Joshua leading the nation of Israel were successfully in taking possession of the Promised Land. There was no giant, kingdom or nation able to withstand the strength of Israel because God was with them.
One day the enemy came to their door as emissaries from a far country. The put on a quite a show for Israel. They described their long journey evidenced by their tattered clothes and sandals worn thin by miles they traveled. They showed them the wine skins emptied and torn. Then they said, "This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is." (Joshua 9:12, NIV).
Rather than Israel consulting God it says they sampled the provisions (verse 14). They believed what they saw and tasted than taking a moment to seek God. He would have told them plainly they are courting the enemy. Remember God gave clear instructions from crossing the Jordan, taking Jericho, uncovering Achan's sin to destroying Ai. Why did they not seek Him now? We must be on guard in times of victory and blessing never to assume we have the mind of God. Later after making an oath, they learned they were the Gibeonites, their neighbors, an enemy who possessed royal cities (verse 16).
Beloved, when we agree to the circumstantial evidence before us rather than consulting God we will find ourselves bound to an enemy. Such is the bread of the Devil to deceive by appeasing the natural senses while dulling true spiritual discernment. Satan is a master of re-direction and distraction. Look here not there! See what's in the right hand while the left hand is behind his back! When the Gibeonites were attacked Israel came to their defense and could not destroy them because they made a treaty.
Centuries later when there was a famine for three years, King David sought the Lord for the reason. The Lord said it was because King Saul killed the Gibeonites (2 Samuel 21:1). The remedy was to kill King Saul's sons (except one who David spared) as retribution and shortly afterwards, the rains fell.
We need not to be bound in serving the Enemy even if we were foolishly deceived by his schemes. Galatians 3:13 says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree". Christ broke the back of sin and defeated our foe!
Understand this beloved, as Christ confronted the Devil, "It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." (Matthew 4:4, KJV). God's bread is the very word of God that give us freedom, life and strength. It will makes us discerning and wise when the enemy comes to our door with moldy bread and a tale of lies.
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