External disguise to separate from this world but a heart really saying to Christ Jesus, “We are your servant”.

Joshua 9

Click for a description of the image and mark of the beast.

• Kings gather against Joshua and the Israelites in the territory on the west side of the Jordan River.
• External disguise with internal sincerity.
• External disguise, but within the heart are saying to Jesus Christ, “We are you servant.“
• Jesus Christ wants to hear our repentance as sinners from a sin-sick world.
• Provisions of the pretend ambassadors accepted as being genuine.
• The deception of the pretend ambassadors is discovered but they are allowed to live.

Kings gather against Joshua and the Israelites in the territory of the west side of the Jordan River.
“And it came to pass when all the kings who were on this side of the Jordan, in the hills and in the lowland 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 about it, that they gathered together to fight with Joshua and Israel with one mouth.” Joshua 9:1-2

Below, on the map to the left, Canaan is seen and is the promised land given to Joshua from the hand of the Lord [Joshua 1:1-3]. Joshua and the Israelites crossed the Jordan River from the east side {Joshua:3] into Canaan on the west side. The Jordan River is the black line in the middle of the picture and is better seen in the image to the right [modern day Israel]. All the kings on the west side of the Jordan didn’t like that Joshua and the Israelites crossed over into what they considered to be their territory. They considered their territory to stretch from about the west side of the Jordan to the Mediterranean Sea and to Lebanon in the north. This is the territory of modern-day State of Israel [except for the contested West Bank and Gaza Strip, as seen in the picture to the right]. The kings gathered to fight against Joshua and the Israelites.

The scripture verses of this section shine a light on what is happening with the State of Israel today. The Jewish people entered the territory on the west side of the Jordan in 1948, from all around the world. That is when the State of Israel was established. However, that began non-stop fighting against Israel with those who were already in the region. The government of the State of Israel has been in 18 wars since occupying Israel, and even a war in 1948, click here for a list of those wars. Today, the West Bank is contested territory as is the Gaza Strip. This reveals that there is no earthly promised land for the Jewish people on this earth. There is no earthly promised land, period.

God gathered the Jewish people to the State of Israel as the place where He unleashes His judgment on them, as quoted, “Therefore thus says the Lord God: ‘Because you have all become dross, therefore behold, I will gather you into the midst of Jerusalem. As men gather silver, bronze, iron, lead, and tin into the midst of a furnace, to blow fire on it, to melt it; so I will gather you in My anger and in My fury, and I will leave you there and melt you. Yes, I will gather you and blow on you with the fire of My wrath, and you shall be melted in its midst.” Ezekiel 22:19-21

If the Jewish people would have accepted Jesus as Christ and Son of God 2000 years ago, the State of Israel would never have existed, and the Holocaust would never have happened. That’s because as Christians, we do not have a country on this earth to call our own. Our country is the New Jerusalem in the new heaven and earth.

In today’s culture, which is global, the governing authorities have waged war against belief in God, coming to Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of sin, and living in the presence of the Holy Spirit. They intend to prohibit people from inheriting the eternal promised land of the New Jerusalem. As followers of Jesus Christ, we are marching onward to “Canaan land”, “We are marching on to Canaan, and Jehovah is our Guide; We are marching thro’ the desert, He is ever at our side. In the darkness, or the danger, we can never go astray, with Jehovah for our Leader and our Guide upon the way.” [Church Song]

External disguise with internal sincerity.
“But when 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.” Joshua 9:3-6

The inhabitants of Gibeon were Hivites and were among those who were rallied to go to war with Joshua and the Israelites. However, those of Gibeon wanted no part of coming against Joshua and his people. There are people in this world who do not want to be part of an atheistic culture that come against Jesus Christ to put Christianity into extinction, as described in Revelations 12. Like the people of Gibeon who heard of Joshua’s conquest, some people of this world have heard of the victory over sin and death won by Jesus Christ. They acknowledge themselves as the servants of their Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus.

The people of Gibeon didn’t want to be associated with the warmongering kings of the nearby area within the territory of Canaan. Some people of today’s world do not want to be associated with being members of an atheistic culture that has made war against the Holy Spirit. Some of the people of Gibeon pretended to be ambassadors from a land far away from Canaan, to detach themselves from hostile intentions towards Joshua and the Israelites. There are some in today’s world that will sidestep the truth to avoid attachment to today’s atheistic world. Even within their outward deceit, within their heart they really are detached from today’s culture and want to be part of the family of God through Jesus Christ. They fear not being accepted as they are, but “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Romans 5:8

The pretend ambassadors designed a lot of external deceit so that Joshua and his people would think they really were from a faraway land and not from Canaan at all. Some in this world want to distance themselves from today’s culture by being as different from them externally as possible.

