1 00:00:02,680 --> 00:00:13,180 Speaker 1: Life Audio Hello. Thank you for listening to your daily 2 00:00:13,220 --> 00:00:16,700 Speaker 1: Bible verse, the podcast that examines one verse each day 3 00:00:17,200 --> 00:00:19,599 Speaker 1: to learn more about God and His will for us. 4 00:00:20,340 --> 00:00:22,900 Speaker 1: I'm your host, Jennifer Slattery, and after this short word 5 00:00:22,940 --> 00:00:30,600 Speaker 1: from our sponsors, we'll dive into today's Bible verse, Joshua 10, 6. 6 00:00:38,800 --> 00:00:42,659 Speaker 1: Today's Bible verse is Joshua 10-6. The Gibeonites then sent 7 00:00:42,690 --> 00:00:45,420 Speaker 1: word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal, Do not 8 00:00:45,520 --> 00:00:49,230 Speaker 1: abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us. 9 00:00:49,470 --> 00:00:52,269 Speaker 1: Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill 10 00:00:52,310 --> 00:00:56,640 Speaker 1: country have joined forces against us. What happens when we 11 00:00:56,680 --> 00:01:00,360 Speaker 1: make a commitment to someone we later regret? What if 12 00:01:00,400 --> 00:01:04,149 Speaker 1: that commitment costs us way more than we want to pay? 13 00:01:05,030 --> 00:01:07,490 Speaker 1: Years ago, when our daughter was young, a pregnant friend 14 00:01:07,569 --> 00:01:10,490 Speaker 1: and first-time mom asked if I'd watch her baby when 15 00:01:10,569 --> 00:01:14,190 Speaker 1: she returned to work. Apparently, I suffered from people pleasing 16 00:01:14,230 --> 00:01:18,949 Speaker 1: because I said yes without considering the weight of that responsibility. 17 00:01:19,610 --> 00:01:22,070 Speaker 1: As I processed through this, I began to realize that 18 00:01:22,290 --> 00:01:25,430 Speaker 1: this wouldn't work. I don't remember why. nor did it 19 00:01:25,510 --> 00:01:28,949 Speaker 1: matter at that stage, but back then, I lacked the 20 00:01:29,010 --> 00:01:33,040 Speaker 1: integrity and maturity to follow through, told my friend I 21 00:01:33,080 --> 00:01:37,319 Speaker 1: couldn't babysit after all, and lost the friendship. That was 22 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,880 Speaker 1: over 25 years ago, and my behavior and consequences still 23 00:01:41,920 --> 00:01:45,310 Speaker 1: grieve me. I wonder if I would have responded differently 24 00:01:45,410 --> 00:01:49,030 Speaker 1: had I read Joshua 9 and 10 prior to that request. 25 00:01:49,590 --> 00:01:53,430 Speaker 1: In honoring their treaty with the Gibeonites, which Jessica discussed yesterday, 26 00:01:54,030 --> 00:01:57,640 Speaker 1: Israel faced much higher consequences than loss of time, energy, 27 00:01:57,940 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: or even a friendship. These men risked their lives to 28 00:02:01,260 --> 00:02:05,780 Speaker 1: remain allies with people who, incidentally, had deceived them into 29 00:02:05,820 --> 00:02:09,560 Speaker 1: the relationship. Meaning, from a human perspective, they probably had 30 00:02:09,620 --> 00:02:14,540 Speaker 1: justification for canceling the agreement once they discovered the Gibeonites' trickery. 31 00:02:15,400 --> 00:02:19,460 Speaker 1: But they didn't because, as Joshua 9.19 states, they'd sworn 32 00:02:19,520 --> 00:02:23,720 Speaker 1: an oath in the presence of God. And so, finding 33 00:02:23,880 --> 00:02:27,300 Speaker 1: something of a workaround, they forced their deceivers to become 34 00:02:27,340 --> 00:02:31,329 Speaker 1: their servants, a relationship the Gibeonites readily agreed to, out 35 00:02:31,389 --> 00:02:35,269 Speaker 1: of fear for their lives. And understandably so, for as 36 00:02:35,470 --> 00:02:39,620 Speaker 1: Joshua 10.1 indicates, news of their past victories over Ai 37 00:02:39,680 --> 00:02:44,280 Speaker 1: and Jericho had traveled to the surrounding areas, instilling fear 38 00:02:44,380 --> 00:02:47,620 Speaker 1: in those around them. Only, this didn't cause the other 39 00:02:47,680 --> 00:02:52,120 Speaker 1: Canaanite city-states to surrender to ancient Israel's power. Instead, they 40 00:02:52,160 --> 00:02:56,460 Speaker 1: gathered forces and waged an attack against their allies, the Gibeonites. 