DCLM Higher Everyday 5 March 2025 — Trapped By Their Tricks
DCLM Higher Everyday 5 March 2025 Devotional by Pastor W. F. Kumuyi — Trapped By Their Tricks
Topic: Trapped By Their Tricks
Text: Joshua 9:16-27
16And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them.
18And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes.
19But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them.
20This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them.
21And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them.
22And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?
23Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God.
24And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing.
25And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do.
26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not.
27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.
Key Verse: “Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God” (Joshua 9:23).
Message
Today, we are considering the second part of the Gibeonites’ lies and tricks to league with Israel. As it is commonly said, “A lie may go a thousand kilometers ahead but truth will surely overtake the lie.” The Gibeonites deception only paid off for three days and they were exposed. They incurred a curse from Prophet Joshua to remain in perpetual slavery as “hewers of wood and drawers of water” for Israel.
Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 4 March 2025 – In League With Liars
The youths who obtain certificates and wealth by fraud and malpractices forget that they put themselves under a curse. If they refuse to repent, they will regret it when they miss heaven. Satan’s falsehood in the Garden of Eden turned the Serpent to a crawling beast (Genesis 3:14). Why would the child of a Holy God tell lies to get temporary gains and miss heaven? Jacob deceived Isaac, his father, to outsmart Esau, his elder brother. He suffered twenty years in exile being cheated ten times by Laban. Gehazi became a leper for lies he told. Stop evil habits and count the cost of a lost integrity and eternity. Be trustworthy.
Quote: Gehazi became a leper for lies
Challenge: Liars can endanger you. Avoid them.
Prayer for today: My God, help me to avoid all liars in Jesus’ name.
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)
