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We recently learned about our godly inheritance and the fact that a life of righteousness helps to protect our inheritance from being stolen by satan. Today, we return to the story of the Gibeonite Deception to learn another key lesson in not squandering one's godly inheritance.
When the Israelites crossed the Jordan to Canaan, the Lord told them He'd given them a wide swathe of land stretching from the Wadi of Egypt all the way to the Euphrates (Genesis 15:18-21). This land already had several inhabitants in it. Yet, He took them through the process of claiming this territory one city and kingdom at a time.
At some point, an entourage of people came from the land of Gibeon (Joshua 9). They came seeking a treaty to keep Joshua from destroying them and claiming the land they lived on. They created a sophisticated lie, manufacturing evidence to suggest they'd come from a place too far to be part of the land the Lord had given unto His people.
Sadly, the Israelites believed this falsehood and agreed to become allies of the Gibeonites. Specifically, we are told in Joshua 9:15 that they failed to ask God for His direction before entering this covenant. Once the Lord revealed they'd been deceived, Joshua was upset and placed a curse on them. A curse that had interesting consequences for the Israelites centuries later.
One lesson to learn from this story is that because they fell for the Gibeonite Deception, the Israelites entered into a covenant that essentially prevented them from claiming part of the inheritance that was originally theirs.
The devil is constantly looking to have us agree with it in order to steal our inheritance from right under our noses. Just as the Gibeonites did to Joshua and the Israelites, satan is creating elaborate schemes to convince us to squander part (if not all) of our godly inheritance. It wants us to agree that we will be forever sick or poor or underemployed or ignored so we never realize that our godly inheritance means we are much more than even we realize. The devil wants to convince us that we can't carry God's glory and so it wants us not to bother trying to live righteously.
The only question is will you agree with satan and give up what God has promised to you? Will you listen to the devil and leave behind what is rightfully yours as a child of the Lord? If you agree with satan and fail to resist the Gibeonite Deceptions it has laid as a trap for you, then your godly inheritance will be lost.
To prevent this, you again must be mindful to live a righteous life. Such righteousness is not measured by worldly understanding. You need to study God's word to gain insight into this way of living. Studying God's word will also teach you how to distinguish how satan speaks as opposed to how God speaks to you. In addition, you also have to give your life to Christ and become born again so that you receive the gift of the Holy Spirit who is tasked with reminding believers what God has taught and what they are to do or not do in every situation. If only Joshua had gone to God, He would have known the Gibeonites were liars intent on doing satan's work - depriving them of their rightful inheritance and causing them to disobey the Lord's instruction. That shall not be your portion, in the mighty name of Jesus, Amen.
Your godly inheritance is the key to a life filled with the fullness of God's goodness. It is also crucial to receive His wisdom which He has promised will bring health, power, long life, and wealth to name but a few benefits.
Again, the choice remains the same - will you walk in righteousness or will you agree with satan's plans to steal your godly inheritance?
I pray you will submit to the choice that will lead you into God's promises and blessings for yourself, your generations to come, plus the brothers and sisters in Christ you are to impact now and in the future. See you at Noon EST for fellowship.
For more on the How satan speaks series, please consider the following:
