Treaty of Lies

00:00:00 Speaker 1: Previously on the Chosen People. 00:00:03 Speaker 2: I'm no military mind like Joshua or Caleb Yu, but I dealt with the leaders of moab Edom and the others in the time of Moses. I know people and I know politics. What are the possibilities of a Canaanite alliance between A and its neighboring cities. What would we do should the cities of Bethel and Gibbeon come to A's aid? 00:00:25 Speaker 3: Do not lose heart, brothers. The Lord has assured us of our victory over Aim. When we take the city and deal with the others, reads as they arise. Keep the faith, but we know what tomorrow holds. Be strong and courageous. Ruk shazakh Amas, Rok shazakh Amas Rock. 00:00:46 Speaker 1: The city was unguarded and ripe for conquest. 00:00:50 Speaker 3: Forward beat them back. 00:00:53 Speaker 4: Joshua turned his gaze toward the distant beings of Mount Ebal and Mount Garrison, their rugged silhouettes etched against the horizon. He would lead his valiant men to those sacred heights and build an altar to honor the Lord, the first in the land of Canaan. There beneath the open sky and in the natural amphitheater, between the two peaks, they would renew their covenant with the lore of Moses, just as the Lord had commanded. 00:01:30 Speaker 5: Beware the enemy who speaks with the bowed head and tattered shoes, for they may wield a sharper weapon than any sword. Shallo, my friends from here in the holy Land of Israel, i'm ya l extein with the international Fellowship of Christians and Jews, and welcome to the Chosen People. The sun still rises over the land of Canaan, But after Jericho's crumbled walls and eyes smoldering runs, the land feels restless. Led by Joshua, Israel's known and wide. The name of Israel makes the knees of kings and warriors buckle and fear. But not every enemy meets Israel with drawn swords. Some come in disguise and bearing gifts. Today's Bible story will make us ask what do we do when deceit walks through the door, not with a weapon in hand, but with outstretched arms. And what happens when those chosen to hold God's truth are fooled by falsehoods? 00:02:33 Speaker 2: General Joshua, General Joshua. 00:02:35 Speaker 1: Joshua world his hand instinctively gripping his hunting knife, while Salmon, walking beside him, reached for the hilt of his sword. The young messenger skidded to a halt in front of them, sending a spray of loose riverbank mud flying thankfully away from Joshua and Salmon. 00:02:54 Speaker 2: Oh, we under attack, No, but I was sent to fine you right away. 00:03:01 Speaker 1: Joshua released his knife and loosed a sigh of relief. 00:03:05 Speaker 3: Peace. Then, my son, calm down, breathe tell me why they sent you. 00:03:10 Speaker 1: The boy had his hands on his knees, then, breathing hard. Joshua fought back the urge to chuckle. Was this what he looked like when he came running down that hill to warn Moses of the Amalekite attack? After a moment, the boy continued with a more steady cadence. 00:03:27 Speaker 2: We have some visitors, the representatives of some foreign land. They look like they've been traveling for months. 00:03:34 Speaker 6: They want to meet with you. 00:03:35 Speaker 3: Do they come peacefully? Did they travel with armed men? 00:03:38 Speaker 2: No, it's just them, not even a guard between them. 00:03:42 Speaker 1: Joshua cocked his head, exchanged a wary look with Salmon, and wondered who these mysterious travelers could be to travel so far without a guard or protectors was strange. Indeed, Joshua was even more intrigued. Joshua motioned for the boy to lead the word, and the three men made their way from Joshua's favorite place to walk along the Jordan to his general's tent, where the visitors were being held outside by Israelite soldiers waiting for him. There were three of them, and they were warily eyeing the long spears in the soldier's hands. They were just as bedraggled as the boy made them sound. Their clothes were worn and faded from days baking in the sun, and their cheeks were blotchy and red. They certainly seemed innocent enough and rather pathetic. As he approached, they bowed before him respectfully, a good start. They didn't seem to pose any threat at the time. 00:04:43 Speaker 3: Being rias, tell me what are your names? Where do you come from? Your pier to travel far? 00:04:50 Speaker 1: The one standing in the middle straightened first, though he stooped over as if his back were crooked. 