DAILY BIBLE READING:Joshua 9:3-10:43
Luke 16:19-17:10
Psalm 83:1-18
Proverbs 13:4
BIBLE VERSE(S) FOR TODAY:
Joshua 9:14 (HCSB) "Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the LORD’s counsel."
REFLECTIONS ON TODAY'S BIBLE VERSE(S):
The story recounted for us in Joshua 9 is intriguing. The Israelites had just conquered Jericho and Ai. Their victories terrified the people in the Promised Land.
So, the people of Gibeon determined to do something. They sent a delegation to Israel. That group of men went to great lengths to make it look like they had been on a very long journey when in reality they were only a few miles from where Israel was camped.
The delegation asked the Israelites to make a pact not to harm them since they "lived so far away" from Israel.
That's where our verse for today comes in:
Joshua 9:14 (HCSB) "Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the LORD’s counsel."
There were facts outside the knowledge of the Israelites that kept them from making a wise decision. We are led to believe that if they had prayed before making the decision, the Lord could have provided them wisdom (without the necessary knowledge) to come to a right conclusion on the matter.
But, they didn't pray.
And they made a bad decision.
And they suffered the consequences.
Do you pray before you make decisions? There will always be information outside our range of knowledge. How are we to come to a right conclusion without all the facts? We've got to pray and seek the Lord's will.
He won't write out His will and send it down from Heaven. But, after much prayer (and other biblical steps of right decision making), we can proceed with peace and confidence knowing that God will guide us.
(If you want to learn more about how to make decisions God's way, read my book review on "Decision Making By the Book by clicking here.)
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