Chapter 9:16-22
The “dry and mouldy” bread with which the ambassadors of Gibeon deceived Joshua and the princes of Israel speak to us now of beliefs and religious forms and ceremonies in the church which, because of their antiquity, are looked upon as sacred. How seldom is the question asked, Are these things true according to the word of God? Instead, the fact that they are old is enough for many.
The “old garments” the Gibeonites wore carry this same thought of antiquity. Garments speak of our walk and ways, and how many live and do things in a religious way because their parents and generations before them did so, without inquiring of the Lord if this is the way He would have them to walk in.
But it is not God’s way to provide His children with stale bread. On the contrary He feeds our souls with that same Bread which He Himself enjoys. “My Father giveth you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is He which cometh down from heaven, and giveth life unto the world.” The Lord Jesus is “the bread of life"; and He has said, “He that cometh to Me shall never hunger.” John 6:32, 33, 35. The manna fell faithfully every morning along the wilderness march. Christ is the true Manna for us, And new supplies each hour we meet While traveling home to God.
Wine speaks of joy, and “wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up” tell of joys long departed, but the outward form of things kept up. Now the Christian is told to “Rejoice in the Lord alway,” and this is a joy that does not run out as long as we are going on with Him.
The princes of Israel had respect to the “old sacks, the old wine bottles, the old garments and shoes, and the dry mouldy bread,” and they made a league with the Gibeonites. Thus the enemy gained a foothold in the very camp of Israel.
In the history of the church, we can see how Satan has led men to adopt “the traditions of men” and things of antiquity to set aside the truth of God. He is a master in deceit, and we too can fail if we are like these men of Israel who “asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.” May we be much in prayer and humbly following God’s word so that we may be kept from failing.
Three days later Israel found out that these Gibeonites were their neighbors. The people were very angry with the princes and wanted to destroy the Gibeonites. But the princes said, We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel, so therefore we may not touch them. Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water for all the people. And so they did, but they only proved a great sorrow and disgrace to Israel.
When Satan cannot overcome the people of God, it is often his way to try and deceive them. He likes to get God’s children to keep company with the world, because then he can make them forget God and be content to go on as the world.
God has said, Every foot where your feet shall tread shall be yours, but Israel lost the cities of the Gibeonites. Their feet did not tread there. God allowed them to feel what they had lost by their unfaithfulness.
ML-09/18/1977