00:04:56 Speaker 6: I am the Kalmadi, your highness, and these are my companion Tadoo Haba and Hasid Tetta. If it pleases you, my king. 00:05:04 Speaker 1: This Nikoll did not fully meet Joshua's eyes as he spoke, seemingly out of respect or reverence, and he spoke with a lilt Joshua could not place. 00:05:16 Speaker 3: I am not a king, but you are a conqueror. 00:05:19 Speaker 1: Nikoll met Joshua's eyes, and for a fleeting moment, Joshua caught a glimpse of sharp cleverness he hadn't noticed before. But just as quickly, the man lowered his gaze, resuming the appearance of a simple, humble traveler once more. Perhaps Nikole was someone of greater importance than he had let on. 00:05:41 Speaker 3: Tell me, Nicomody, where are you from? And why have you sought out our camp? We come from a distant lamp. As you can see, we have traveled far. Why I don't think our sandals could take another mile? Could we continue our discussion inside? And perhaps when we are through we could visit your sandal maker. We we would pay, of course. 00:06:05 Speaker 1: Joshua's eyes narrowed at this deflection, but they didn't seem to be posing a threat. The camp was heavily guarded, and Joshua could certainly handle himself, and Salmon hadn't taken his hand off the hilt of his sword. Since the river bank. He would make quick work of these men if they proved false. Joshua swept his eyes over their persons and belongings once more. Their donkeys were saddled with threadbare, worn out sacks and old wine skins, cracked and mended with fraying stitches hung from the horn of the saddle. The men's cloaks were no better than their sandals or saddle bags, worn and weathered. It reminded Joshua of his own tattered garments in the early days of the desert. 00:06:52 Speaker 3: I will invite you inside and see that you are treated as my guests, But first you must tell me your true purpose. We are a nation at war and amid a conquest. You can imagine my need for caution. 00:07:05 Speaker 1: Nikol held up his hands in a submissive gesture and redoubled his effort to appear unassuming before Joshua and his soldiers. 00:07:13 Speaker 6: Of course, Joshua the conquered, he isn't it obvious we have come to beg you to make a treaty with us. 00:07:20 Speaker 1: Joshua had to admit he was surprised at that. He subtly raised an eyebrow at Salmon in silent question Salmon's eyes narrowed slightly in answer. 00:07:31 Speaker 3: What credentials do you have to prove you are who you say you are? 00:07:36 Speaker 6: Perhaps you are our neighbors and already live among us. How could we make a treaty with you? We are your servants. We have traveled here to make a treaty and swear an oath before your God. Would we go through all that trouble if you were your enemies? 00:07:53 Speaker 1: Joshua relented at that there was no ring of falseness to the man's words. They didn't to present any immediate danger, and if they were who they said they were, he could not deny them their customs of hospitality. Joshua had an obligation to be an example to his people in that regard. 00:08:14 Speaker 7: Remay under my tent, and I will have servants washed the dust from your feet. Who will then continue our discussion of bread and wine. I will not have it said that you had denied the hospitality of Israel. If we are to become friends. 00:08:26 Speaker 1: As you say Joshua's words, servants sprang into action, helped the three travelers inside and began to wash their feet, while others set the low table. After the first SIPs were taken and bites were chewed. Joshua continued his line of questioning. Salmon still stood protectively beside Joshua. 00:08:48 Speaker 3: Now tell me truly who you are and where you've come from. 00:08:52 Speaker 1: Now Nikal set down his crust of bread, and his companions looked to him to answer for them. Nika sighed before he answered. The weariness of the roads still seemed to linger. 00:09:06 Speaker 6: Corgaro, Joshua, We just, Joshua, Joshua, We have come from a far away land because of the reputation of the Lord, your God. We heard of his fame and all he did to the Emirit kings beyond the Jordan River, King Sihan and King Arc. We have also heard all the miraculous and mysterious things he did in Egypt. 