The pretend ambassadors put old sacks on their donkeys, like some of today might drive old-looking cars to appear impoverished by today’s culture. They used old wineskins that were torn and mended, like some people of today might want to appear that their faith in the blood of Jesus Christ was being battered by this world. They put old and patched sandals on their feet like some of this world want to appear like they have been walking for a long time with Jesus Christ in this world of spiritual sand. They wore old garments like some of this world want to appear that the clothing of the Holy Spirit shows the signs of spiritual warfare from the corruption of this world. They brought bread that was moldy, like some of this world want to appear that feeding on the Bread of Life [Jesus Christ] is distasteful and an unwanted experience in this atheistic world.

The pretend ambassadors came to Joshua looking like people from a faraway land, nowhere near Canaan. Externally, they successfully distanced themselves from those meaning harm against Joshua and his people. Some of this world come to Jesus Christ looking like storm-battered Christians [externally] as they try to distance themselves from the atheistic culture that despise God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. “For the Lord does not see as man sees; for man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.” 1 Samuel 16:7 The hearts of the pretend ambassadors really were with Joshua and his people, even though they felt it was necessary to put on an external disguise to look like friends of Joshua. People seeking the favor of Jesus Christ don’t need to try to look like Christians externally because God already sees the heart of those who befriends Him.

The pretend ambassadors appeared friendly to Joshua and the Israelites, by external signs, and they said, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us.” The intent of their heart was true; they really did want to enter into a peace agreement with Joshua and his people. Likewise, some of this world make themselves look like Christians externally, and within their heart they really do want to reconcile to God through Jesus Christ, in the presence of the Holy Spirit.

External disguise, but within the heart are saying to Jesus Christ, “We are you servant.“
“Then the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you dwell among us; so how can we make a covenant with you? But they said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” Joshua 9:7.

The men of Israel said to the pretend ambassadors from Gibeon [Hivites] that perhaps they live in Canaan, where they were. That’s because the people occupying Canaan, before Joshua and the Israelites came, were planning to make war with them and chase them out. A covenant with them was impossible. In today’s atheistic culture [which is global], the followers of Jesus Christ are surrounded by people who are hostile to them. They want to chase Christianity out of existence and a peace agreement with them is impossible.

The pretend ambassadors immediately showed submission to the men of Israel by saying, “We are your servants.” Those words were sincere, from their heart. Likewise, people who disguise themselves as Christians externally might be doing so to detach themselves from today’s atheistic culture, and they really are saying within their heart, to Jesus Christ, “We are your servants.”

I often think of the nation of Israel surrounded by enemies on all sides in the Middle East. How could they ever negotiate a treaty or covenant with any country from that region? A peace agreement with them is impossible.

Jesus Christ wants to hear our repentance as sinners from a sin-sick world.
“And Joshua said to them, “Who are you, and where do you come from?” Joshua 9:8

After the pretend ambassadors [with a true heart] said to the men of Israel, “We are your servants”, Joshua wanted to know who they were and where they were from. When we offer ourselves to Jesus Christ, He wants to hear what we say about ourselves, who we think we are and where we say that we are from. Jesus wants to hear us humbly confess that we are sinners in need of His forgiveness and that we are from this sin-plagued world. “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:8-9

“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 Jordan—to Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who was at Ashtaroth.” Joshua 9:9-10

The pretend ambassadors feared Joshua and could not say the truth that they were from Canaan, living among those conspiring against Joshua and the Israelites. Some of this world are not able to confess to Jesus Christ that they are from among this sin-sick world but want to distance themselves as far as possible from any involvement in spiritual corruption.

The pretend ambassadors did not confess who they were or where they were from, but they did truthfully say that they came to Joshua because they heard of the name of the Lord, and the mighty victories in war. Some in this world are not able to confess that they are sinners living in a sin-sick world, but truthfully from within their heart, they come to the Lord who has the victory over sin and death. Everyone has heard, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

Provisions of the pretend ambassadors accepted as being genuine.
“Therefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spoke to us, saying, ‘Take provisions with you for the journey, and go to 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 provision 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.” Joshua 9:11-13

The pretend ambassadors truthfully said that they represented all of the inhabitants of Gibeon, and that they submissively offer themselves to Joshua and the Israelites. They truly desired a peace agreement to detach themselves from the warmongering. Today, there are those who want to make peace with God through Jesus Christ to detach themselves from participating in the hostilities brought against the followers of Jesus Christ, His Gospel, and all of Christianity.

