Joshua

Liz Hoyt · Tidal Church Moncton · July 2, 2023 · Give Me a Break series

Liz Hoyt looks at Joshua 9, where Joshua made a treaty with the Gibeonites without asking the Lord's advice. She shows that God cares about the little things as much as the big ones, and that seeking Him daily builds trust and reliance on Him.

More from Liz Hoyt · The Give Me a Break series

Topics: Faith, Prayer, Discipleship

Transcript

[0:00] But it has been a privilege for a few years, tend to be here and serve you parents, grandparents, families with the kids. And it has been a joy and our privilege and my girls have enjoyed growing up here. But I digress. So I wanted to start with a story. A little bit of history about our family. So not that long ago, but I guess it's longer than I thought. It's 17 years ago when our family decided we needed to make a big decision in our life. It was a turning point in our family. We thought, it's now, it's time. We need to get a puppy. Our family of five decided to launch down the journey of finding a new puppy. And it took us all of a few days to find the perfect one.

[0:52] Adorable, cuddly. Actually, I looked for a picture of him and I couldn't find it, but he was adorable, cuddly. He was amazing. The girls were ecstatic and the parents were oblivious, as always, to what lay ahead. And I remember going to pick him up. Cooper was his name and he was a beagle. And we went to pick him up. And I remember saying, "Do you think we should pray about this?" To which we both replied, "Nah, it's just a dog." Let me come back to him later. But let's dive into Joshua for a second, and I promise Cooper and Joshua will have some kind of connection here soon. So we know Joshua. Last week we talked about Moses. So Joshua was second in command to Moses.

[1:41] And we know that Moses passed the leadership baton to Joshua. And he began the journey of leading the Israelites to claim the promised land, Canaan. So Joshua, he was on mission to do what God had called him to do with the Israelites, and he was on mission to do what God had called him specifically to do. Now let's just take a quick second and see what kind of a guy this Joshua guy was. So if we look at Joshua, he was a man that trusted in God. We see Joshua kind of first in Numbers, the book of Numbers, when Moses had sent out 12 spies to scout out the land.

[2:28] Now 10 had come back and 10 were discouraged and like, "This place is awesome, but we can't do this. I think we should just throw our hands up now and head back, it's over." But Joshua and Caleb came and they trusted in the words that God gave them, that He would give them this land. And they came back with promise that this place is awesome and God is going to deliver. So Joshua was a man that trusted God. Joshua was also wise, as it says in Deuteronomy 3:4-9. A scripture we'll go back to, we'll skip that, it's fine. Deuteronomy 3:4-9, I get too into my story. But Deuteronomy talks about, "Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom."

[3:20] He was wise, for Moses had placed his hands on him and the Israelites listened to him and did just what the Lord had commanded Moses. So we know that Joshua trusted God. We know that Joshua was wise, we know he was obedient, as it says in Joshua 4:15 to 17. And it says something else because I clearly have not marked my Bible correctly. The Lord told Moses, "Instruct the priest, carry the ark of the covenant law, to come up from the Jordan." So Joshua instruct the priest, come up from the Jordan. What I'm saying is Joshua's obedient. God said, do it, and he did it. He was obedient. And lastly, Joshua was faithful, as it says in Joshua 24:29-31. "And after these things, Joshua son of Nun, the servant of the Lord, he died at the age of 110.

[4:15] And from here until beyond before we knew that he lived faithfully for God and they buried him in the land of his inheritance at Timnath Serah in the hill country of Ephraim, north of Mount Gaash. Israel served the Lord throughout the lifetime of Joshua and of the elders who outlived him and who had experienced everything the Lord had done for Israel." Joshua was trusting. He was wise, he was obedient, he was faithful. And we know that the book of Joshua spans about 25 years. Through that entire time Joshua faithfully led Israel through battles to gain the promised land, Canaan. God called Joshua. He answered.

[5:03] He trusted, he followed and he was faithful. But if we take a look at Joshua chapter 9, there was a little bit of something in there that was amiss in Joshua's behavior. Now the Bible talks of seven nations of Canaan. So we talked, we always talk about Canaan, the promised land. Well, it talks about there's seven nations of Canaan: the Amorites, the Hittites, the Jebusites, the Hivites, the Perizzites and the Girgashites. And the Israelites were told not to make treaties with any of these people. These nations were technically sinful, they were bad, really bad. They were full of sin.

