As seen in Joshua 9, there are five main steps that lead to complete bondage when entertaining our enemies ploy for deception.
1. We need to have been willing to suspend our disbelief and or entertain our doubt.
We see the Gibeonite's "craftiness" in Verses 3-6
2. Participation with the enemies ploy.
Verse 14 shows the Israelite's partaking of the Gibeonite's provisions without the counsel of the Lord.
3. We then find ourselves in a compromised position.
Verse 15 lends evidence that Joshua had to make peace with the Gibeonites.
4. Being in that compromised position leads to being forced into a covenant/agreement with the enemy.
Verse 16 depicts this clearly. Often by this point it seems that it is too late to retract ones steps out of the trapping ruse of the enemy.
5. Finally, we then live in bondage.
Verse 23 sadly illuminates the affects of folly upon the Gibeonites. Living then under curse and bound to slavery. Further, they also say to Joshua in Verse 25 "now behold we are in your hands; do as it seems good and right in your sight to do to us. Sealing their fate for the rest of their lives.
Take careful note of the slippery slope of the Devil's schemes and may you make choices with a sound mind centred in Christ Jesus. Fortunately, we have the solution and freedom of bondage already given to us in the form of Jesus who died for us. He has released us from the shackles of Satan. However, we also need to watch out for who we are following, walking in spiritual redemption, rather than simply accepting the release of our bonds to sin. Christ has made a way for eternal life. Lets walk in it!
See Acts 12:6-10 when Peter is released from bondage.
