victims of indiscretion

Joshua 9:14-20 (JDV)

Joshua 9:14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek Yahveh’s decision.
Joshua 9:15 So Joshua established a relationship with them and made a treaty to allow them stay alive, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them.
Joshua 9:16 Three days after making the treaty with them, they heard that the Gibeonites were their neighbors, living among them.
Joshua 9:17 So the Israelites set out and reached the Gibeonite cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath-jearim.
Joshua 9:18 But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the community had sworn an oath to them by Yahveh, the God of Israel. Then the whole community grumbled against the leaders.
Joshua 9:19 All the leaders answered them, “We have sworn an oath to them by Yahveh, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them.
Joshua 9:20 This is how we will treat them: we will let them stay alive, so that no wrath will fall on us because of the oath we swore to them.”

victims of indiscretion

Joshua and the Israelites had made a mistake by not consulting God when they made a treaty with the Gibeonites. Now, even though it would hinder their mission, they had to abide by that treaty. They had to stay true to their word. Why, because God’s wrath would fall on them if they didn’t.

Lord, make us people of integrity who stand by our commitments, but help us to seek your will in our decisions, so that we are not victims of our own indiscretion.