Focus verse: "So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord." Joshua 9:14
The Israelites were instructed by God to not make treaties with any people group who lived near the promised land. The people of Gibeon heard about the destruction and defeat in Jericho and in the city of Ai and decided to deceive Joshua and the Israelites in order to save themselves. They dressed in clothes that made it look like they had traveled from very far and they brought dry and moldy bread. They lied to Joshua and the Israelites and asked for a treaty. Joshua asked questions and made his decision. He made the peace treaty and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with an oath.
Joshua and the Israelites were tricked by the visitors and made a major mistake. They knew that God was with them in Jericho and Ai and had given them great victory. They thought this was an easy decision and the evidence looked real. Joshua made a decision based on his own observations. He didn't consult the Lord. The Lord would have given wisdom if they had only asked. Instead, they made a big mistake and it resulted in a disobedience and trials.
The Bible tells us to seek God's counsel in all things. Proverbs 3:5-6 (NLT) says, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take."
Every decision matters to God. Maybe we can be so prideful that our
Lord has given so much victory that we begin to be lazy in consulting
Him. Maybe we think the decision is so small or easy that we don't need
extra wisdom from God. This would be a mistake and a good way for Satan
to deceive us, get us distracted and out of God's will. Let's remember
to talk to God about all things and consult him in all our ways.
Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries
Extra reading: Matthew 7:24, Matthew 10:16, Ephesians 5:15-17, 1 John 4:1, 5-6
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