Joshua 10:1-8 Daily Study
Who is your “Gibeon”? You may not be in a disgruntled relationship with an entire town or city, but we all have a person who is a Gibeon to us: someone with whom we struggle to get along, who drives us crazy, whom we wish would just leave us alone. Perhaps it’s a family member, a coworker, a neighbor, a friend of a friend, or a church member. You find yourself wondering why you are so impatient when he or she is around.
This person makes you feel like you aren’t being yourself—you are on edge, defensive, perhaps even negative. Joshua and the Israelites did not turn their backs on the Gibeonites. They had given them their word of peace, and whether they liked it or not, they were going to maintain their relationship, difficult as it was. We have been called to do the same. Consider this: You may be your Gibeon’s only friend.
The Gibeonites were destined to destruction without Israel’s help. Israel felt that they didn’t need Gibeon, but Gibeon sure needed Israel. God put you in the path of your Gibeon. In this account, we see that God was providentially working through Israel’s strained alliance with Gibeon.
The same is true with your Gibeon. God has placed you in relationship for a purpose— don’t forget that. You need your Gibeon. God knows your shortfalls, and though you think you have it all together, you don’t. None of us do. One of our greatest failings is loving others. This is where our Gibeons are so helpful. We likely don’t need them for friendship or protection but to keep us humble, to teach us how to love sacrificially and selflessly.
Question
Who is your Gibeon? What can you do this week to reflect the love of Christ to him or her?