[5:50] God didn't want His people to associate with them, didn't want them to be a part of those nations. I mean, one of the things that they did is they actually even, threw their infant sacrifices into the fire. False gods. This is not a place that they wanted God's people to associate with. And there was a nation, the Hivites, that we talked about, and the subgroup of that were the Gibeonites. All this to say, with that in mind, let's read Joshua chapter 9, if I can find it. This is what happens when you mark your Bible. So with that in mind, keep this in mind as we're reading this. "When the news reached all of the kings on the west side of the Jordan and the hill country, the foothills and all along the Mediterranean coast as far as Lebanon, including, yet again, the Hittites, Amorites, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and the Jebusites, they formed an alliance to fight against Joshua and Israel.

[6:48] When the Israel residents of Gibeon, the Gibeonites, heard what Joshua did to Jericho and Ai, they did something very clever. They collected some provisions and put worn-out sacks on their donkeys. And along with worn-out wineskins that were ripped and patched, they had worn-out patched sandals on their feet and dressed in worn-out clothes. Although bread was dry and moldy, they came to Joshua at the camp of Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, 'We have come from a distant land, make a treaty with us.' The men of Israel said to the Hivites, 'Perhaps you live near us. So how can we make a treaty with you?'" 'Cause remember, they were not allowed to make a treaty. God said, don't make a treaty with these people. "But they said to Joshua, 'We are willing to be your subjects.' So Joshua said to them, 'Who are you and where do you come from?' They told them, 'Your subjects, they have come from a far off land because of the reputation of the Lord your God.

[7:54] For we have heard the news about all He did in Egypt and all He did for the two Amorite kings on the other side of the Jordan, King Sihon of Heshbon and King Og of Bashan and Ashtaroth. Our leaders and all who live in our land told us, take provisions on your journey and go meet them. Tell them we are willing to be your subjects and make a treaty with us. This bread of ours was warm when we packed it in our homes the day we started out to meet you. But now it's dry and hard. These wineskins were filled with brand new. But look, they have ripped. Our clothes and sandals have been worn out because it's been a very long journey.' And the men examined some of their provisions, but they failed to ask the advice of the Lord.

[8:48] They failed to ask the advice of the Lord. And Joshua made a peace treaty with them and agreed to let them live. The leaders of the community sealed it with an oath." Now I read all of that to tell you it's clear and it is extremely obvious that they had, you know, their tattered clothes, their dried up old moldy bread. They weren't from close by. Of these seven nations, they were from far away and they weren't supposed to make a treaty with those who close. Oh, far away was fine. But the one thing that they did not do is they failed to ask God's advice. A few words buried in that passage at the very bottom.

[9:38] But something that is of great significance, because wait, who cares if Joshua didn't ask the Lord's advice? Because it was clear they had tattered clothes. They were not from here. It was very clear, it was obvious. What did he need to ask the Lord's advice for? Give me a break. But it was a big deal. It was a big deal that he didn't ask God's advice. Because some things, the things that are obvious aren't actually obvious at all. And we need to ask the Lord's advice. It was a big deal. He didn't inquire of the Lord. And it isn't a big, it isn't a little thing when we fail to ask the Lord on the big things and the little things.

[10:29] We know who Joshua was, the good, faithful, obedient servant. And here we are picking him apart for a little minute little thing. So it seems so, give me a break. Give Joshua a break. Hello. It was a small thing. It was just a little thing, but it took his focus off God and turned it from what God wanted to what he wanted. It was for just a moment. But even in the little things we need to be steadfast, even in the little things we need to inquire of the Lord, even in the little things. God has a purpose and plan for each one of your lives, even in the little things.

[11:21] Now whether you are someone who has lived your life like Joshua your whole life, you have lived faithfully for the Lord, or maybe this whole Jesus thing is new to you, I wanna remind you that even in the little things, it's important to seek the Lord. So let's go back to Cooper for a minute. That beagle, that was adorable, loving, cuddly, fantastic, that we took all of two days to find, right? That dog. Well, that dog wreaked absolute havoc on my life for the next however many months. He peed on my pillow, pooped on my floor, ate the food for my children. So he ran up and down the, I couldn't leave the door open. He like almost ran people off of the road.

[12:07] It was complete and utter chaos. More tension and drama than I'd had. I know I'm dramatic. I do, I do know that. So, you know, avoid that part, but like more tension and drama and stress than we'd had in our household the whole six years of our marriage. All because I didn't bother to ask the Lord. It was small. I know you're saying, give me a break. It was just a dog. But it was still a valuable lesson that I learned that day. And I often, I often think about this lesson that my husband and I learned. You can pray and seek God about anything, cuz He's in the details. So tell me why.