00:09:30 Speaker 1: Joshua noted that they omitted the recent victories of Jericho, and I surely if these men were from this country, news of such victories would have reached them by now. Salmons seemed to be following the same thread. 00:09:44 Speaker 3: And you've heard no reports of our recent victories. 00:09:48 Speaker 6: More cities have fallen to your God. Tell us which cities have fallen? We received no word than our travels. 00:09:55 Speaker 3: Jericho and a I have fallen. The camp you've come to is our base in the region. We have taken two cities, beaten back Bethel, and now control the Ridge Root. No word of this reached you on the road. 00:10:08 Speaker 6: Remarkable, truly, praise to the God of Israel. This news makes us even more desperate to make a treaty with you. Yeah, yeah, yes, yes, Please Joshua, allow us to be your servants. We ask for no land or wealth, just to be in your midst and under your protection in exchange for service. Go outside and look in our saddle bags. The bread we carry was warm when we took it from our houses as food on the day we set out to come to you. But go look now it is dry and crumbly. And the wineskins on the saddles were new when we filled them, but now they are cracked. And these clothes and sandals of ours are completely worn from the extremely long journey. All the evidence you need is before your very eyes. 00:11:01 Speaker 1: Joshua considered their passionate plea and finally relented. If these foreigners were so determined to seek a treaty and clearly understood the might of the Lord, what harm would come of making the treaty. Perhaps it would be good for Israel to have a friend when the conquest was over. 00:11:21 Speaker 3: I will honor your request. I will take you to the tabernacle. Well, we will establish our peace and swear the oath you seek. Once it is done, you can rest here to regain your strength before you return to your elders and tell them of our treaty. 00:11:39 Speaker 1: Three days had passed since the strange encounter with Nikol and his companions. They had left early that morning, eager to return to their country, or so Joshua had heard in the morning's report. He hadn't given them another thought since swearing the oath before the Lord. His mind had shifted back to war. Sua sat hunched over the maps spread across his low table, squinting in the dim candlelight of his tent. The flaps were pulled shut to block out the noise of the camp, allowing him to focus on the faint markings that detailed the variety of terrains surrounding the southern cities. But his concentration was abruptly broken as the flap of his tent flew open, flooding the space with blinding daylight and scattering his thoughts. It was salmon and. 00:12:29 Speaker 3: Rahab, Joshua, what is it we under attack? Apologies for the intrusion, General, I know you didn't want to be disturbed, but I. 00:12:37 Speaker 8: Have learned something that you will want to know. Tell me those men, the ones we just made a treaty with. Their far away country is not so far away, as it turns out. They are Heavites. The men you met are from the city of Gibbeon. They live only twenty miles from here. 00:12:55 Speaker 1: Joshua swore under his breath, and Salmon gave him a mildly surprised look, but quickly masked it. 00:13:02 Speaker 3: You're sure, how did you learn this? 00:13:05 Speaker 8: I know you are aware of my former occupation. As you can imagine, I met a wide range of men. I have an ear for accents. I overheard them speaking to one another end If that wasn't enough, When I drew closer to confirm my guess, I heard them congratulating themselves over a lie well spun. We have been deceived, General, Joshua. Those men were not who they claimed to be. 00:13:31 Speaker 1: Anger searched in, Joshua at this deception. 