"Such Great Lengths"

And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordon, in the hills in the lowlands and in all the coasts of the Great Sea toward Lebanon--the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite-- heard of it, that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one accord.

But the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they worked craftily, and went and pretended to be ambassadors. And they took old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins torn and mended, old and patched sandals on their feet, and old garments on themselves; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.

And they went to Joshua, to the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us."

But the men of Israel said to them, "Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make  a covenant with you?"

And they said to Joshua, "We are your servants." And Joshua said to them, "Who are you, and where do you come from?"

So they said, to him: "From a very far country your servants have come, because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordon--to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.

Therefore all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, "Take provisions with you for the journey, and go meet them, and say to them, "We are your servants; now therefore, make a covenant with us." This bread of ours we took hot for our provisions from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.

And these wineskins which we filled were new, and see, they are torn; and these our garments and our sandals have become old because of the very long journey."

Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them.................  Joshua 9:1-27,10:1-14
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The account found in Joshua 9 above continues on with some pretty interesting events that follow, including the discovery that they had been tricked three days later and the sun and moon standing still at Joshua's command. While I would normally be talking more about some of that today I have something else that stood out as I read this section of scripture.

At first, when I 'sought His counsel' about today's message and the Lord directed me here I thought I was going to be talking about... "Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord." Joshua 9:14 What an important thing to address; seeking His counsel; but as soon as I got here and started reading He showed me another thought. His thought for us today has to do with something else as well.

The thought that He spoke to me and the thing that He would have us consider today is this..."Look at the lengths that they went to." It says that there were six nations that had come together as one army to stand against Joshua and Israel. And even though it would have been the natural thing for them to align themselves with those six nations to go up against Joshua and the Israelites, They didn't!  Instead it says they 'worked craftily' and came up with a different plan in order to seek a covenant of peace with Joshua and the Israelites."

Look at the lengths that they went to to make sure they were on the same side as God. Why? Because they had heard. It says that it was 'because of the name of the Lord your God; for we have heard of His fame, and all that He did in Egypt, and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordon--to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.' They had heard and believed that God was going to be the winner in any battle, even one with six nations coming together as one.

Later in the chapter in verses 22-25 we see Joshua asking them why they had come and deceived them. They responded with..."Because it was certainly told your servants that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. And now here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us."

A heathen people went to great lengths to make sure that they were on God's side because they heard that God had made a promise. They heard and believed in that promise. They even went so far as to make sure they had covered every detail right down to moldy bread, and worn out clothes in order to 'work craftily' and to get a covenant of peace with Joshua. They had heard what He had promised. They heard what He had already done to Jerhico and Ai. They heard and believed that God was well able to do all that He had promised and they were afraid for their lives. They had decided that a covenant of peace was their only hope!

So, His word as I sought His counsel this morning is this: "Look at the lengths they went to! This heathen people chose Me. They chose to covenant with Me. How much more should my people trust and believe that I will bring about all that I have declared. How much more should my people tend to the details of their lives and stand in faith. How much more should My people trust Me as I perform My word in the earth on behalf of those who trust and believe in Me?"

Are we, His people, willing to go to 'such great lengths' to have our life be in Him. Are we willing to go to such great lengths, or how about even the greatest length necessary? Are we willing to 'ask His counsel' as we go about our day?