Overcoming Deception

As Joshua and the children of Israel began to enter into the Promised Land, they soon were met with deception!  The people of the town of Gibeon had heard how Israel had conquered Jericho and Ai, and were coming to conquer all the land.  The Gibeonites worked craftily to appear as though they had come from a far country.  They had old sacks on their donkeys, and old wineskins, old sandals, old garments and bread that was dry and moldy.  They came asking to make a covenant with Joshua and Israel. Josh. 9:14 is a key verse, "Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord."  Joshua made peace with them and entered into a covenant with them to let them live.  Then about 3 days later it was discovered that none of what was told them was true, but that they were their neighbors.  Even the great leader Joshua was deceived by them.  Jesus said that in the last days there will be false Christs and false prophets showing great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, the elect, Matt. 24:24.  Deception will be the mark of the last days.  Rev. 12:9 says the devil who deceives the whole world was cast to the earth.  From the beginning, satan relied on deception to do his work.  He deceived Eve in Gen. 3, lying to her about what God had said.  Then Paul referred to this in 2 Cor. 11:3, "But I fear, lest somehow, as he serpent deceived Eve, by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ."  How can we walk without being deceived?  God has given us His word to free us from deception!  "...If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed.  And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."  John 8:31,32.  There are many scams and fraudulent schemes going around today.  When you get a phone call from someone threatening you, and you know it's a scam, you don't have to be afraid.  The truth sets you free from fear and from being deceived.  God has given us the Spirit of Truth, to lead us and guide us into all truth.  The truth is the belt of our armor, which Paul tells us to put on in Eph. 6.  Jesus always leads us into truth, for He is the way, the truth and the life.  His voice always leads us into truth.  We can trust Him completely.  John 10 tells us that the sheep do not follow a stranger, for they do not know the voice of strangers.  "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me."  In a world full of voices, it is essential that we hear the Father's voice, and keep our minds from being filled with the voice of strangers.  Today, take some time to meditate on the Scriptures, and pray that you may be guided by the Father's voice, and not the voice of a stranger.