Compassionate Deception
So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the [a]counsel of the Lord. Joshua 9:14 NASB
Did not ask – The crucial decision of the encounter with the Gibeonites occurs without consultation with God. That seems quite strange. Joshua certainly knows what happens when a leader acts independently of God’s directive. Ai is the perfect, and recent, example. Joshua should have gone with the troops. He should have provided leadership about the spoils. He should have recognized the risk. But he didn’t and the result was disastrous. In fact, so disastrous that God made the entire congregation go through an elaborate exercise to discover the culprit. Fresh on the mind, you would think.
In addition, the ish Israel (whomever that may be) already raised some suspicions about the real origin of this rag-tag group. Ignored.
Then the Gibeonites overplay their hand. The text gives us an elaborate, exaggerated account of their supposed condition. This calls more into question. Ignored. Overlooked.
Throughout the entire event we are confronted with the question, “Why?” Why did Joshua and the leaders ignore all the signs? Why were they in such a hurry to make a treaty on the spot? Why didn’t they investigate any of the claims? And, in the end, after it was all done, why didn’t God confront Joshua about his serious mistake?
Let me make a suggestion. It’s only a suggestion, but I think it makes some sense. Perhaps the answer to all these questions is compassion. When God presents Himself to Moses on the mountain, the first thing He says about His character is răḥûm—compassionate, a word that marks God’s unwavering choice of His people and the requirement of His chosen to demonstrate His character in the world. Certainly Moses communicated this principal idea. Joshua was witness to God’s great compassion and mercy throughout his life. And now, when these apparently destitute strangers from a far distance come seeking pity, Joshua has the opportunity to demonstrate compassion as the leader of the nation. He does so immediately. Perhaps he’s thinking, “By this action I will show the nation what it means to be God’s agent on earth. They will see a merciful leader, not a tyrant. They will see true godly leadership.” After all, he’s only displaying the character of God. No need to consult with the Master if I am acting according to His own self-declaration. With good motives, perhaps unintentional, but nevertheless, a tragic error.
If I’m right, we have a lot to learn. We live in a religious world that preaches mercy and compassion at every turn. “For God so loved” is the constant theme. Anyone and everyone can be saved. God doesn’t want any to perish. You know the slogans. But here, with Joshua, we learn something else. Obedience trumps compassion even when compassion is top of the list. Sometimes we just don’t know what’s really happening, and we make decisions based on feelings but not on instructions. Good feelings—gone wrong.
Topical Index: compassion, consultation, Joshua 9:14