The discrepancy with the pretend ambassadors had to do with the provisions they were carrying with them. They were from Canaan, so they didn’t need any provisions because Joshua and the Israelites were in Canaan. However, to make it look like they came from a far country, they brought dry and moldy bread as proof of the long journey they had made [along with other provisions]. They wanted Joshua to see that their provisions went bad during their “long journey”. One such provision that God gives us is the Bread of Life [Jesus Christ] who feeds us with the Holy Spirit. Some of this world want it to appear that they are suffering from the corruption of spiritual provisions, such as the Bread of Life, due to the spiritual attacks coming from this atheistic world. At the same time, in all honesty from within their heart, they desire to be fed from the provisions given from the hand of God.

“Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not inquire at the mouth 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 9:14-15

The men of Israel did not inquire of the Lord when they determined that the provisions of the pretend ambassadors were genuine. Today, that is like not inquiring of the Holy Spirit to determine if a person had been feeding on the spiritual provisions given through Jesus Christ. In the Holy Spirit, we know what provisions a person is feeding on because, “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” Matthew 7:16-18

Joshua made an agreement of peace with the pretend ambassadors and let them live, and the rulers of the Israelites validated the covenant made. God looks on our heart, not external appearances, when He makes a judgment about somebody. The pretend ambassadors put on a lot of external “makeup”, but their heart was truly intent to make peace with Joshua and the Israelites. In a sense, Joshua accidently made the right decision from the wrong focus. It’s possible that we could make the right judgment about somebody based on external appearances, but we cannot allow external appearances to influence our judgment.

The deception of the pretend ambassadors is discovered but they are allowed to live.
“And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them.” Joshua 9:16

After three days, the deception of the pretend ambassadors was discovered by the Israelites. By this time, the agreement of peace had already been made between the two [between the Israelites and the people of Gibeon]. They discovered that the pretend ambassadors were their neighbors, meaning the people of Gibeon actually lived in Canaan. The nations of Canaan had conspired against Joshua and the Israelites, but the people of Gibeon wanted no part of that conspiracy. As it turns out, within the heart, the people of Gibeon were truly neighborly friends to the Israelites.

In today’s world, there are some who put on external “makeup” to separate themselves from today’s atheistic culture by looking like a Christian. Although their external appearance is just a front to show to today’s culture, within their heart they really are neighborly friends to the followers of Jesus Christ. Despite the external pretenses, they really do desire to be the servants of Jesus Christ. Some Christians may make peace with others based on external Christian appearances, but what happens when the person is discovered to be a fraud externally? Then discovering that the person really does have a heartfelt desire to be a member of the family of Christ Jesus.

“Then the children of Israel journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kirjath Jearim. But the children of Israel did not strike them, because the rulers of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel. And all the congregation complained against the rulers.” Joshua 9:17-18

After the Israelites discovered that the pretend ambassadors were using external appearances to come across as real ambassadors, they were angered. They were angered because they were deceived, and they went to the cities where the pretend ambassadors came from. The Israelites had violent intent in their heart but did not bring harm to the men. The only reason they didn’t harm the men is because the rulers of Israel had already made a covenant of peace with them. Because of that, all of the Israelites protested against their rulers.

With all of the evil intent the Israelites had in their heart against the pretend ambassadors, the ambassadors had within their heart to truly befriend and join an alliance with Joshua and the Israelites. This is why our Lord looks on the heart and not external appearances. This is also why the Jewish people have been rejected by God and the Gentile [non-Jewish] have been accepted by God. “Do good, O Lord, to those who are good, and to those who are upright in their hearts.” Psalms 125:4 “He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.” John 1:11-13

“Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, ‘We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them. This we will do to them: We will let them live, lest wrath be upon us because of the oath which we swore to them.'” Joshua 9:19-20

The rulers of the Israelites promised not to harm the pretend ambassadors because of the oath they made to God to live in peace with them, which included living in peace with all of Gibeon. The rulers promised to let the men, and all of Gibeon, live because of the agreement of peace made with them.

As followers of Jesus Christ, He does a work of sanctification within our heart, soul, and mind through the Holy Spirit. This work of Holiness roots out the weeds of malice, anger, bitterness, hatred, violence, and murder. This sanctification builds self-control, patience, and perseverance within us. This gives us plenty of time to look past external appearances and to see the heart of a person. We know a person by the fruit that blossom to the surface from within their heart mind, and soul. “You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit.” Matthew 7:16-18

In the days of Jesus Christ, His followers grew exponentially, and they couldn’t be stopped by the Pharisees, Sadducees, nor any other Jewish entity. Today, Israel would have a lot of wrath on them if they decided to give America (a once Christian nation), and other historically Christian nations a hard time. Likewise, in the days of Jesus Christ, the Jewish nation couldn’t go on a killing spree because of the wrath they would face from the Romans. Joshua also knew it was best to let the people of Gibeon live,

