“They did not ask counsel of the Lord.” Joshua 9:14 NKJV

Live with one ear toward heaven: “Is this opportunity from You, God?” “Are You in this venture, God?” “Should I take this road, God?” One time Joshua failed to do this and paid for it. Here’s the story. A group of strangers entered the camp of Israel saying, “From a very far country your servants have come” (v. 9 NKJV). Evidently, they knew God’s law had made special provisions for cities outside of Canaan (see Deuteronomy 20:10-12). Any city that agreed to make peace with Israel would be spared. So being afraid, they resorted to deception. Three days passed before Joshua realized he had been lied to. These people were not from a distant land; they were from Gibeon, only a day’s walk away. As a result, Joshua entered into an alliance with the enemy because he didn’t seek the counsel of God. We do well to learn from his mistake. Our enemy enters our camp in disguise as well: “Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light” (2 Corinthians 11:14 NIV). He’s crafty. That’s why it’s essential that we consult God in everything. In every decision and at each crossroad, acknowledge Him, heed Him, and ask Him: “Do I turn right or left?” David said that God’s Word is a “lamp unto our feet” (see Psalm 119:105), not a spotlight into the future. He gives enough light to take the next step. When we pray, He speaks to our hearts: “Your own ears will hear him. Right behind you a voice will say, ‘This is the way you should go,’ whether to the right or to the left” (Isaiah 30:21 NLT). So consult God in everything.

The Word for You Today is authored by Bob and Debby Gass and published under licence from Celebration Enterprises, Inc. Copyright © 2024