FLEXIBLE or RIGID Joshua 9 Motomichi Harada Flexible

FLEXIBLE or RIGID? Joshua 9 Motomichi Harada

Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

d o G a Not b ! d o EXCELLENT!!! ter rib le Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9) OK

Know what is “good and right” in the eyes of the LORD Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

Background The kings: the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites (9: 1; 3: 10) Deuteronomy 20: 17 “completely destroy them [the kings]… as the LORD your God has commanded you” Gibeonites = the Hivites (9: 7) Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

GIDEON TENSION: DIE or SURVIVE? ? ? Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

Focus: 1. what the kings did 2. what the Gibeonites did 3. what the Israelites and Joshua did Know what is “good and right” in the eyes of the LORD Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

I. The kings joined together to fight Israel (1 -2) Joshua 9: 1 a Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things. . . Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

I. The kings joined together to fight Israel (1 -2) Joshua 9: 1 a Now when all the kings west of the Jordan heard about these things. . . Joshua 9: 2 they came together to make war against Israel. Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

II. The Gibeonites tricked the Israelites for a peace treaty out of fear (3 -15, 24) Joshua 9: 3 -4 a However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse … What is the trick? How did the Israelites respond? What's the Gibeonites' motive? Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

II. The Gibeonites tricked the Israelites for a peace treaty out of fear (3 -15, 24) Joshua 9: 24 Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

III. Joshua saved the Gibeonites who “repented” (16 -27) Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

III. Joshua saved the Gibeonites who “repented” (16 -27) Joshua 9: 24 Your servants were clearly told how the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this. Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

III. Joshua saved the Gibeonites who “repented” (16 -27) Joshua 9: 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you. Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

III. Joshua saved the Gibeonites who “repented” (16 -27) Joshua 9: 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you. The Gibeonites - acknowledged the LORD; - confessed their wrong doing; - asked for mercy in surrender. Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

III. Joshua saved the Gibeonites who “repented” (16 -27) Joshua 9: 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you. What is “good and right”? Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

III. Joshua saved the Gibeonites who “repented” (16 -27) Joshua 9: 25 We are now in your hands. Do to us whatever seems good and right to you. What is “good and right”? → something or somebody that is "good and right" in the eyes of the LORD Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

III. Joshua saved the Gibeonites who “repented” (16 -27) Joshua 9: 26 -27 So Joshua saved them from the Israelites, and they did not kill them. 27 That day he made the Gibeonites woodcutters and water carriers for the community and for the altar of the LORD at the place the LORD would choose. And that is what they are to this day. Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

What is “good and right” in the eyes of the LORD? Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

What is “good and right” in the eyes of the LORD? Show mercy to those who repent (Be flexible in showing mercy) Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)

What is “good and right” in the eyes of the LORD? Show mercy to those who repent (Be flexible in showing mercy) AND Keep your promises (Be rigid in keeping promises) Flexible or Rigid? (Joshua 9)