Deception

 

    Deception is a concept that everyone knows.  It is something that seems to come natural for self preservation or to get what one wants out of life.  A person can be deceptive by omitting parts of the truth, lying right out, or manipulating another person's emotions.  Deception is the act of deceiving the facts or conditions.  It is intentional trickery or cheating as a tactical resource.  

    The Hebrew nation could not lose and that made the kings of the land very nervous.  The kings decided to unite to work against them.  It was their best chance to keep their land and people.  One nation went so far as to dress as people in distress and carried moldy food to gain the compassion of the Hebrew nation.

    The Hebrews clothes lasted 40 years in the desert, but now they were falling apart.  Could you imagine having the same small wardrobe for 40 years.  Most of us can't even fit into the same clothes in ten years.  God had provided manna for them for 40 years.  It may have been a boring meal, but they never had to learn how to properly prepare food very well.  

    The Hebrew nation was preoccupied with their immediate issues when the Hivites came to them to surrender and in their deceptive vulnerability with the ruse of a truce.  I think their appearance is why Joshua had compassion on them.  He could empathize.  Joshua was eager to not have to fight another group of people so he agreed not to attack their cities.

    They claimed to live far away when in reality they lived next door.  The deception of the Hivites cursed them.  For the rest of their history they were wood cutters and water carriers for God's people.  Their deception turned them into slaves.  They lied in fear, but it cost them their free lives.

    Joshua should have consulted God before making the treaty.  There are people out there that will manipulate a compassionate heart.  God can't be manipulated, so even if it appears to be cut and dry we need to consult God on all of our issues to avoid major mistakes.  

Joshua  9