Deception Point

Judges 1:27-36

"But Manasseh did not drive out the people of Beth Shan or Taanach or Dor or Ibleam or Megiddo and their surrounding settlements, for the Canaanites were determined to live in that land. When Israel became strong, they pressed the Canaanites into forced labor but never drove them out completely. Nor did Ephraim drive out the Canaanites living in Gezer, but the Canaanites continued to live there among them. Neither did Zebulun drive out the Canaanites living in Kitron or Nahalol, who remained among them; but they did subject them to forced labor. Nor did Asher drive out those living in Acco or Sidon or Ahlab or Aczib or Helbah or Aphek or Rehob, and because of this the people of Asher lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land. Neither did Naphtali drive out those living in Beth Shemesh or Beth Anath; but the Naphtalites too lived among the Canaanite inhabitants of the land, and those living in Beth Shemesh and Beth Anath became forced laborers for them. The Amorites confined the Danites to the hill country, not allowing them to come down into the plain. And the Amorites were determined also to hold out in Mount Heres, Aijalon and Shaalbim, but when the power of the house of Joseph increased, they too were pressed into forced labor. The boundary of the Amorites was from Scorpion Pass to Sela and beyond."

The recurring theme in these verses seem to be that even when Israel grew stronger, they did not drive out the remnants of the Canaanite peoples and instead subjected them into forced labour. History repeats itself and this reminds us of what happened just a generation earlier which could provide some detail albeit highly speculative to be applied to the current case — the Gibeonite Deception of Joshua 9:

Joshua 9:14-15 & 20-21

"The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not enquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath...This is what we will do to them: We will let them live, so that wrath will not fall on us for breaking the oath we swore to them. They continued, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water- carriers for the entire community." So the leaders' promise to them was kept."

Authors of the Living Life wrote yesterday about the Israelites making haste without enquiring of the Lord and the dangers of doing so.

Proverbs 16:3

"Commit your actions to the LORD, and your plans will succeed."

Lord, we ask for discernment and sound judgment throughout our lives. We humbly enquire of You to make straight our paths. Align our vision for our lives with Yours. We pray for practical wisdom in our daily dealings and trade. Enable us to fully obey you that we may succeed in all our endeavours, for Your glory, in Jesus Christ's name, amen.

~02.09.2013