◄ Joshua 9:15 ►
And Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. Bible Study Questions and Answers 1. What is the meaning of Joshua 9:15? 2. How does Joshua 9:15 demonstrate the importance of seeking God's guidance in decisions? 3. What consequences arose from Joshua's covenant with the Gibeonites in Joshua 9:15? 4. How can Joshua 9:15 teach us about the dangers of deception in life? 5. In what ways does Joshua 9:15 connect to Proverbs 3:5-6 about trusting God? 6. How can we apply the lesson from Joshua 9:15 in our daily commitments? 7. Why did Joshua make a treaty with the Gibeonites without consulting God in Joshua 9:15? 8. How does Joshua 9:15 illustrate the consequences of failing to seek divine guidance? 9. What does Joshua 9:15 teach about the importance of discernment in leadership? 10. What are the top 10 Lessons from Joshua 9? 11. What is the identity of the Gibeonites? 12. How does sparing the Gibeonites (Joshua 9:15) align with instructions to destroy all Canaanite inhabitants (Deuteronomy 20:16–17)? 13. What is Gibeon's significance in the Bible? 14. In 2 Samuel 21:5–6, why does David permit the execution of Saul’s descendants if Deuteronomy 24:16 forbids punishing children for a parent’s wrongdoing? Discussion Questions 1. What steps can we take to ensure we seek God's guidance in our decision-making processes, as opposed to relying solely on our understanding? 2. How can we apply the lesson of the Gibeonites' deception to our own lives, particularly in our interactions with others? 3. In what ways can we ensure that our commitments and promises reflect integrity and truthfulness, in light of Jesus' teaching on oaths? 4. How does the account of the Gibeonites illustrate God's ability to work through human mistakes, and how can this encourage us in our own lives? 5. What responsibilities do leaders have in making decisions that affect others, and how can they ensure they are accountable to God and their community? Joshua 9 Bible Study Questions 1. How does the reaction of the local kings to Israel's victories in Joshua 9:1-2 reflect the influence that our victories and achievements can have on others? 2. The Gibeonites used deception to secure a peace treaty with the Israelites. What does this tell us about the lengths to which people might go to ensure their survival? 3. The Israelites were deceived because they did not consult God. How can this scenario be a cautionary tale for our decision-making processes today? 4. What are some modern-day examples of how appearances can be deceiving, similar to the Gibeonites' old clothing and moldy food? 5. How did the leaders of Israel react when they discovered they had been deceived? What does this say about the importance of keeping one's word, even when tricked? 6. The Israelites quickly made a treaty with the Gibeonites based on what they saw and heard. How does this speak to the importance of discernment and seeking God's guidance in our decisions? 7. How can the Israelites' mistake serve as a reminder to us to consult God in prayer before making significant decisions? 8. What does this event teach us about the consequences of making decisions based on incomplete information? 9. Why do you think the Gibeonites chose to deceive the Israelites rather than confront them openly or seek a genuine treaty? 10. How does this chapter show the importance of integrity in our dealings with others? 11. Discuss some ways that people today use manipulation or deceit to gain an advantage, like the Gibeonites did. How should Christians respond to such situations? 12. How does this story show that even wise and experienced leaders like Joshua can be deceived? 13. Why did the Israelite leaders honor the treaty with the Gibeonites, despite it being obtained through deception? 14. How would you have reacted if you were an Israelite who found out about the deception after the treaty was made? 15. What lessons can we learn about the importance of seeking divine guidance before making decisions? 16. How does this story show that God can bring about His purposes even when His people make mistakes? 17. How does the experience of the Gibeonites show the fear that the Israelites and their God instilled in other nations? 18. The Israelites made the Gibeonites their servants as a consequence of their deceit. What does this teach us about the repercussions of dishonest actions? 19. Can you share a personal experience when you felt deceived like the Israelites? How did you handle the situation? 20. Despite being deceived, the Israelites chose to respect the agreement they made. How can this situation speak to the importance of honoring our word in today's world, even when circumstances are challenging? Links Joshua 9:15 NIV Joshua 9:15 NLT Joshua 9:15 ESV Joshua 9:15 NASB Joshua 9:15 KJV Joshua 9:15 Commentaries Bible Hub