July 18, 2023
Joshua and the children of Israel were taking possession of the land that God Almighty had promised them after wandering in the wilderness for 40 years. Their first conquest was the two Amorite kings. On the other side of the river was Jericho. Next came the conquest of Ai. News of these conquests stirred the other kings of the Hittite, the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite. They all gathered together to fight as one against Israel. Israel had orders from God to destroy all of these people utterly.
The inhabitants of Gibeon, of the Hivite group, heard of the Jewish conquests and sought to make peace with the Jews. Therefore, they sent a group to Joshua disguised as travelers from a far country. They sought a covenant of peace with Israel.
“They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wind bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; and old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and moldy.” Joshua 9:4, 5
Joshua questioned them about where they came from and why. “And they said unto Joshua, from a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God; for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Hesbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.” Joshua 9:9,10.
Unfortunately, Joshua and the Israelite leadership did not seek the face of God and were tricked into this peace agreement. The Gibeonites “played the God card,” and they fell for it. Three days later, it was discovered, but the Jews didn’t believe they could go back on their word, even though they had been deceived. The congregation of Jews was naturally upset by this oversight on their part. The Gibeonites became servants and slaves of the Jews.
Have you ever noticed, and I am sure you have, how often our leaders and others try to play the God card on you? Politicians do this all the time. Think of all the godless political leaders who constantly play the God card. After speaking, they often end with a request that God bless this nation. That makes some people feel reassured about their intentions, even when their actions go against what is good. It is just another example of “Gibeonite trickery, playing the God card” to deceive.
Knowing that you are a follower of Christ, have you ever noticed how often people you meet who want something from you play the God card? Before I retired, it happened to me frequently. Playing the God card, using Gibeonite trickery, involves flattery of some sort, most often. Flattery is one of the vices that is very difficult to reject because flattery makes us feel exemplary and special. Flattery is excessive and insincere praise, used to gain an advantage. Combining the God card and flattery is Gibeonite trickery at its best.
Some bosses overuse flattery with their employees and supervisees. Others frequently compliment or flatter, even over small issues. Still, some tell little white lies and make false statements just to make people feel good. Most people eventually realize it. When they do, the person using it loses credibility. It becomes hard to trust anyone who relies on flattery or tells tiny lies. And it is very easy to be deceived by those who flatter and use the ‘God card’.
It seems to me that much of the health and wealth gospel is Gibeonite trickery. Most of these preachers rely on using the God card and flattery. They want their listeners to believe they deserve, “their best life now.” They aim to make people think that God’s love means He would never deny them their dreams. These preachers promote the idea that their listeners can demand a much bigger return from God than their investment. They tell them that they can create reality with their words, especially if they use the name of God and sow the necessary financial seeds.
If you give to get something, you give from a selfish motive and should expect nothing from God. If you think God owes you anything good, you are deceived. I do not want this to turn into an article about the health and wealth gospel. However, Gibeonite trickery seems to be present in their pleas for money. And fake healings, at their significant events, are trickery at its worst.
Learn from Joshua’s mistake and seek God before you listen to anyone who uses the God card and flattery with you.