00:13:35 Speaker 3: Those lying snakes. You must get them back here at once. How could I have let this happen. They danced around my questions. How could I have not sought the Lord? Surely we would have illuminated these lies. Give you in this twenty miles from here. Get Caleb and take an attachment of men with you. See if you can intercept them on the road. Wait, no, first, go and confirm what ray have heard. Stay hidden, scout the cities. Yes, right away, Joshua, what had confirmed that we just made a treaty with Gibeon. I need to know exactly who we've aligned ourselves with. 00:14:15 Speaker 1: Caleb and Salmon had scouted the land of Gibeon and confirmed Raehab's discovery. Gibeon was one of a three city alliance of the Hivites Gibeon Chefhirah, Bearroth, and kiriad Jahari, and because of Joshua's ill informed treaty with them, they could not attack the cities without breaking the oath. Instead, Joshua sent a summons to the king and demanded that the representatives be sent back to him to answer for their deception. Joshua stood tall, the full weight of the tabernacle and his leadership behind him, with all of Israel gathered as witnesses. The three men knelt unsure before him. They knew Joshua could not harm them, an oath sworn before the Lord bound him. But they also knew anger had a way of revealing terrifying Loophole's entreaties. Nikol, however, was no longer the bowing, humble servant. Though still stooped by his twisted back, he met Joshua's gaze squarely, man to man, the shrewd ambassador who was sent to deceive Israel into unknowingly sparing them from destruction. His head tilted slightly to the side, his expression a silent challenge. It seemed to say, I bested you, bowed before your God, and ensured my people's survival. 00:15:45 Speaker 3: I came out on. 00:15:48 Speaker 1: Joshua's anger burned, but he would not let his integrity bow to emotion. 00:15:54 Speaker 3: We have sworn an oath to you by the Lord, the God of Israel. We cannot harm you. This is how it will be. You will live, so no wrath will fall on us for breaking the old whist water you. But why did you deceive us, claiming you live far away and you are actually our neighbors. Because of this, you are cursed and will always be slaves, woodcutters and water carry us for the house of my guard. 00:16:22 Speaker 1: Joshua took quiet satisfaction in watching Nikoll's smug expression, falter uncertainty, draining the color from his face. The man who had gambled everything for his people's freedom now a slave. Joshua mirrored Nicholl's tilted head, his eyes hard as he sent his own silent message. 00:16:44 Speaker 3: Lies may win the day. What tomorrow, See what your lies brought. You wanted to align yourself with our God. Now you will serve him forever. 00:16:54 Speaker 1: Joshua recognized the look of one defeated immediately, the hollow eye, the slumped shoulders. He'd seen it time and time again in opponents who knew they were beaten. 00:17:08 Speaker 6: We spoke the truth. We just didn't tell you. 00:17:15 Speaker 3: Everything. 00:17:17 Speaker 6: We heard the stories of your God and all he promised to your people. We heard how we commanded Moses before you and now you, to give you this land and destroy all who lived here. He feared for our lives. That's why we deceived you. Now here in your hands, he to us. Whatever you think he is right. 00:17:54 Speaker 5: When Israel's leaders met the Gibeon Nights, they didn't look to God for guidance. The people of Israel relied on their own instincts, on their own senses. Dusty sandals and crumbly bred spoke more loudly than the quiet voice of the God who had brought them this far. Even today, we're quick to believe what we can see, aren't we. We crave certainty, and we look to our five senses to ground us in reality. But truth can be tricky. The difference between truth and lies can always be distinguished by what we see, what we feel, or what we touch. Our own senses and even our own instincts can deceive us. King Solomon said it best in Proverbs, trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding. 00:18:45 Speaker 8: In all your ways. 00:18:46 Speaker 5: Acknowledge Him, and he will direct your paths. But in their victory, Israel didn't trust in God. Instead, they leaned on their own understanding. Yes, they weighed the facts, but the Israelites failed to ask, what does God say? There's a fine line between wisdom and arrogance, and the people of Israel believed themselves to be wise. They examined the Gibeonites' provisions, and they scrutinized the evidence, and the Chosen People made what seemed like logical decision. But we all know deep inside that real wisdom begins with humility, and it starts with trusting in God. The Gibeiaites had deceived their way into a covenant of plea for mercy and disguise, and Israel's over confident leaders forgot to look to God. Israel's leaders relied on their senses and reason rather than God's