The devil is a very crafty master of deception and we can see the extent of his cunningness from the manner in which the Gibeonites fooled the Israelites in the book of Joshua.
After Joshua and the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, the Gibeonites Worked craftily and went and pretended to be ambassadors. They carried old sacks on their donkeys, old wineskins which were torn and mended, wore old and patched sandals and put on old garments. The bread of their provision was also dry and moldy.
They went to Joshua… and said… "We have come from a far country; now, therefore, make a covenant with us." (Joshua 9:4-6)
These people who were presenting themselves as paupers were from Gibeon which Was a great city, like one of the royal cities and …all its men were mighty. (Joshua 10:2)
The Gibeonites had also done their homework well for they knew the Israelites' history and they even used the name of the Lord God whom they knew the Israelites worshiped for they said: "Your servants have come from a very far country because of the name of the Lord your God. For we have heard of His fame, all that He did in Egypt and all that He did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan." (Joshua 9:9-10)
They were also expert liars who knew exactly what to say and do for they continued and said: "This bread of ours we took while it was still hot for our provision from our houses on the day we departed to come to you. But now look, it is dry and moldy.
These wineskins which we filled were new, but now look, they are torn. These garments we are wearing and our sandal have become old because of the very long journey we have taken. (Joshua 9:12-13)
They executed their performance flawlessly using their superb script and picture perfect props and managed to fool the Israelites that they been journeying from their faraway country.
Note that the Israelites they managed to fool were specialists in long distance traveling since they had spent 40 years wandering in the wilderness and therefore they would have known better than anyone else how long distance travelers would look like and behave.
However, the Israelites were hoodwinked and they signed a peace agreement with the Gibeonites. For It happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that the Israelites heard that they were their neighbors who dwelt near them. Then the Israelites journeyed and came to their cities on the third day. (Joshua 9:16-17)
From this example, we can see that the Gibeonites used the Cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting (Ephesians 4:14) and managed to fool the Israelites because the Israelites Did not ask counsel of the Lord. (Joshua 9:14)
Therefore, learn from the Israelites' mistake and Lean not on your own understanding. Instead, in all your ways acknowledge God and He shall direct your paths (Proverbs 3:5-6) even if you consider yourself a specialist of the issues at hand.
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