??Children in America love to play a game called "Mother, May I？" One child stands facing a line of children a distance away. The one child calls out a command, but the other children must remember to ask"Mother, may I？" before they move. When the leading child says, "Yes, you may, " then the child in the line may move. The children groan when they forget to ask, "Mother, may I？" for it means one must go back to the starting line.
??That reminds me of what happened to Joshua and the leaders of Israel. Listen for a groan from the people of Israel in our Bible lesson today!
??Do you remember the names of the two cities that Joshua and the soldiers of Israel have conquered since they crossed over the Jordan River？The first city was Jericho, and the second was the little city of Ai. All the other cities were hearing about these incredible victories, and they were afraid."Will we be the next？" they were probably asking. The Bible says in Joshua 9：1 and 2, "when all the kings heard they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and .."Israel."" They decided their best defense would be to fight together. As these kings were making their plans to fight Israel, there was one city that made very different plans!
??It seems that the people of the city of Gibeon realized that fighting Joshua would be useless.
??So they worked very slyly! They had some men dress up as ambassadors to go to Israel. An ambassador is an official messenger sent from a country usually for the purpose of keeping peace between countries. But these men from Gibeon intentionally dressed up in old, dusty clothes, and put on old, worn-out shoes. They put old sacks for saddles on their donkeys, and took old, worn out wine bottles. They even took dry, moldy bread. Well, what do you suppose they are going to do, boys and girls？??Joshua 9：6 says, "And they went to Joshua to the camp, and said to him, and to the men of Israel, "We have come from a far country：now make a league with us." A league meant a peace agreement. Joshua and the men of Israel looked them over carefully as they listened.
??The Gibeonites were very good actors! They SAID they were from a far country, they LOOKED like they had come a long way, but in their hearts they KNEW they were lying. And God knew it. The Bible says, "Man looks on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart." The heart is the real you that's listening to me right now. No matter what you wear or how nice you try to act, God sees the real you on the inside! What does God see when He looks at our hearts？Jeremiah 17：9 says, "The heart is deceitful and desperately wicked." God knows every jealous thought we've ever had, every lie we've ever told, every time we've pouted, or disobeyed. And He doesn't excuse even the smallest sin. God is our loving Creator, but He is also holy, completely perfect, and says SIN MUST BE PUNISHED. For those who do not believe in Jesus, that punishment is everlasting death and separation from God. Being a good actor might help you escape punishment here on earth, but remember, God sees your heart!
??The Gibeonites were very good actors, as they presented their story to Joshua and the people of Israel. But Joshua and the men of Israel could not see in their hearts, so they tried to figure out the truth from what they saw."Suppose you people really live close to us, and you're just lying to us. How can we be sure we should make a league with you？" the men of Israel asked.
??Main Truth：Link：The men of Israel were suspicious, but they didn't know for sure. But they were using their eyes and their minds to try to figure out the truth. Was that enough？What was the most important thing they should have done right then？You are right if you said："Ask God about it？, for He knew everything about these strangers! Remember the game, "Mother, may I？" If you are God's child, don't forget to come to Him with every decision and say, "Father, may I？" Your Heavenly Father knows the very best answer!
??The men of Israel were suspicious, but they didn't ask God for wisdom and direction! Joshua just kept asking questions."Who are you, and from what country did you come？" The Gibeonites had their answers all ready."We are your servants who have come from a very far country, and we came because we heard about the Lord your God, and all that He did in Egypt, and how He helped you defeat all those kings on the other side of Jordan. So we wanted to make a league with you. If you don't believe us, look at our bread？we took it hot out of the oven the day we left, and now look, it is dry and moldy. Look at our shoes and clothes how worn out they are. You can tell we have been traveling a long, long time."
??Joshua 9：14 is a very sad verse："And men (of Israel) did not ask counsel at the mouth of the LORD."
??They didn't pray about it, to ask God's direction. They made the wrong decisions. They decided to make peace with these ambassadors, and let them live. So they made a league with the men of Gibeon and promised them before the Lord that they would not kill them.
??Only 3 days later they found out the truth. And the truth was that the Gibeonites had really only come about 20 miles! They were not from a far country at all! Can you just hear that groan going up from the camp of Israel!! Gibeah was actually one of the cities Joshua was planning to conquer, and now he had promised before the Lord that the people of Israel would not hurt them.
??The Bible says the people of Israel complained, but they knew they had promised before the Lord, and they could not break that promise, or they will be in trouble with the Lord. But Joshua and the leaders of Israel called the Gibeonites together and asked them, "Why did you deceive us, telling us you were from a far country, when you really live very close？"
??The Gibeonites had a very good answer, boys and girls!"Because we heard how the Lord your God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all of us, so we were very afraid for our lives because of you, and have done this thing. And now, we are in your hand, whatever seems right and good to you to do to us, do it."
