Joshua 9:16

Joshua 9:16 says,  And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.  After three days, the people of Israel heard that they had made a pact with their neighbors, which God had told them not to do.  It is a shame if we find out to late that we have gone against God's directions simply because we did not consult Him first.  Some things may seem harmless or even good, as I am sure the people of Israel felt about their agreement, but we need to make sure that we seek God's guidance in all that we do.  Verse seventeen states, And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjathjearim.  The people that Joshua and the people of Israel made the pact with actually lived in four cities about three days journey from where they had been.  Verse thirteen declares, And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.  The princes, or leaders, of Israel did not kill the people of these cities because of the oath they had taken before God.  We cannot make a promise in God's name and then go against it.  The rest of the people of Israel murmured against the princes.  Verse nineteen adds, But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.  Like the people of Israel, we cannot renege on a promise made in the name of God.  Even though the people of Israel made the pact without consulting God, His name was still at stake, which is why we must be careful about making promises in God's name.  These promises will always be serious, because they always reflect on God.  Verse twenty continues, This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.  The leaders of Israel said that they would let the people in these cities live because of the oath made in God's name, unless they themselves should feel God's wrath.  Verse twenty-one says, And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.  The people of these cities were to be allowed to live, but they would be required to live up to their end of the agreement.  Verse twenty-two declares, And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?  Joshua called the leaders of these cities before him and asked why they had beguiled the people of Israel.  Though this was a good question, Joshua could have been asking why he had allowed himself to be beguiled by these people.  If we consult God before we take action in any situation, then the world will not be able to beguile us.  Verse twenty-three adds, Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.  Basically, Joshua said though they were to be spared that they were not to be freed from being bondmen, or servants.  Verse twenty-four states, And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.  The people of these cities said that they did what they did because they had heard that God had given the land to the people of Israel and that all the inhabitants were to be destroyed and they were afraid.  They did not come to God by faith, but attempted to find deliverance by their own plan.  People today may attempt to find salvation by some other method than faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and Lord, but it will not work.  Verse twenty-five adds, And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.  They said they put themselves at the mercy of Joshua.  Ultimately, those today who attempt to find their own salvation will be at the mercy of God, and if they have rejected Christ, His mercy will have passed.  Verse twenty-six declares, And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.  Joshua kept the agreement that had been made with them, even though it had been made under false pretenses, because it had been made in the name of God.  Verse twenty-seven concludes, And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.  Though they were spared, the people of these cities had a limited role.  They were basically servants to the people of Israel and the house of God.