Here it is – my last post in the series of lessons we can apply from Joshua’s encounter with the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:1-10:15). We have covered a lot of ground in the past couple of weeks as we have broken this story of Joshua’s mistake into a total of seven lessons for Christian business owners and leaders. Today we will discuss the seventh, and final, lesson.
Series Recap
In this story, God had commanded the Israelites to destroy all people groups inside the boundaries of the Promised Land. The Gibeonites disguised themselves as living in a distant land and convinced Joshua and the Israelite leaders to pledge an oath of peace.
Listed below are the lessons we have drawn from this story so far:
1. Don’t relax after a victory; be prepared to face the enemy.
2. The Enemy sometimes comes as roaring lion, sometimes as slithering serpent.
3. The Enemy knows God’s Word (better than you) and will use it to his advantage.
4. Don’t trust your own senses, but slow down and seek God.
5. Don’t repeat the same mistakes twice.
6. Mistakes do not give you right to break your word.
Two Mistake Examples
For our seventh lesson, we need to take a look at two different examples in this story and the circumstances leading up to it. First, let’s look at what Joshua did once he realized his mistake in granting peace to the Gibeonites. We already discussed the fact that he stuck to his oath a kept peace between them. What else did he do?
This is what Joshua did to them: he delivered them from the hands of the Israelites, and they did not kill them. On that day he made them woodcutters and water carriers—as they are today—for the community and for the Lord’s altar at the place He would choose. – Joshua 9:26-27
Mistake To Advantage #1
Rather than simply give peace to the Gibeonites, he put them to work! He took his mistake and used it to his advantage. His oath kept him from destroying the Gibeonites, but did not prevent him from gaining from their labor. In doing this, the Gibeonites were thrilled to be alive and the Israelites had additional laborers!
Let’s look at a second example of Joshua using a mistake to his advantage.
Looking back at the first battle against Ai (Joshua 7:1-5), you remember that the Israelites were quickly driven back and many were killed. After hearing about the many Israelite victories due to God’s miracles, seeing the Israelites flee in front of them must have had an impact on the people of Ai! I imagine they were rather proud of that moment, wouldn’t you think?
Fast forward to the second attempt to take Ai. Joshua and the Israelites have cleansed their camp of the sin of Achan and they are ready to give it another go. Do you remember what God told Joshua to do in his battle plan?
Mistake To Advantage #2
He set up a fake retreat, causing the people of Ai to think the Israelites were fleeing again! I can only imagine the thoughts going through the minds of the soldiers of Ai. They must have been determined to finish the job they had started the last time. They were likely so overconfident due to the first battle that they did not even pause to think it was a ruse.
As a result, the soldiers completely abandoned their city and allowed the Israelites to come in behind them and set it on fire. Then the Israelites had them surrounded and destroyed them.
Again, the first battle was a mistake. They did not intend to go up to Ai and get their tails kicked! However, they were later able to use that mistake to their advantage!
Our Application
Folks, we can do the same thing. As we make decisions in the process of doing business, we will most certainly make mistakes. The only way to avoid making mistakes is not to get into business in the first place – and if God has called us there, we do not have that option!
When we make these mistakes, we need to stop and pray about how we can use it to our advantage. God will show us things we never would have considered if we will simply put Him first in our decision process. Trust Him to do this and He will surprise you!
Have you had the opportunity to turn a mistake into an advantage?
Have you missed an opportunity like this?
What were the results?
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