direction. This is a struggle that we all know, isn't it. We ask God when we're desperate or when a situation overwhelms us. But in our victories, when everything seems under control, that's when we too often forget to look to God, when we forget the one responsible for our victory in the first place. The lesson from today's Bible story to trust in God with all of your heart, even when you're confident, or maybe I should say especially when you feel the most confident, remember to trust in God. And there's a second lesson that I want to share today. In today's story, the Gibeonites trick Joshua and the Israelites, pretending that they wanted to join the Chosen People. Joshua was suspicious but the leaders of the tribe pushed him and the treaty was sworn to, And even after the deception was uncovered, Joshua stuck by the treaty and allowed the Gibeonites to remain among the Israelites, but not to actually become part of the nation. What strikes me here is how the Chosen People, going all the way back to Joshua, yearn for Shalome for peace. Even though he was suspicious of the Gibeonites' motives, and although he did not consult God about his decision, Joshua acted for peace, and even today our leaders here in the Holy Land of Israel have the very same desire. Israel desperately desires peace with its neighbors, but time after time there have been deceptions, Treaties have been broken, and agreements have been violated. So I ask, is it wrong to try for peace? Joshua did, and we continue to do so today. Sometimes it works, often it doesn't. But that didn't stop Joshua, and it won't stop Israel today from always seeking peace. In this story, we're confronted with an uncomfortable truth. Even the Chosen People aren't immune to deception, but we are called to a higher standard of integrity in a world full of half truths and schemes. The challenge lies in honoring our commitments even when we are wronged. When the deception was uncovered, Joshua and the leaders knew that they had sworn an oath in God's name. They chose to honor the covenant, realizing that breaking it would dishonor God. The Gibea nights, though deceptive, were brought under the protection and laws of Israel. It's a reflection of divine mercy the righteous. Gentile pastor Dietrich Bonhaffer said, the will of God to which the law gives expression is that men should defeat their enemies by loving them. That's a bold statement that may seem a bit comforter intuitive, but it fits the moral landscape of Joshua's leadership, and it fits how we should live today in our world. How often do we make decisions without truly seeking God's wisdom. We react to appearances to it seems right in our own eyes, rather than pausing to consult with God. This Bible story challenges us to seek God's guide before making commitments, and to keep our word even when circumstances change. It's a reminder that promises made, even under deceit, are still holy because we are accountable not only to those around us, but to the God who sees all. So next time, before rushing in, let's remember Joshua's mistake and seek God's counsel in every decision. And if we find ourselves deceived or betrayed, let's choose integrity over vengeance, remembering that God's justice will still prevail in ways we could never imagine. 00:23:40 Speaker 1: You can listen to The Chosen People with the Isle Eckstein ad free by downloading and subscribing to the Prey dot Com app today. This Prey dot Com production is only made possible by our dedicated team of creative talents. Steve Katina, Max bod Zach Shellavaga and Ben Gammon are the executive producers of The Chosen People with Yiele Eckstein, edited by Alberto Avilla, narrated by Paul Coltofianu. Characters are voiced by Jonathan Gotten, Aaron Salvado, Sarah Seltz, Mike Reagan, Stephen Ringwold, Sylvia Zaradoc, Thomas Copeland, Junior, Rosanna Pilcher, and the opening prayer is voiced by John Moore, music by Andrew Morgan Smith, written by Aaron Salvato, bre Rosalie and Chris Baig. Special thanks to Bishop Paul Lanier, Robin van Ettin, Kayleb Burrows, Jocelyn Fuller, and the team at International Fellowship of Christians and Jews. You can hear more Prey dot com productions on the Prey dot com app, available on the Apple App Store and Google play Store. If you enjoyed The Chosen People with Yile Eckstein, please rate and leave a review.