DCLM Higher Everyday 4 March 2025 — In League With Liars
DCLM Higher Everyday 4 March 2025 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — In League With Liars
Topic: In League With Liars
Text: Joshua 9:1-15
1And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;
2That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord.
3And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai,
4They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;
5And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy.
6And 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 ye a league with us.
7And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you?
8And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye?
9And they said unto him, 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,
10And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth.
11Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us.
12This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy:
13And these bottles of wine, 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.
14And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.
15And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.
Key Verse: “And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them” (Joshua 9:15).
Message
Deception is the act of misleading by falsehood. A story was told of a youth who kept deceiving his parents to get money to lavish on pleasure at school. He would list up items that his illiterate parents could not identify. He listed photosynthesis as one of them but was exposed when his father went to the school to buy it himself.
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 3 March 2025 – Godless Earthly Life Is Empty – Part 2
Our text today covers the first stage of the Gibeonites’ lies and tricks on Joshua and the elders of Israel. A league is a covenant between two or more friends to defend one another. It also prevents the partners involved from associating with enemies of their colleague. The Gibeonites deceived Israel by pretense and dramatic lies. Unfortunately, Joshua did not ask God for verification but consented to their wiles. A league with sinners and backsliders is a trap of the devil. Israel suffered losses, defeats and failures because of the mixed multitudes that followed them from Egypt. Who are your friends and acquaintances? Do they obey God? You can identify them by their corrupt fruits. Separate from all liars.
Quote: The Gibeonites deceived Israel
Challenge: It takes many other lies to cover one lie.
Prayer for today: Lord, deliver me from deceptive peers.
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)
