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PROGRAM D-8134
I read a story in Joshua 9 which is very relevant to us today. Joshua and his people were doing very well. As a result, all the neighboring countries were frightened of them because of their victories and the power they had from the Lord.
One of their neighbors, the Gibeonites, decided to trick Joshua into a peace treaty. They made themselves look tired and dirty, like they had traveled a long way, and came to Joshua asking for a treaty. Verses 14 and 15 tell us this:
The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.
Here was a business transaction facing the Israelites: a group of people made them an offer; the men of Israel looked at the outward evidence and decided it looked like a good deal to them; they signed on the bottom line.
Regretfully, they found out later that they had been deceived. The facts were not as they appeared to be, and they had made a strategic mistake. Why? Because they trusted in their eyes and their minds, rather than inquiring of the Lord.
There are times we don’t think we need to consult the Lord. A situation seems cut and dried in our view, so we make decisions in our own strength and based on our human reasoning. That gets us in trouble!
Proverbs 3:5-6 tells us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.” Do you remember when Jesus told Peter to go fishing? Peter’s own understanding of fishing told him that there were no fish there, since he had fished all night and caught nothing. Besides, it was the wrong time and place to fish. But because Jesus told him to, Peter went fishing. . .and caught more fish than ever before! Peter had to learn, as do we, that you can’t just depend on your own understanding.
Leaning on our own understanding is the norm especially in the business world. But as Christians, we should take all our decisions to the Lord and ask for his wisdom. Sometimes our own understanding is very shortsighted and incomplete. We need the eternal wisdom of our Savior; we need to inquire of the Lord.
Today, remember to inquire of the Lord in any decision you face. Don’t lean solely on your own understanding. That will get you in trouble.