This concerns the conquest of the land with which they are continuing. Jericho as well as Ai were conquered. However, many enemies who were not yet conquered were still left. Among them were the inhabitants of Gibeon. Joshua was unable to destroy them because they had deceived him; thus he had promised to let them live. Afterwards when he discovered their craftiness he thought that he could not touch them. All these things were written for our example and instruction. 1 Cor. 10:6, 11. Therefore the question is: To what does all this correspond in our battle against sin? The more than 600,000 men who were not allowed to enter the land but who were saved from Egypt correspond to the large flock who are converted to God and who die with the forgiveness of sins, believing in their Savior, but who do not have victory over sin. Num. 14:19-20. Their unbelief and their folly have been forgiven. Joshua and Caleb, who were the only two adult men who were saved from Egypt and who also had faith to conquer the land of Canaan and who actually entered the land—they correspond to the few among those who are converted to God who seek to have victory over sin and who obtain it. The majority do not take part in this battle. They have given up a long time ago. The present situation is the same now as it was then. There were very few who had confidence in God that He would give them the victory over all these terrible enemies. The rest of them packed their bags for good and gave up this battle. And besides, they hated Joshua and Caleb because they had such faith. Num. 14:10. Most people are satisfied with receiving forgiveness for their sins. However, there was a different spirit in Joshua and Caleb; they believed in victory over all the enemies, over all sin, and now they were engaged in the midst of this battle. Jericho has fallen! Sin of one kind or another has been put off! Ai has fallen. Another sin has been put off forever. It was made into a desolate heap forever. Josh. 8:28. Thanks and honor and praise! But the Gibeonites—a third kind of sin—through their craftiness were permitted to live in their midst! It is the same situation in these days. A fair number of Gibeonites have been permitted to live; they have gained acceptance, they are approved, and consequently, it is now very difficult to shake them loose. Nevertheless, it is precisely for this reason that we have been given this part of the Bible so that we, too, are not deceived by some Gibeonites—not by a single kind of all the manifold manifestations and ramifications of sin! We do not need to be deceived! God be praised! His holy name be highly praised!!! No peace agreement with any kind of Gibeonite. In the name of the Lord they will have to yield! On the cross—that is their permanent and once for all intended place. In and by the body of Christ— there they have all become a desolate heap forever. And there—on the cross—all the manifestations and aspects of the nature of sin in us shall be destroyed by faith!!! In these days, such Gibeonites who have been allowed to live in the midst of the assemblies of the saints are not intoxicating drink, tobacco, living openly in adultery and such things, but rather things like: flattery, courting everything that is great in the eyes of man, oratorical skills, recognition in the world, people who are financially well off and those with musical talents, as well as begging money for God’s cause, greed, a wanton life, outward humility and love, all comfort for the flesh, and all division. All these towns should have been made into a desolate heap forever, and all their kings should have been hanged! Josh. 8:28-29. God be praised who gives every willing and faithful soul sufficient grace to hang and burn up all these things!!! However, instead of doing it, they usually let all this live—contrary to God’s Word Leaders and preachers have approved all this. Why??? For what reason?1. Because they think it is innocent.2. Because they think they have use for it for the furtherance of God’s kingdom.3. Because it takes the power and courage of a reformer to shake something up that has been approved by all. With reference to Point #1, read Joshua 9, verses 6, 9, and 22: “We have come from a far country.” What does that indicate? It means that it is so far away that it does not pose a danger to us. Having enemies so far away won’t harm us. It is of no practical consequence. Their worn-out sacks, torn wineskins, worn-out shoes and garments, and their dry, moldy bread were clear proof of how far away their land was; it was fool-proof evidence of how totally harmless they were! This craftiness has been employed in the “free” assemblies in our land by means of the doctrine and their opinion that “the body of sin has been taken away.” In other