41 00:02:57,540 --> 00:03:00,510 Speaker 1: They may have realized that they couldn't gain victory over 42 00:03:00,590 --> 00:03:04,410 Speaker 1: Joshua and his men, not with Almighty God fighting for them. 43 00:03:05,130 --> 00:03:09,989 Speaker 1: But using war as an intimidation tactic, they could discourage 44 00:03:10,169 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: other people groups from following Gibeon's example. And so, once 45 00:03:15,260 --> 00:03:20,000 Speaker 1: they heard about God's children's destruction of Ai and their 46 00:03:20,180 --> 00:03:24,280 Speaker 1: relationship with the Gibeonites, the king of Jerusalem contacted the 47 00:03:24,320 --> 00:03:28,739 Speaker 1: kings of Hebron, Jarmath, Lichas, and Eglon, asking them to 48 00:03:28,820 --> 00:03:33,210 Speaker 1: help him destroy Gibeon. They agreed, united their troops, and 49 00:03:33,260 --> 00:03:37,410 Speaker 1: launched an attack. Gibeon quickly sent word to Joshua, stating 50 00:03:37,450 --> 00:03:41,040 Speaker 1: in verse 6, Don't abandon your servants now. Come at once. 51 00:03:41,320 --> 00:03:44,480 Speaker 1: Save us. Help us. For all the Amorite kings who 52 00:03:44,520 --> 00:03:47,320 Speaker 1: live in the hill country have joined forces to attack us. 53 00:03:47,980 --> 00:03:52,700 Speaker 1: Responding without hesitation, Joshua gathered his entire army, including his 54 00:03:52,740 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: best warriors, and marched toward Gibeon. This strikes me as significant. 55 00:03:58,160 --> 00:04:00,620 Speaker 1: He and his men knew they'd made a mistake in 56 00:04:00,680 --> 00:04:04,100 Speaker 1: forming an alliance with the Gibeonites. They'd done so without 57 00:04:04,160 --> 00:04:08,160 Speaker 1: seeking God's guidance first. We've probably all done and said 58 00:04:08,260 --> 00:04:10,740 Speaker 1: things we felt we didn't have time to pray about 59 00:04:10,820 --> 00:04:14,030 Speaker 1: first or maybe in the moment didn't consider doing so 60 00:04:14,250 --> 00:04:16,670 Speaker 1: and found ourselves stuck in a situation that played out 61 00:04:16,810 --> 00:04:21,890 Speaker 1: much differently than we anticipated. The question is, what do 62 00:04:21,930 --> 00:04:25,789 Speaker 1: we do as men and women of integrity after making 63 00:04:26,010 --> 00:04:29,340 Speaker 1: that vow or commitment? Do we try to finagle our 64 00:04:29,380 --> 00:04:31,279 Speaker 1: way out of it like I did with my friend 65 00:04:31,880 --> 00:04:35,900 Speaker 1: and find a way to justify breaking our word? Or 66 00:04:35,980 --> 00:04:40,460 Speaker 1: like Joshua, do we live like those described in Psalm 15, 4, 67 00:04:40,460 --> 00:04:43,960 Speaker 1: like people who keep our oaths even when it hurts 68 00:04:44,200 --> 00:04:49,140 Speaker 1: and do not change our minds? That's hard, especially in 69 00:04:49,380 --> 00:04:53,690 Speaker 1: high stakes situations like Joshua and his men face. But 70 00:04:53,730 --> 00:04:57,190 Speaker 1: that's also why I find this story so encouraging, not 71 00:04:57,230 --> 00:05:02,089 Speaker 1: because of anything Joshua and his soldiers did, but rather 72 00:05:02,630 --> 00:05:08,270 Speaker 1: how the Lord responded. Before Israel launched their counterattack against 73 00:05:08,310 --> 00:05:11,310 Speaker 1: the Amorite armies, or even made it to their outposts, 74 00:05:11,870 --> 00:05:14,680 Speaker 1: the Lord told Joshua, Do not be afraid of them, 75 00:05:14,740 --> 00:05:17,940 Speaker 1: for I have given you victory over them. In the 76 00:05:17,980 --> 00:05:20,920 Speaker 1: passage that follows, the Lord threw them into a panic, 77 00:05:21,380 --> 00:05:26,220 Speaker 1: rained hail upon them, and ultimately secured the win for Israel. 78 00:05:26,930 --> 00:05:29,710 Speaker 1: This reminds me of something God has long proven true 79 00:05:29,730 --> 00:05:32,539 Speaker 1: in my life. When we do our best to honor 80 00:05:32,580 --> 00:05:36,289 Speaker 1: the Lord, he tends to fight on our behalf. While 81 00:05:36,310 --> 00:05:40,710 Speaker 1: that doesn't mean we'll always experience the outcomes we desire, 82 00:05:41,230 --> 00:05:44,270 Speaker 1: we can trust God to do whatever necessary in our 83 00:05:44,310 --> 00:05:47,890 Speaker 1: lives to bring about all that he's promised. As Romans 84 00:05:47,890 --> 00:05:51,090 Speaker 1: 8 states, if God is for us, who can possibly 85 00:05:51,450 --> 00:05:55,770 Speaker 1: stand against us? And we are more than