Joshua was fooled into making a treaty with the Gibeonites because he did not consult God through the council already established in the Law, as outlined in Exodus 23:30-32. The Gibeonites disguised themselves and told a sob story instead of bringing the truth, similar to how false teachers will disguise themselves as good men and have only sob stories, not the truth, as referenced in various Bible verses. While Joshua was wise, his failure to consult God led to damage being done because he was not aware of the Gibeonites' true intentions, showing the importance of relying on God through established counsel.
2. Joshua 9
• The Gibeonites had a sob story
• False Teachers have nothing but sob stories
• 1st Tim. 1:3
• The Gibeonites disguised themselves as Good men
• False Teachers will disguise themselves as Good men
• 2 Cor. 11:13
• The Gibeonites did not bring the Truth
• “The Truth will set you free” – John 8:32
3. Joshua was fooled
• NOT because he was unwise
• Joshua was in that position because of his wisdom
• NOT because the Gibeonites were too clever
• Was not Jericho too strong?
• NOT because it was “just a silly mistake”
• The damage had already been done
4. They did not ask the Council of the
LORD
• There was Council already in the Law
• Exodus 23:30-32
• Joshua could have asked / Why did he not?
• Was it his pride?
• Did he not want to “bother God” – Matt 7:7-11
• Did he just simply forget?
