The story of the Gibeonites fascinates me. These were the guys who dressed in old clothes and worn out sandals, filled cracked saddle bags with moldy bread and convinced Israel’s leaders they traveled from a distant land to sign a peace treaty.

A few days after the ceremony Joshua discovered the ruse. The Gibeonites lived one valley over and cooked up the scheme to save their skins. Who can blame them? Honoring his pledge, Joshua let them live.

When questioned about their deception they replied, your servants were clearly told how the Lord your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you the whole land and to wipe out all its inhabitants from before you. So we feared for our lives because of you, and that is why we did this.

The Gibeonites developed a fear and respect for the Lord and his people. They heard the stories and believed. Like Rahab the prostitute in Jericho, they turned toward the Lord rather than away. They took God at his word and acted accordingly.

It seems that faith doesn’t need to be lined up perfectly in order to be effective. A little faith in the right place makes all the difference. Which is hopeful for those of us who never seem to get it all right all the time.

Joshua 9 in reading the Bible in 2023

Photo by Oziel Gómez