will align against those who obey the word of God alone. To accept the Bible only as our source of information for doctrine and conduct is not acceptable to nominal "Christianity." Satan unites the enemy by submerging secondary issues between them, to stop the advance of God’s people. Every victory a Christian wins in his/her own life, is an invitation for an assault by the enemy. Blessings and battles go together. The Gibeonites came under guise of a long journey. They were wise enough to say nothing about Jericho and Ai. They referred only to the Israelites in the wilderness. The Gibeonites asserted they fully respected, honored and believed in the God of Israel. Satan knows that a committed Christian will not be deceived by an open frontal attack. The child of God seeking to go on for the Lord, needs to be constantly on his guard.
Satan knows overt opposition does not always achieve the objective he has when he goes about "as a roaring lion." Another tactic he used successfully in the past, and still does, is the subtle, deceptive hiss of the serpent to infiltrate right into the center of God's people. This covert opposition is more dangerous and much more difficult to deal with if we let our guard down even for a moment. He suggests there are certain parts of our lives that are very trifling compared to our devotion to the Lord. He suggests there are areas of life for which we have been given no command so “just go ahead; use your common sense; don’t overdo it.” He would declare himself to be a fundamentalist; a genuine Bible-believer who would not for a moment disbelieve in the Risen Lord and the Second Coming of Christ.
The Gibeonites introduced themselves to the "men of Israel," not just to the leadership of the nation. The unity of believers is very different that the unity of opposition. The leaders of the opposition made the decision to fight the people of God. Even though Israel was not a democratic society, the influence of those "men of Israel" who did not take "counsel at the mouth of the Lord," was such that even Joshua made the same mistake they had made before. Satan promotes alliances between believers and the world by having the people of the world use religious talk and apparent submission to truth in the energy of the flesh. The Gibeonites knew about the deliverance from Egypt and the defeat of two kings east of Jordan. But they did not mention the recent victories at Jericho and Ai lest their deceptive story of coming from a "very far country" be exposed.
Lessons for us: neglect of prayer always leads to trouble and destroys discernment. It suggests pride in our own judgment which is fatal. Things that may not seem to matter, can ruin one’s life. The power of Christian living is lost when we give Satan one inch. Never trust your own judgment or think you can match Satan without God’s help. When the pressure is on to act quickly, stop and refer everything to God in prayer. When you are in doubt, stand still. Never act until you pray. Even when we have made mistakes, the war can still be won. Keep your word, integrity and principles and after confession and humility before God, He can still use you. The sin which bound us, may be the blessing that brings us to repentance, forsaking it, restoration and a more fully consecrated life.
Truly committed Christians know their need of God in the good times as well as in times of open opposition. We become complacent in self-satisfaction, and when we are lazy and indulgent, we are in danger of compromise. At such times when something unusual comes along, special care must be taken lest we act in haste and make a mistake that cannot be rectified. When people who profess to be saved approach an assembly for fellowship, we need to "try the spirits" to see who they are and what is the reason for their action. No matter what the saints as a whole think, those who lead God's people must take care to be guided by the Lord and His wisdom. It is easy to make errors in judgment when we use only our own wisdom. We forfeit real blessings when we try to add to our numbers by allying with those who come with a hidden agenda. It is incumbent upon us to seek wisdom from God in every incident and situation that arises. Our knowledge and experience, does not keep us from making bad moral judgments at times.
To "take everything to God in prayer" is a fundamental necessity in making decisions and forming judgments. God gives strength, courage and wisdom to endure opposition and see through deception. It is important to take time to carefully consider a matter, rather then to act in haste and suffer consequences that have to be lived with for a long time. It is not only unwise, but wrong, to act only on what we see. Careful consideration gives us times to see beneath the surface of a matter. In this way we apply lessons learned from mistakes in the past. These must be taken to consider all parts of a decision instead of rushing ahead.
Prayer makes us aware of the causes of defeat, our need and God's will as we apply the principles of His word to a matter. Prayer will provide for us the wisdom we need. "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not." Neglect of prayer leads to lack of discernment. Neglect of prayer leads to pride of self and our accomplishments. Neglect of prayer leads to negative consequences that last a long time. Neglect of prayer makes important things seem trivial. We dare not trust our own judgment without consulting God in order to bring about peace. We can make serious mistakes that have consequences we will have to accept. Still, when we return to the Lord, He can use us. Blessings and battles are not far apart.
The Gibeonites lied, it is true, but I cannot do anything about what a person says, only my reaction to it. That is what I am responsible for. Often when we make inquires into a matter, the replies are a mixture of lies with some truth. The Gibeonites indicated they believed in the God of Israel. Temptation and opposition in our lives indicate spiritual progress that Satan wants to stop. If everything in our lives is smooth and easy-going, something is really wrong. The enemy of our souls is not worried about us and what we will do.
Agreements and relationships entered into knowingly or unknowingly, have to be honored. Our perception may be clouded and that is why we need God and His word to guide us. What can we do when we have been deceived? Unintentional mistakes have consequences. To those, we need to apply biblical wisdom in an appropriate way to deal with them. God, through Moses had instructed Israel that those from far away who came to live with Israel, were to be servants. The Gibeonites were given menial tasks to do, and served Israel as bondmen, but their lives were spared. It is an important lesson for us to learn not to "lay hands suddenly" on any person. We need God in all of our decision making because opposition comes from many sources and directions.