How to live with a mistake

Inheriting your promised land

Part 5

“The men of Israel sampled their provisions and did not inquire of the Lord.” Joshua 9:4

I. Realize that:

1. Mistakes happen

“Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.” Joshua 9:15

“…Make no treaty with them, and show them no mercy.” Deut 7:2b

2. In most cases, a mistake will change the details but not the purpose of your life.

• Joshua and the leaders were still in charge of possessing the Promised Land.

3. It will be revealed

“Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them.”

Joshua 9:16

II. Decide to:

1. Confront it

“So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities…Then Joshua summoned the Gibeonites and said,

"Why did you deceive us by saying, 'We live a long way from you,' while actually you live near us?”

Joshua 9:17 & 22

2. Command it

“You are now under a curse: You will never cease to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for the house of my God.”

Joshua 9:23

• Make your mistake work for you.

How? Reminder or ministry or a turn of the tables

• It is a tragedy to try and cover your mistakes as usually our greatest ministries comes out of our greatest weakness.

“That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Cor 12:10

• I must learn from the mistakes of others.

3. Commit

“But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the LORD, the God of Israel. The whole assembly grumbled against the leaders, but all the leaders answered,

“We have given them our oath by the LORD, the God of Israel, and we cannot touch them now.”

Joshua 9:18-19

Most of us tend to look for ways out of our commitments. God would encourage us to stay with our commitments.

4. Confess it

• The Israelites did not confess their sin to God and this became a habit that lead to many other problems for Israel.

• We have a God who will forgive us of our mistakes

III. Characteristics of a commitment to the World:

1. It will beg for your attention

“The Gibeonites then sent word to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal: "Do not abandon your servants. Come up to us quickly and save us! Help us, because all the Amorite kings from the hill country have joined forces against us.” Joshua 10:6

2. It will deplete your resources

“So Joshua marched up from Gilgal with his entire army, including all the best fighting men.”

Joshua 10:7

3. It will be Satan’s constant point of attack in your life.

“So Adoni-Zedek king of Jerusalem appealed to Hoham king of Hebron, Piram king of Jarmuth, Japhia king of Lachish and Debir king of Eglon. "Come up and help me attack Gibeon,"

“…he said, "because it has made peace with Joshua and the Israelites.” Joshua 10:3-4

• I need to be making fewer commitments to the world and more commitments to Christ.