Excerpt from Land of Promise, Chapter IV–Gibeon, Wisdom, Humility and the Fear of the Lord

Gibeon, City of the Hills, we look to you for you have given us a glimpse into the mysteries of the Fear of the LORD, and submission to the Almighty. You have shown us your humility with great wisdom in your interplay with the LORD of Hosts. Who was it amongst your elders who so adroitly proposed the ruse you used to save your lives? Your craftiness and cleverness was as “wise as serpents, yet harmless as doves” (cf. Matthew 10:16). But, your ruse did rouse the wrath of the Kings of Canaan, who have now become your enemy. Adonizedek, King of Jerusalem; Hoham, King of Hebron, Piram, King of Jarmuth; Japhia, King of Lachish; and Debir, King of Eglon have heard how you have entered into covenant with Joshua and the Tribes, and they have determined to join in League for War.

Yes, by subtelty and on pretense of coming as ambassadors from afar, with your dry and moldy bread, your cracked wineskins, old shoes and garments, you have come before Joshua and the Elders of Israel and have declared: “We are your servants. . .we are in your hand” (Joshua 9:11,25). This you did from your awe of the LORD and the things you heard of Him: His mighty deeds in Egypt and beyond Jordan with Sihon, King of Heshbon, and Og, King of Bashan; and now have witnessed what was done to Jericho and Ai. This you knew, as Rahab did in Jericho, to be in accordance with the command of the LORD given to Moses to take all the Land, and to destroy all the inhabitants thereof (cf. Joshua 9:24). Therefore, in your faith you went unto Joshua and have now by Oath of the Treaty joined with Israel, and so shall remain in the Land.

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