Ask God

"So the men of Israel took some of their provisions, and did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. 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. It came about at the end of three days after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were neighbors and that they were living within their land. Then the sons of Israel set out and came to their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon and Chephirah and Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim. The sons of Israel did not strike them because the leaders of the congregation had sworn to them by the Lord the God of Israel. And the whole congregation grumbled against the leaders. But all the leaders said to the whole congregation, 'We have sworn to them by the Lord, the God of Israel, and now we cannot touch them. This we will do to them, even let them live, so that wrath will not be upon us for the oath which we swore to them.' The leaders said to them, 'Let them live.' So they became hewers of wood and drawers of water for the whole congregation, just as the leaders had spoken to them." -Joshua 9.14-21

For the second time we see Joshua get in trouble because he does not first seek God. Each time he acts without seeking God Israel has to deal with hardship and defeat. The first time they lost a battle they should have won, and about three dozen warriors of Israel were killed. This time men come to him, saying they have traveled far to see the people God is working greatly through, but they are inhabitants of the land who have lied to save their skin. Joshua does not seek God, he takes their story and makes a covenant of peace with them.

God had commanded Israel to destroy all of the inhabitants of the land, and now they have made a covenant that allows a group to live. They are sentenced to serve Israel forever as wood cutters and water fetchers, but the pagan influence will remain among the people. It only takes one small crack to eventually shatter a window. Joshua has allowed that one small crack because he didn't seek God. He took the word of strangers and didn't seek God.

Men, do you ask God even when the situation seems clear? Do you take strangers at their word, simply believing them, or do you ask God for clarity before entering into an agreement? What kind of trouble could be avoided if you simply took a moment to ask God?

A pagan influence was allowed to remain in the land because Joshua did not seek God, and it led in part to Israel's downfall. Let us not make the same mistake.

Let us take the time and ask God, even when everything seems sure. Let us be men who turn to Him always for everything.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor