“Now, behold, we are in your hand. Do to us as it seems good and right to you to do.” He did so to them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, so that they didn’t kill them. That day Joshua made them wood cutters and drawers of water for the congregation and for Yahweh’s altar to this day, in the place which he should choose.” (Joshua 9:25-27 WEB)
The cunning Gibeonites fooled the children of Israel to make a covenant with them to secure their immunity.
Although they were people of Canaan who were supposed to be destroyed according to Yahweh’s instructions, the covenant caused them to be spared.
From then on, the Gibeonites lived among the children of Israel as slaves who did menial labor.
The Gibeonites are a picture of our sinful flesh that remains after our salvation.
Our spirit is perfectly righteous, holy and pure, but sin remains in our body of flesh, still driving us to fulfill its lustful cravings.
This mortal body will be transformed into a perfect, glorified body at the Rapture, but until then, we still have to live in it.
Be clear about this truth: you are not your body—you are the spirit living inside your body.
Just as the Gibeonites are not children of Israel, your body is not who you are. Your body is just your temporary house on earth—like the apostle Peter calls it, an “earthly tent”.
It’s when you think that your body is part of you that the sinful habits creep in. You obey it because you don’t know that it’s not you.
You do whatever makes you feel good, even if it’s sinful because you don’t know that it’s the flesh who wants to feel that way.
Just as the Gibeonites were made slaves to the children of Israel, your body is your spirit’s servant as well.
You, child of God—have the authority to bring your flesh to submission, to fulfill the desires of the spirit and not the lusts of the flesh.
One more thing—the Gibeonites were appointed as wood cutters and drawers of water.
This is the godly role appointed for your body: to break any reliance on the flesh (wood can be a picture of man) and to bring the water of God’s word to refresh your spirit.
You are a royal priest, a child of God—not a sinner. Don’t let your servant (the flesh) become your master!
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