Friday, October 20 – Joshua 9:24-27

So they answered Joshua and said, “Since your servants were fully informed that the Lord your God had commanded His servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land before you, we feared greatly for our lives because of you, and did this thing. And now behold, we are in your hands; do to us as it seems good and right in your sight to do.” This he did to them, and saved them from the hands of the sons of Israel, and they did not kill them. But on that day Joshua made them gatherers of firewood and labor to draw water for the congregation and for the altar of the Lord, to this day, in the place which He would choose.

Many of us get defensive when we are wrong. We seek to make excuses and escape the consequences. Even though the Gibeonites acted in deceit, when the truth came out and they were punished, they did not respond in defense or anger. They recognized the grace in their consequences. Even though a life of manual labor would be difficult, it was worth it to be with the people of God and have their lives spared. They accepted the consequences in humility instead of pride.

What is your attitude when you recognize you have sinned against God? Are you defensive when someone confronts your sin? When we face correction, we do not have to be defensive because our sin no longer defines us. Romans 6:12-14 says, “Therefore sin is not to reign in your mortal body so that you obey its lusts, and do not go on presenting the parts of your body to sin as instruments of unrighteousness; but present yourselves to God as those who are alive from the dead, and your body’s parts as instruments of righteousness for God. For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under the Law but under grace.” The Gibeonites received Joshua’s rebuke and their consequences graciously because they were met by God’s grace. When our identity is in Christ, our most fundamental need is met. Because of Him, we can deal with our sins honestly, knowing He is changing us to be more like Him.

• What are some ways you are confronted with your sin?
• What is your reaction when you are confronted with sin?
• Pray and thank God that He sees your sin in light of His grace.