THE HOAX OF THE MOLDY BREAD      (Joshua 9)

         1. The people of Canaan became very frightened as the news of Israel's victories at Jericho and Ai began to spread throughout the land. Because of this some of the rulers of the larger cities decided to band together to wage a united war on Israel.
         2. Others thought it would be better to make a treaty of peace with the invaders, if that were possible. Among these were the leading men of Gibeon who plotted a shrewd scheme in order to save themselves.
         3. Their city was not very far from Ai, and they guessed that if they did not do some thing soon, it might be their turn to be destroyed next. So they dressed themselves up as ambassadors from a far country, "and took worn-out sacks upon their asses, and old wine skins bottles, cracked and mended.
         4. The men put worn and patched sandals upon their feet, and wore old clothes, and all the bread...was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, "We be come from a far country: Now therefore make a treaty of peace with us".
         5. Some of the leaders of Israel were a bit suspicious of the travel-stained strangers, and looked them over very carefully, but none detected the fraud. So Joshua asked them who they were and whence they had come.
         6. Making their voices to sound weary and travel-worn they answered, "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 to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon and to Og king of Bashan."
         7. Carefully they avoided mentioning Jericho and Ai, which would have given them away.
         8. Then, seeing that their speech had begun to work its effect on Joshua and the princes of Israel, they went on to point to the food they had brought with them.
         9. "This our bread," they said sadly, "we took hot ... out of our ovens on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is moldy, and these wine skins, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: And these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey."
         10. What subtle deceivers they were! But deceive they did. And Joshua believed them, and so did the other leaders who listened to them. How could they deny the convincing evidence of that moldy bread? "And Joshua made peace with them, and made a treaty with them, to let them live: And the princes of the congregation sware an oath unto them before the Lord."
         11. Of course it wasn't long before the fraud was discovered. In fact, within three days the truth was out. You can imagine how foolish and angry Joshua and the others felt about it. But they kept their word, which they had sworn before the Lord, lest the Lord should become angry with them.
         12. When they came to Gibeon they left it unharmed. However, as a punishment for their deception, the Gibeonites were told that they must forever be "hewers of wood and drawers of water", working for and serving the Children of Israel.
         13. How did it happen that Joshua and the princes of Israel were deceived by these cunning people? The Bible explains that "the men of Israel examined their provisions but did not ask counsel from the Lord." In other words, they looked at the appearance of their visitors, and the moldy bread, and even though they'd been suspicious, they did not ask the Lord about it.
         14. God was ready to give them counsel on this matter, just as He had given them counsel on how to take Jericho and Ai. But being perhaps a bit proud and overconfident over their two great victories, they had thought it wasn't necessary to ask God about such a little matter as this. So they were caught off guard and were deceived by a piece of moldy bread! What an important lesson for Joshua and his officers, that if they had simply asked God for counsel, He would not have allowed them to be deceived. If they had asked for wisdom in the matter, God would have given it.--James 1:5.
         15. Referring to the Historic accounts of God's people of old, the Bible clearly explains, "Now all these things happened unto them as examples and are written for our admonition (to warn) those of us upon whom the end of the World is come."--1Corinthians 10:11.
         16. And if there is anything that people in leadership need today it is good judgement and discernment--that keen ability to sense the difference between honesty and deceit, between people who are genuine and sincere and those who are false and dishonest.
         17. And how do we get this sense of judgement? It is simple! Just by asking the Lord, and He promises we'll receive.--Matthew 7:7-11.
         18. Anyone can pray to Jesus and get the answer quickly, but if we lean on our own understanding, our own strength and wisdom, our own self-confidence, we're going to make a sad mistake and it will come to nothing!
         19. The Bible warns that in the Last Days "evil men and deceivers shall become worse and worse." And in this day and age where lying and deception have almost become a way of life for many, we need to keep looking to God for His leading, His confirmation, His direction, and He says, "If we acknowledge Him in all our ways, then He will direct our paths."--Proverbs 3:6.
         20. So just look to the Lord, and He will be "unto you a Light, and better than a known way."