"The Gibeonites deceived Joshua", 1728 engraving, Abraham de Blois.
It seems that we have another mystery on our hands here. At least a mystery to me.
In Deuteronomy, God told the Israelites that when they came into the promised land, they were to destroy all, not intermarry, and removed them from the land.
Yet, we see Rahab, and her family preserved, and now the whole Gibeonite tribe. And, to further the confusion, both of these situations involved a ruse of some sort.
I wonder what God is teaching us here. Clearly his mercy is in view, but did he change his mind?
Does God ever change his mind? I have seen many examples of you do this, then I (God) will do that.
But did God change his mind here with the Gibeonites, from his command with Moses?
My wife and I are having a big hubbub today over one of our sons. We are a step-family, I laid a law down with my son, a line was crossed, and I, in this case, didn't hold down my law.
Now my wife is upset because I didn't hold down the law. When a law is laid down, am I to always, in all circumstances, enforce it? Was my heart manipulated? Did I see real positive change, and rightly dispense grace?
Certainly I am not God, and certainly I am not privileged with his view into the heart. I can only do what I think is best, and certainly deeply listen to my wife's words.
But, these episodes with Rahab, and the Gibeonites, sure has me scratching my head. I will continue the journey to see if I find any answers.
