The rule was: "Don't make any pacts of friendship with the people who live near you!" That seems like a strange rule to us; we live under the rules "Love your neighbor as you love yourself" and even "Love your enemies!" But, this was a different situation. Making such pacts could put God's chosen people in serious danger of being completely absorbed into the pagan culture that they were supposed to displace.

Evidently, the people who lived in Gibeon (v. 3), who were Hivites

(v. 7), knew about this rule, had heard about what the Israelites were doing (with God's help), and were concerned enough to form a desperate plan to ensure their own survival. They pretended to live far away from the Israelites. Their deception doesn't seem to have been immediately successful (v. 7), but eventually, it won the day for one specific reason - the Israelites forgot to pray!

Incidents like this were recorded in Scripture, not just because of their historical accuracy, but to serve as "lessons" for us as Christians

(1 Corinthians 10:11). Today's lesson should be pretty obvious: Don't just go by what you see and hear! Be sure to ask the Lord what you should do, and do what HE says!

Don't forget to pray!

John H. Roller, Concord, N.C.