[12:54] Can you tell me why I should care about the small and insignificant things? What does it matter? What does it matter? If I ask about what dog we should get, how much money I should spend on a car or what school my kids should go to, what does it matter? Here are three quick ways that it matters. It matters in the little things because it builds our trust in God. Little things build our trust in God. I think that big things are super obvious. We know marriage, health, jobs, crisis, those things there, those are those big rocks in our life that are pretty obvious. And we, we think we need God's help in, right?

[13:40] But it's the daily grind of life and the little things we begin to really build a deep trust with God and allowing Him involvement in our lives. Not just in the big things but in the little things. And it's the little thing that builds our trust in a God who's big into the details of the big and the small. So what does it matter? It's the little things that deepen our reliance on God. When we give God the little things, it becomes a way of life, becomes a way of life, almost a way of breathing. It deepens our relationship with Him and helps us to rely more on Him. Even in the little things.

[14:29] It's the little things that allow us to see the big things. Because when we allow God to lead us in the little things, it allows us to see beyond our human limitations. Because we have seen the hand of God in the little details of our life. Cuz relying on ourselves is a sure way to stifle the work of God in our lives. Relying on ourselves instead of relying on Christ. It stifles the big things that God can do because we're too busy blaming God ourselves. When I allow God to take the lead, it opens the door for God to do abundantly more than I can even do on my own when I allow Him to help me.

[15:23] Even in the little things, Jeremiah talks, not Joshua, but Jeremiah talks about what happens when we trust in ourselves. Jeremiah chapter 17, verses 5-9, this is what the Lord says. Cursed is the man who, the one who trusts in man, who draws strength from mere flesh and whose heart turns away from the Lord. That person will be like a bush in a wasteland. They will not see prosperity when it comes. They will not. They will dwell in the parched places of the desert, in a salt land where no one lives. But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in Him.

[16:16] They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. Does not fear when heat comes. Its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit. Cuz the heart, it's deceitful above all things and beyond cure, who can understand it? Cursed is the man that draws strength from mere flesh. We need God even in the little things. But maybe some of you're thinking, give me a break, Liz, I'm not dealing with the little things here right now.

[17:03] I've got some big things in my life I'm dealing with. Maybe you're in an unhealthy relationship that you don't know what to do with, you've inquired of the Lord, but you've rationalized yourself into doing your own thing. Or you know, maybe you secretly hate, hate the job that was perfect, great money, prestige and you could move up the ladder, but you secretly hate your job because what looked good on the outside, like kind of like what Joshua was dealing with, the obvious, he still didn't seek the Lord. Or maybe you've bought a massive house, now you're slowly sinking into debt because it looked good, it was in the right place, it seemed to be the right timing, but you forgot to ask the Lord's advice.

[17:59] So what are you gonna do about it? Are you inquiring of the Lord about these things? Are you asking Him? But I, I think the bigger question is not just are you asking Him, but are you actually listening? Cause I can ask the Lord all I want, but if I don't actually take His advice, it's pretty useless. So are you asking the Lord, are you listening to the Lord? And are you actually taking His advice? Cuz then again, maybe you are dealing with the small things and it's not the big things that are tripping you up at the moment. It's the small things. And like Joshua, you've lived your life faithfully.

[18:48] But maybe if you look back on your week, when we get a little lazy daisy on our relationship with God, is there something that seems maybe insignificant? Maybe it's not a dog, maybe it's something else. But is there something else that might seem insignificant that maybe you need to take another look at? Because it is even in the little things that we need to acknowledge our dependence on God, as it says in 1 Chronicles 16:11, seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His face continually. Not when the big things come, continually. Every day, even the little things.

[19:34] Cuz God cares even about the little things because how easy would it be for us to take God's guidance and His blessing for granted? And as a seasoned believer or someone who is new to the faith, where do you stand today? Maybe there's something shockingly, shockingly obvious in your life, but then again, maybe you just need to sit and be still and listen to hear what God has to say to you, because your heavenly Father is calling you today.

[20:23] He wants to hear you ask Him about things, even the little things, because God, God cares deeply, deeply for each and every one of us and every little detail, every detail of our lives. He cares about it, cuz He created you, He loves you and He has a plan for you. You have to ask. And He wants to be a part of your life from the big things down to the little things. Will you allow Him to be a big part of your life, even the little things? Let's pray.

[21:22] So God, we thank You for who You are in our lives, and God, that You actually even care about the little things in my life. I know You care about the big things. I know that You love me, but Lord, I just pray that You would help us all to listen to Your voice and that we would inquire of You about the little things, because like it says in a song, Your mercy, it never fails. And all my days, every day, every day, You've held me in Your hand.

[22:08] And God, You are so good, in Jesus' name.