Text: Joshua 9:17-27
Memory Verse:“Now therefore, you are cursed, and none of you shall be freed from being slaves — woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God” (Joshua 9:23).
The choices we make today affect us and even the future of our children. The inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, so they worked craftily and pretended to be ambassadors. They went to Joshua, in the camp at Gilgal, and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a far country; now therefore, make a covenant with us” (Joshua 9:6). Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them
live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them without asking counsel of the Lord. Three days after they made a covenant with them, they heard that they were actually their neighbours and dwelt near them. Disappointed,
Joshua placed a curse on them.
The Gibeonites negotiated a future for their children by the decision they took. They negotiated for themselves and by extension, their children, to live and not to die, but they did that by deception which brought them a curse. The people in the days of Jesus Christ negotiated a terrible future for their children because they wanted Jesus crucified. “And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children” (Matthew 27:25).
Gehazi through covetousness negotiated leprosy for himself and his children (2 Kings 5:20-27), whereas the Bible says a good man lives an inheritance for his children. What type of future are you negotiating for your children?
Prayer Points:
1. O Lord God, help me not to negotiate a terrible future for my children.
2. Holy Spirit, please help me daily with my choices.