Our worship, our offering of a sacrifice of praise begins with God, according to his graciousness, calling us to enter into His presence. Remember the book of Joshua is about God's faithfulness. We see God's prevailing grace for the well being of His people. Before application comes examination. The Gibeonite deception is a big part of the chapter. But there is a deeper question - why didn't God just destroy them? why did God permit Joshua and the elders to intervene and keep the covenant and spare the Gibeonites? The Israelites marched for 3 days to the cities of the Gibeonites with the intention of destroying them. And when the leaders intervened, they grumbled against the leaders. In verses 19-20 if the Israelites go back on their oath, then the wrath of God would be upon them. Two wrongs don't make a right. Joshua and the leaders sinned in not asking God before taking an oath. But the oath had not been invalidated by God. Joshua does something amazing with the Gibeonites by making them servants of the tabernacle and the temple perpetually. So Joshua puts them to work in the service of the Lord.
1) Why doesn't God destroy sinners right away? 2) Why doesn't God destroy his and our enemies right away? 3) Why doesn't God destroy our sin nature right away?
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