What does the Bible say about the Gibeonites and their covenant with Israel?

The story of the Gibeonites in Joshua 9 reveals profound truths about God's sovereignty and grace. Despite their deceitful actions to make a covenant with Israel, God had purposefully determined to show mercy on them. This narrative illustrates the importance of unconditional surrender to God's will, where the Gibeonites declared themselves as servants, acknowledging their lack of righteousness and pleading for mercy. Their actions serve as a type for all who seek God’s grace, as they approached Joshua not in their own merit but in desperation for mercy. The covenant made during this event was not based on their worthiness but on God's sovereign decision to grant them grace, highlighting the dynamic of divine mercy and covenant in biblical theology.