Seek His Counsel

How often do you go to God in prayer? Do you pray before your meals everyday? Do you go to Him to thank Him for blessing you’ve been given? Do you go to Him when you need help? 

In Joshua 9, we find the Israelites being led by Joshua, and they were on their conquest of Canaan and had just defeated Jericho and Ai. Following these victories, they were on their way to Gibeon to take it over. As they were on their way, the Gibeonites became scared and devised a plan to get the Israelites on their side. They disguise themselves as distant travelers from a far country and meet the Israelites. 

They tell the Israelites they have come from a very distant land and they have heard of their fame and of the Lord and what He had done for them. They had hear how he had led them out of Egypt and how He gave them victory over the kings of the western side of the Jordan. Since they heard all of this they tell the Israelites, “So our elders and all the inhabitant of our country spoke to us saying, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey, and go to meet and say to them, “We are your servants; now then make a covenant with us”’” (Joshua 9:11). The Gibeonites were trying to persuade the Israelites to make a covenant with them. If a covenant were made then the Israelites would not be able to attack the Gibeonites. 

Joshua 9:14-15 tells of what Israel did that was a major mistake. It says, “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.”

Since Israel did not ask for the counsel of the Lord the Israelites were deceived. As we go through this week let’s try to focus on asking “for the counsel of the Lord.” Confess to Him your sins, thank Him for everything, and seek guidance; always “ask for the counsel of God.”

Who Are You Calling Crazy?

       Have you ever been told something absurd or crazy? Perhaps as a parent, your child comes up to you and says, “Everyone’s doing it!” As I so often heard, the response to follow is something like, “If everyone jumped off a cliff, would you?” I am sure that all of us at one point or another has heard something absurd. This is nothing new. Joshua of the Old Testament was told to do something absurd as well. 

In Joshua 6:2ff Joshua is told a battle plan that is absolutely absurd. Joshua is to conquer the fortified city of Jericho. However, they didn’t have battering rams or anything in order to lay siege to this well secured city. He isn’t told to make a weapon that will assist them or to ask for the aid of another city. Instead, he is told to gather his troops and march around the city of Jericho once a day for six days. On the last day, he is told to march around the city seven times. 

Joshua does exactly as he has been told by the Lord and they march around the city once a day for six days. On the seventh day they march around the fortified city seven times and at the end of their march they blow their trumpets and shout their loudest. When they do, the walls fall down and just as the Lord told Joshua, He gave the city of Jericho into his hand; one of the most absurd battle plans in history worked! All because Joshua put his faith in the Lord and let Him be in charge. 

Like Joshua, we have been told to do something that to most people may seem absurd. To those who do not put their trust in God, what we are told to do seems foolish. However, God has called us to be different from the world. To the world, the things that we do may seem crazy or strange, such as treating our bodies as holy; dressing appropriately; and going to church services every day the elders have appointed. It may be strange to the world, but who is to call what the Lord has commanded absurd?

Fear

                

   Have you ever been afraid? Perhaps you are afraid of snakes or dogs? There are many things in this life the we fear. Is talking to someone about spiritual matters one of them? If it is not one of your fears, do you know someone who it is?

Joshua was a man in the Old Testament who had to face many fears but he also received encouragement for them each time. Joshua was the man who was to take command of all of Israel after Moses had died. He was the appointed one to officially conquer the land of Canaan, the promised land. This was a rather large and daunting task to be in charge of approximately 2.5 million people. Anyone in his right mind would be a little scared. But God confronts this fear and comforts Joshua by saying, “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go” (Joshua 1:9). Joshua was also afraid after the Israelites had gone into battle against the city of Ai and were sent running; all because of their sin. 36 men were killed in the battle.“And the hearts of the people melted and became as water” (Joshua 7:5). Joshua is told what to do to solve the issue and is then charged by the Lord to go into battle against the city again. He was scared but the Lord, once again, comforts him and says, “Do not fear and do not be dismayed...” 

God told Joshua, “Be strong and courageous” for He was with Joshua wherever he went; and to go into battle. God has charged us similarly to, “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations... And behold I am with you always, to the end of the age.” God is with us, just as He was with Joshua. We have no reason to be afraid to do what he has charged us to do.  If you’re not afraid to speak to someone about spiritual matters then perhaps you can encourage someone who is and remind them to “Be strong and courageous.”