LEARNING DAILY

Joshua 9:14-15, So the men of Israel took some of their provisions and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live; and the leaders of the congregation swore an oath to them. 

Remember the difference between foolish and wise men. The fool thinks he does not need to ask advice from anyone else – especially the need to consult God. Does anyone else admit you have been a fool like this more than once? The men of Israel did not consult God on a situation where God had directed them to make no covenant with the inhabitants of Canaan. But being “complacent in their strong position, confident in their own decisions, and sure they saw the whole truth (even after God had proven they could not defeat Ai without Him), they failed to ask counsel of the Lord before making a treaty. God’s people set themselves up for failure when they fail to consult Him. It is not enough to pray for God’s provision; His direction must be sought as well” (David Jeremiah Study Bible).

The Gibeonites entered to Israel under false pretenses, saying they had come from a distant land. Deception led the Israelites to enter into an alliance with a group that would have been their enemy. It is a reminder about the consequences of acting without seeking God’s guidance and His wisdom.  It is a reminder of making quick, rushed decisions that are later regretted. Do you remember making any of those decisions? My wife and I have been talking out loud about some things we would like; we have even discussed the situation of not consulting God in decision-making. Even this morning we tossed out some things we would really like. After a few moments of tossing ideas out loud, we looked at each and decided prayer was the only choice, asking God for His guidance, His wisdom as He alone knows tomorrow. We are usually terrible at doing this and felt the consequences of not consulting God. No deception was involved – only complacency and confident in our own decisions. Not this time. Lesson learned.

Human judgment alone can lead us astray. Understand I am not talking about those things God has given a brain for. I am talking about those bigger, long-range plans. This verse helps us to remember Proverbs 3:5-6, where Believers are to lean not on their own, limited human wisdom, but to lean on God’s understanding. James 1:5 is similar when he writes to seek wisdom from God, who gives His guidance liberally.

The world Believers live in is fast-paced and quick decisions are looked on as a sign of good decision-making. However, like the decision made by the Israelites without consulting God about His will, what He thought, a crucial step missed. Seeking His guidance is a demonstration of the Believer’s reliance on Him and their trust in His guidance; it is a way to humble ourselves and recognize His guidance, His ways are higher than our own. Through studying His Word and listening to how He speaks to us through His Word and prayer, Believers gain a deeper understanding of His character and His will for their lives. It is wise to never misunderstand the power of higher wisdom as Believers walk through this life on a narrow way into His kingdom!