??The Gibeonites had done the only thing they knew to do to be saved from destruction! Did you know there is only one thing you and I can do to be saved from everlasting death and destruction？John 3：16 says, "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son that whosever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." The word"perish？means to be destroyed forever. But God loves you so much that He was willing to give up the dearest treasure of His heart, His perfect Son Jesus, for YOU. How did God give His Son？He sent Jesus to earth to die in your place, taking your punishment and mine for sin. When wicked men nailed Jesus to a wooden cross, He was taking our place. After the Lord Jesus died and was buried, He came alive again on the 3rd day. Now Jesus is in Heaven, and believing in Him is the ONLY way you and I can be saved from everlasting death and destruction. The Gibeonites knew of only one way they could be saved from destruction by Joshua and the army of Israel. And that was to trick the people of Israel.
??Joshua kept his promise to save their lives, but because they had deceived the people of Israel, Joshua said, "Now because of this, you are cursed and there shall none of you be freed from being servants to us. You will cut wood and carry water for the house of our God."
??The people of Gibeon readily agreed to this job. Perhaps they realized it was certainly better to cut wood and draw water and still have their families alive and well, than to have Joshua and his army come and completely destroy them.
??Do you think the people of Israel really wanted to be bothered with a lot of strangers in their camp？No, and every day as Joshua and the people of Israel saw a Gibeonite chopping wood, or bringing water, they would be reminded of the sad consequences of not asking God for His direction! If you are God's child, remember to ask God's directions so you can make right decisions! Bad decisions can cause you much sorrow, some for the rest of your life! Will you begin daily to read God's Word？His Word is our best counselor! And pray anytime, anywhere, about anything! God promises His Holy Spirit will be a guide for us in making right decisions.
??在美国的小孩子喜欢一个游戏, 叫做; "妈妈, 可以吗？"这个游戏怎么玩呢？孩子们排成一对, 让一个孩子面对他们, 站得稍远一点。让另一个孩子喊出一个命令, 其他人必须记得说; "妈妈, 可以吗？"当站在前面的人说; "是的, 可以。"他们才能跑开。但如果有谁忘记了说; "妈妈, 可以吗？"他就必须回到队尾。
??这个游戏使我想起了约书亚和以色列的领袖们。先来听听以色列人的怨言罢。