conquerors through 86 00:05:55,810 --> 00:06:00,060 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ who loves us. That doesn't necessarily mean we 87 00:06:00,160 --> 00:06:04,500 Speaker 1: won't experience the consequences for our choices. Joshua and his 88 00:06:04,540 --> 00:06:07,240 Speaker 1: men still had to engage in battle. But as they 89 00:06:07,300 --> 00:06:10,729 Speaker 1: did their part, the Lord did his and showered his 90 00:06:10,770 --> 00:06:15,150 Speaker 1: people with grace. While he won't reward our disobedience, he 91 00:06:15,310 --> 00:06:18,789 Speaker 1: often steps in to bring good from our unintentional mistakes 92 00:06:18,890 --> 00:06:23,589 Speaker 1: because he's a merciful, tenderhearted Savior who loves to bless, protect, 93 00:06:23,690 --> 00:06:27,430 Speaker 1: and provide for his children. Is there a commitment you've 94 00:06:27,450 --> 00:06:32,050 Speaker 1: made that feels heavier than anticipated? Are you tempted to 95 00:06:32,310 --> 00:06:36,870 Speaker 1: justify breaking your word? If so, how does God's response 96 00:06:36,970 --> 00:06:41,190 Speaker 1: to Joshua inform your decision? And even more importantly, what 97 00:06:41,210 --> 00:06:45,239 Speaker 1: does it convey regarding the Lord's heart for you when 98 00:06:45,400 --> 00:06:52,310 Speaker 1: you make wise and foolish decisions? Let's pray. Holy Father, 99 00:06:52,370 --> 00:06:54,789 Speaker 1: throughout the book of Joshua, throughout the book of Judges, 100 00:06:54,830 --> 00:06:59,089 Speaker 1: throughout all scripture, actually, we see again and again and again, 101 00:06:59,610 --> 00:07:02,090 Speaker 1: you are faithful even when we're not. You show us 102 00:07:02,130 --> 00:07:06,219 Speaker 1: mercy we don't deserve. You respond to our sin with 103 00:07:06,380 --> 00:07:09,560 Speaker 1: overwhelming grace. And that's exactly what you showed us through 104 00:07:09,760 --> 00:07:13,600 Speaker 1: Jesus Christ, your son, our savior. That is how you 105 00:07:13,840 --> 00:07:18,960 Speaker 1: responded to our failures, our mistakes, our sins. You sent 106 00:07:18,980 --> 00:07:22,860 Speaker 1: your son. to live among us, to show us what 107 00:07:23,040 --> 00:07:26,920 Speaker 1: life looks like when aligned with you, to teach us 108 00:07:26,960 --> 00:07:30,720 Speaker 1: how to have a relationship with you, and ultimately to 109 00:07:30,780 --> 00:07:34,160 Speaker 1: die on the cross for our sins so that we 110 00:07:34,280 --> 00:07:37,420 Speaker 1: could be united with you, God the Father, God the Son, 111 00:07:38,000 --> 00:07:43,080 Speaker 1: God the Holy Spirit, through all eternity. Lord, give us 112 00:07:43,380 --> 00:07:47,930 Speaker 1: the strength to be people of courage, and people of integrity. 113 00:07:47,970 --> 00:07:52,830 Speaker 1: And sometimes it does take courage to act with integrity. 114 00:07:53,710 --> 00:07:57,950 Speaker 1: But we want to live aligned with you. And we 115 00:07:57,990 --> 00:08:01,210 Speaker 1: just ask for your mercy when we do mess up. 116 00:08:01,930 --> 00:08:03,530 Speaker 1: We ask that you would make it clear to us, 117 00:08:03,630 --> 00:08:06,180 Speaker 1: bring us right back onto that good path that you've 118 00:08:06,220 --> 00:08:10,420 Speaker 1: planned for us, and help us to trust that you 119 00:08:10,520 --> 00:08:15,700 Speaker 1: will indeed work all things, including our biggest blunders, for 120 00:08:15,760 --> 00:08:19,230 Speaker 1: our good and your glory, because that is the God 121 00:08:19,270 --> 00:08:23,050 Speaker 1: you are. And so we offer up our souls to 122 00:08:23,110 --> 00:08:24,950 Speaker 1: you right now. We ask that you would purify us, 123 00:08:25,550 --> 00:08:27,550 Speaker 1: that you would remove everything that gets in the way 124 00:08:27,590 --> 00:08:31,190 Speaker 1: of our obedience, that hinders our integrity. Help us to 125 00:08:31,310 --> 00:08:39,460 Speaker 1: be people growing in character, perseverance, in faith, in honesty, 126 00:08:39,780 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: in goodness. And we do so by your power. and 127 00:08:46,059 --> 00:08:49,420 Speaker 1: in your strength. We love you and we praise you. 128 00:08:49,520 --> 00:08:51,900 Speaker 1: And it is in the name of Jesus, our Savior, 129 00:08:51,980 --> 00:08:53,179 Speaker 1: that we pray. Amen.