The Canaanite View of the LORD

We learn something very interesting in Joshua 9 about the Canaanite view of the LORD. In chapter 9, the Gibeonites deceived the leaders of Israel into making a treaty with them. They did so out of fear of the LORD.

The Gibeonites said to Joshua, "From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth." (Josh 9:9-10 ESV)

Later when Joshua asked them why they had deceived Israel, they answered Joshua, "Because it was told to your servants for a certainty that the LORD your God had commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you--so we feared greatly for our lives because of you and did this thing." (Josh 9:24 ESV)

Word got around. The Gibeonites knew the name of Israel's God--the LORD (Yahweh). They understood that the LORD rescued the Israelites out of Egypt. They understood that the LORD gave Israel victory over Sihon and Og. And they understood that the LORD had commanded Israel to take possession of the land of Canaan and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land.

This tells us that the world was observing Israel, and that they recognized God's powerful working on their behalf. So it is with us. The world is observing us. Do they also recognize God's powerful working on our behalf? If not, why not?