“…be subject to rulers and authorities, to obey, to be ready for every good work, to speak evil of no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing all humility to all men.” Titus 3:1-2

“And the rulers said to them, “Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them.” Joshua 9:21

The rulers let the pretend ambassadors and all of Gibeon live, but in exchange they would be put into the service of the Israelites as woodcutters and water carriers. The inhabitants of Gibeon were happy for this because with all of the pretend external appearances, their ambassadors had a heart desiring a peaceful alliance with the Israelites. As followers of Jesus Christ, our sins are forgiven, we are put into the service of God through Jesus Christ, and we are given life, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” John 3:16-17

As followers of Jesus Christ, we are the water carriers bringing the Water of Life [the Gospel of Jesus Christ] to whoever we can. To the congregation of this world. We are the woodcutters trying to carve a way into the souls of unbelief to bring a sprout of belief. In a sense, we are carrying the Gospel waters that the Jewish people should be carrying themselves, but they refuse to carry the Cross of Jesus Christ.

“Then Joshua called for them, and he spoke to them, saying, ‘Why have you deceived us, saying, ‘We are very far from you,’ when you dwell near us? “Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you will be freed from being slaves—woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.” Joshua 9:22-23

Joshua wanted to know why the pretend ambassadors lied when they said, “We are very far from you.” Actually, they lived very near to the Israelites in Canaan. Because of that lie, they would be cursed and none of them would be free. They would always be woodcutters and water carriers.

As people who have a heart desiring to live at peace with God through Jesus Christ, we should never lie about not being close to Him. Also, we should never lie about how close we are to the Jewish people. That’s because our Lord Jesus is Jewish, from the tribe of Judah. Branches of the Jewish culture have been broken off from God’s family tree, because of unbelief. In their place, we have been grafted into the family of God through Jesus Christ. However, don’t be high-minded about that because if God didn’t spare the natural branches, He may not spare us either, “You will say then, “Branches were broken off that I might be grafted in.” Well said. Because of unbelief they were broken off, and you stand by faith. Do not be haughty, but fear. For if God did not spare the natural branches, He may not spare you either.” Romans 11:19-21

As followers of Jesus Christ, the process of sanctification creates humbleness within us to establish humility as a way of life. Being a water carrier and woodcutter for Jesus Christ is a good place to be.

There are many things that the Jewish nation considers a curse, which God has turned into a blessing through Jesus Christ. They even called Christ a curse, who is actually the One who carries the waters of eternal life to us, “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”).” Galatians 3:13 Deuteronomy 21:23 is where it is said that everyone is cursed who dies on a tree.

“So they answered Joshua and said,’ Because your servants were clearly told that the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you; therefore we were very much afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing.” Joshua 9:24

The pretend ambassadors, with a sincere heart to make peace with Joshua and the Israelites, explained why they did what they did. They expressed their belief in the word of God when they said, “…the Lord your God commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land…” They expressed knowing that all of the inhabitants of the land of Canaan would be destroyed to give it to Joshua and all of the Israelites. They pretended to be ambassadors because they were afraid of Joshua and the Israelites. They didn’t want the Israelites to know that they were from the land of Canaan while they were pursuing a peace treaty with them.

As people who come to God through Jesus Christ, we first realize that while we were still sinners Christ died to atone for our sin. We come to Him in those sinful external clothing, but within our heart we have a sincere desire to live at peace with Him. We express our belief in the word of God, we believe the eternal promised land is for the family of God through Jesus Christ, and we believe this present heaven and earth will be destroyed. We fear God as the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and leads to our Salvation.

“And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.” Joshua 9:25

We say to Jesus Christ what the pretend ambassadors said to Joshua, “And now, here we are, in your hands; do with us as it seems good and right to do to us.” Just as I am, without one plea, but that thy blood was shed for me, and that thou bidd’st me come to thee, O Lamb of God, I come, I come.” [Church Song]

“So he did to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they did not kill them.” Joshua 9:26

When we come to God through Jesus, we are delivered from the hand of death, delivered from sin and death. “Yes, we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises the dead, who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver us; in whom we trust that He will still deliver us…” 2 Corinthains 1:9-10

“And that day Joshua made them woodcutters and water carriers for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, in the place which He would choose, even to this day.” Joshua 9:27

The altar of the Lord is our heart where we sacrifice ourselves to be the home of the Holy Spirit. As carriers of the water of life [the Gospel of Jesus Christ], we want to feed into that, and the congregation is all the people who openly receive the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We rejoice to be the water carriers and woodcutters of the Lord.

---

“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:11