Joshua 9; Compromise

Objectives

• Students will determine to consult God in every situation.
• Students will recognize the cost of compromise and evaluate their own life for compromise.

Opening

• What are some situations you have gotten yourself into where you ended up needing help from someone else?

• Are there any times when you waited longer than you should aha to ask for help?

Main Body

Trickery (V. 1-15)

• How does the political landscape change in verses 1 and 2?

• What tactic do the Gibeonites employ in verses 3-6?

• According to verses 7 and 8, what tactic does Joshua employee to verify the story?

Notice that Joshua 9:7 indicates there was some suspicion on the part of the Israelites. They appear to have known that deception was a possibility.

• According to verses 9-13, what evidence did the Gibeonites produce?

• What problem does verse 14 highlight?

• Compare Exodus 23:32, Deuteronomy 7:1,2, Deuteronomy 20:11-15, and Joshua 9:15. What went wrong?