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.”