Sorry late being posted!
Joshua chapter 9.
The Gibeonites realized God was with the Israelites and realized their journey was to wipe out all nations and inhabit all the land of the nation's they destroyed. Several chapters ago I was thinking, if I was a king I'd go and try and make peace with the Israelites rather than fight against them. I didn't think about doing it with deception. Not that I wouldn't have but I didn't think about it. I don't mean to sound like I'm into lying because I'm not, but I was impressed with how the Gibeonites went through a very thought out plan in order to get peace:
- They rode their donkeys rather than horses because donkeys were often used for long trips.
- They had worn out sacks.
- They had old wineskins cracked and mended.
- They had worn and patched sandals.
- They had worn clothes.
- And they had dry and moldy food as if they had ridden a long distance.
A beautiful but deceptive plan! And it worked! It was so well-planned and played out that Joshua and the leaders never inquired the Lord. So their plan worked, and they got peace.
I confess that I like to joke around and play tricks on people and play head games and will often be deceptive in nature in order to accomplish these things. I'm not saying that's good or bad I'm just saying I like to do it. At the same time I have been seriously deceived by individuals over the years of my life. Some, where the people were so successful in deceiving me that it made me look like a complete fool. It was embarrassing, like how could I have been so stupid to fall for such a thing?
One time, I remember a lady was going to try and deceive our furniture business out of a few thousand dollars worth of furniture by having us deliver it. She said she would have a check ready for us upon delivery. But she was going to pay us with a bad check and then leave the state with the furniture thus getting it free. The neighbor lady called us and told us of her plan which we appreciated.
I say all that to say this, people are out to deceive us. Satan is the master of deception and lies. He is a strong influence to get people to be or do the same. The bottom line is: we must take all things to God In prayer. I hate to say it, but you don't know who you can trust. My problem is I'm more apt to trust people before I don't trust them. So I say it again, take All things to God In prayer. Don't leave him out of anything.
In chapter 8 Israel had succeeded at defeating Ai after first failing miserably because of Achan’s sin and the fact is that they had left God out of the battleplan in chapter 7. Now we see in verse 14 of chapter 9 that they make a similar mistake that happens too many times.
“So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord.”
Israel seemed to be like a yo-yo with how they sought and followed the Lord, but I don’t have any room to talk. How many times do I make decisions without asking counsel from the Lord?
May we remember what to do as we’re told in James 1:5.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”