words, everything that is called sin—all the Gibeonites—are very far away!!! Indeed! So you think their land is far, far away? You walk into a trap by permitting yourself to imagine such things. What will the result be? When the doctrine says that everything from my side is pure and then I flatter my neighbor (for example), I cannot judge it, I have cut myself off from doing that. You cannot touch it because the body of sin is theoretically taken away so that everything that is left is as pure as gold, just as it is supposed to be. Therefore: this Gibeonite (flattery), together with many others, is allowed to live on. V. 21. With reference to Point #2: Read verses 8, 21, 23, and 27. Just imagine: they are useful, these cursed Gibeonites, as servants for God’s house and for the altar of the Lord. When you flatter and smile, especially when it comes to the rich, bowing and scraping to them and to those who are good speakers and are musical, they like that very much. Then you win them, and then you receive many substantial contributions for God’s cause with the result that there will be an impressive congregation. Then there will be sufficient brilliant speeches that people might like to hear and nice music that can attract both high-class people and many other people to the meetings—then God’s cause will really be advanced!!! Isn’t that true? Well, that is what we are being told. This is how people think when they are willing to be deceived. However, now the trick is not to be deceived, imagining that you have use for them—either as woodcutters or as drawers of water! Do we really need them? Not at all, and God be praised for that! We have no use for them whatsoever. How could we possibly have use for anything that the Lord has commanded should be destroyed!? V. 24. On the contrary! Cursed be all of it! Away from our midst! Let the portion of the Gibeonites be a desolate heap forever! But don’t we need to look for money for God’s cause? Not at all! Not a single penny! Shouldn’t we bow a little bit more deeply to win a really musical man to lead the music? No! No special nodding or bowing, not a single movement in that direction. Thanks and praise! Moreover, by going around smiling as happy as a lark, making yourself out to be truly lovable and sweet, couldn’t you then play a part in people having a desire for Christianity, a desire to come to our meetings? Couldn’t that be useful for furthering God’s kingdom? Away with all the masks! Away with all vain efforts that only serve to gather to “me, mine, and my own.” We do not need any Gibeonites! Hallelujah! All our fountains are in Him! We have no need to seek for anything else. His brook is always full of water! His holy name be highly praised!!! But couldn’t it be useful to form a church and enroll members? Wouldn’t that be useful for holding as many members as possible together—to God’s glory? No, my dear friend; the Gibeonites have certainly deceived you thoroughly. To God’s honor? Indeed! On the contrary, to our own honor, my dear friend. Because then you can count the members and boast of their numbers, etc.! With reference to Point #3. Read verses 14 and 15. Contrary to God’s command to destroy all the inhabitants of the land whether they lived nearby or far away, whether they wanted to help or not, Joshua consented to let the Gibeonites live. Now that it was an accepted fact, “Now therefore, we may not touch them.” V. 19. Everyone ought to understand this: It takes a concerted effort to fight against something that has been permitted by the leadership, something that has gained acceptance. Who thinks that he would dare to touch all these Gibeonites? God be thanked that here in the land of Norway there are several who have the courage to do that! Yes, even an entire little flock! Hallelujah!!! More and more people are getting tired of this alliance with the Gibeonites and are rejecting it. Thanks and praise! Our slogan is: By God’s grace, Gibeon shall become a desolate heap forever just as Ai was! On the cross with all flesh!!! It is more than enough that Joshua was deceived, never mind that we who have received this warning, should also be deceived! God is good! Glory to His name! Amen.* * * What is the reason for being disappointed? You hope and desire something other than that which God lets come your way. You are not resting in faith when you are disappointed. You are even untouched by unchastity and adultery when you are in this rest, for in rest you miss nothing. Therefore the reason for letting your eyes and thoughts wander falls away, and so the occasions for lusts to be awakened also fall away. Rest in God excludes all sin. Being crucified with Christ is a place of rest; it is a state of rest. The nails of faith hold us firmly to the cross.Elias Aslaksen