“We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?” – Joshua 9:8

Today’s Scripture Reading (November 30, 2015): Joshua 9

Twice during the 20^th Century Germany was dismantled. The nation essentially traded its future for survival. At the end of World War I, the dismantling of the nation seemed to be extreme, and many felt that it was this dismantling that gave fertile ground for the rise of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi Party. The promise that Hitler gave to the German people was a simple one – I will make Germany great again. Germany in a moment of extreme crisis had traded its future for survival, but now it was willing to risk survival to regain its future – to become great again.

Germany fell a second time after World War II, and again the nation was dismantled. This time it was split between four nations, but also between two ideologies. But the difference after World War II seemed to be that, at least for the most part, we realized the World War I mistake. Germany still traded its future for survival, but gradually the nations – especially those dominated by a Western ideology – began to give Germany back its future. The whole process culminated in what was one of the most unexpected events of the 20^th century, one that I admit I never thought I would live to see – the reunification of a nation. East Germany and West Germany became once again just Germany.

Much is made about the Gibeonite deception. There is absolutely no doubt that the Gibeon’s pulled off a great ruse against Israel. But sometimes what we overlook is simply this simple statement of truth made by the Gibeon’s – we are your servants. We fail to recognize the great truth - that in this moment of time the Gibeonites were willing to trade their future for survival.

In recent years, the identification of Gibeon with the village of al-Jib in what is now the West Bank has begun to open up to us a greater understanding about the crisis in Gibeon during the days of Joshua. The city sat in a fertile plain. It appears to have been a very prosperous maker of wine. Gibeon laid just outside of Jerusalem and there is evidence that the city was indeed a protectorate of Jerusalem and defended by Israel.

But Gibeon is also the site of several important biblical events. It was the place where God made the sun stand still as Israel defended the city, it was made by Joshua a Levitical city, and for a time the Tabernacle that Israel had carried through the wilderness as the dwelling place of God was set up in Gibeon. The message seemed to be clear. In spite of the Gibeonite deception, God was offering Gibeon a way back. They had traded their future for survival, but if they were willing to serve the God of Israel, he would give them back their future.

And in the end that is what we all really need – a way back where God, in spite of our deceptions and failing, offers us a future in him.

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Joshua 10