DAILY MANNA - MONDAY 29TH OCTOBER, 2018

BEWARE  OF  DECEIT

TEXT: JOSHUA 9:3-16

🔑📖 KEY VERSE: "And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD" (JOSHUA 9:14).

    People react to things differently. As many people come to Jesus Christ to accept His lordship and offer of salvation when they experience or hear of the supernatural work of God, some others come with open confrontation, bitter hatred and avowed persecution. The same thing happened when the nations in Canaan heard about the exploits and victories of the Israelites.

   The people of Gibeon and three other towns in the central highlands, came up with a different approach to defend themselves. They came to sue for peace but through trickery and deception. Some people say if Jacob had not lied to his father, Isaac, he would have missed his father’s blessing. They err. God had promised to bless him and to multiply his seed. He and his mother erroneously thought they could help God to carry out the promise.

   Similarly, many believers might wonder why Joshua, that great man of God and other elders of Israel were so easily deceived by this heathen nation of Gibeon. Before collecting victuals from the Gibeonites, they "asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD". This was a great mistake.

   Flattery and gifts corrupt and blindfold even people of God when the counsel of the Lord is not sought. A second look at Joshua’s pardon for the Gibeonites shows vividly the grace and mercy of God for sinners who come in total repentance. The Gibeonites’ agreement to serve the Israelites signifies their strong decision and determination to forsake their idolatry and sinful practices and accept the lordship of the God of Israel. The only way sinners can escape the judgment of God is through repentance, not by lies or deception.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: There is no short cut to salvation.

COVER to COVER: JOHN 11