??你还记得以色列人过约旦河后攻取的两座城的名字吗？第一个是耶利哥, 第二座城是一个小城叫艾。现在, 所有其它城的居民都听说了以色列人的胜利, 他们都很害怕, "我们会不会是下一个目标？"他们也许在问。约书亚记9章1-2节说; "当所有的王, 听见这事, 就都聚集, 同心合意地要与约书亚和以色列人争战。"他们觉得最好的方法就是联合起来。当所有的王在计划怎样抵挡以色列人的时候, 有一个城市的人却出了一个截然不同的主意。基遍的居民可能已经意识到不管他们怎样准备, 他们是没有办法抵抗以色列人的。于是他们绞尽脑汁, 想出一个很狡猾的计谋。他们派出一些人假扮使者到以色列人那里去。使者一般是由一个国家正式派出的官员, 目的是为了和平。但是这些基遍的使者却故意将补过的旧鞋穿在脚上, 把旧衣服穿在身上, 拿旧口袋和破裂缝补的旧皮酒袋驮在驴上, 甚至他们所带的饼都是干的, 长了霉的。小朋友们, 这些基遍人想干什么呢？??约书亚记9章6节说; "他们到吉甲营中见约书亚, 对他和以色列说："我们是从远方来的, 现在求你与我们立约。"立约就是和平的约。当他们说话的时候, 约书亚和以色列人仔细地打量著他们。
??这些基遍人真是很好的演员。他们说自己是从远方来的, 他们穿得破破烂烂的, 看起来也象是走了很远的路。但他们心里知道他们在说谎。神当然知道他们在说谎。圣经上说"人是看外貌, 神是看内心。" 你的心才代表真正的你。不管你穿什么, 举止多么文雅, 神是看你的内心。当神看我们的心的时候, 他是看什么呢？耶利米书17章9节说; "人心比万物都诡诈, 坏到极处, 谁能识透呢？"神知道我们每一个嫉妒的思想, 每一句谎言, 每一次与人闹别扭, 每一次不顺服。神不能容忍罪, 哪怕是最小的罪。虽然神是创造我们, 爱我们的神。但他又是圣洁, 完美的神。他说;罪必须受到惩罚。对于那些不相信耶稣的人, 那个惩罚就是永远的死, 和与神永远的分离。一个人可以成为一个很好的演员, 暂时逃过世上的审判, 但记住, 神看你的内心。
??在约书亚和以色列人面前, 这些基遍人装得很象。但约书亚和以色列人并不能看到人的心, 他们只能凭著他们所看见的来识别真假。以色列人对这些基遍人说："只怕你们是住在我们中间的, 你们没有讲真话。如果是这样, 我们怎能和你们立约呢？"以色列人虽然怀疑, 但他们并不能确定。他们只能凭著他们所看见的, 所听见的来识别真假。但那是不够的。他们现在最应该做什么呢？如果你的答案是; "求问神。"那就对了。因为神知道一切。还记得那个？妈妈, 可以吗？的游戏吗？如果你是神的孩子, 在你做每一个决定之前, 不要忘记来到神的前面, 问他; "天父, 可以吗？"我们的天父知道最好的答案。
??尽管以色列人怀疑, 但他们并没有到神面前去寻求智慧, 问问神他们应当怎样做。连约书亚也只是在问问题。"你们是什么人？是从哪里来的？"基遍人早已准备好了答案。他们说; "我们是你的仆人, 从极远之地而来, 是因听见你神的名声和他在埃及所行的一切事, 并他帮助你们击败了约旦河东所有的国王。所以我们想和你们立约。如果你不相信我们, 看看我们的饼, 从家里带出来的这饼还是热的。看哪, 现在都干了, 长了霉了。我们这衣服和鞋, 因为道路甚远, 也都穿旧了, 我们实在是走了好远的路。"约书亚记9章14节的记载实在令人难过; "以色列人并没有求问神。"
??以色列人没有祷告, 没有求问神。结果他们做出了错误的决定。他们决定与基遍的假使者讲和, 与他们立约, 让他们活著。会众的首领也向他们起誓他们不会杀他们。过了三天, 以色列人才发现不对了。原来基遍人离他们只有20英里, 是他们的近邻。小朋友们, 你听见以色列人发的怨言了吗？基遍其实是以色列人要攻打的一座城, 但他们已经在神面前起了誓不伤害他们。
??圣经说以色列人虽然抱怨, 但他们知道他们已经在神面前起了誓, 他们就不能违反他们的誓言, 否则他们在神面前会有麻烦。约书亚和以色列人的首领们把基遍人叫来, 对他们说; "为什么欺哄我们说："我们离你们甚远呢？, 其实你们是住在我们中间的。"基遍人回答得非常好。他们说; "因为有人实在告诉你的仆人, 你的神曾吩咐他的仆人摩西, 把这全地赐给你们, 并在你们面前灭绝这地的一切居民；所以, 我们为你们的缘故甚怕丧命, 就行了这事。现在我们在你手中, 你以怎样待我们为善为正, 就怎样做吧!"
??基遍人知道这是他们脱离死亡的唯一的方法。你知道吗？我和你也只有一个逃避永远灭亡的唯一方法。约翰福音3章16节说; "神爱世人, 甚至将他的独生子赐给他们, 叫一切信他的, 不至灭亡, 反得永生。" "灭亡"是指永远的死亡。但, 因为神爱你, 他舍弃了他最宝贝的爱子, 我们的主耶稣。这是怎么回事呢？他让他的儿子到世上来, 为你死, 承担你的罪, 当耶稣被钉在十字架上的时候, 他是代替了你。他第三天从死里复活。现在他就在天上。相信耶稣是我和你逃避永远灭亡的唯一方法。
??基遍人知道他们逃离死亡的唯一的方法就是欺哄以色列人。约书亚按照他起的誓没有杀基遍人, 但因为他们欺哄了以色列人, 约书亚就说; "现在你们是被咒诅的!你们中间的人必断不了作奴仆, 为我神的殿作劈柴挑水的人。"
??基遍人大概巴不得地接受这个安排。因为劈柴挑水总比被以色列人毁灭好得多。你觉得以色列人会不会因为营中住的这些陌生人而烦恼呢？是的, 当他们每天看见基遍人劈柴挑水, 他们就想起令人难过的往事, 都是因为他们没有寻求神的带领, 才会有这样的结果。如果你是神的孩子, 要记住, 在一切事上来寻求神的带领, 使你能够做出正确的决定。一个错误的决定会让你付出重大的代价, 有时甚至生命。你好不好开始每天来读神的话。神的话是我们最好的老师。为每件事来祷告。祷告可以是任何时候, 任何地方。神应许我们他的圣灵要来带领我们做出正确的决定。 |