Joshua 9:3 And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4 They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 6 And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. 14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
This passage of scripture teaches us the very valuable lesson of praying to God for direction in all of the decisions of life, for we are often faced with unknown circumstances which only the omniscient eye of God can see. In the above situation with Joshua and the men of Gibeon, craft and cunning were used to invoke sympathy, for what seemed to be a very valid request. However, it was later found out that these visitors were actually their neighbors who controlled wealthy cities not far from where the Israelites were encamped.
The problem was not so much the cunning that was employed by the strangers, but rather the lack of prayer on the part of Joshua and the Hebrews, who made a hasty decision based on emotion and feelings, instead of praying to God for wisdom and direction. If a petition was made to God concerning this matter, He would have undoubtedly revealed to Joshua the scheme that was concocted, and a very different outcome would have resulted.
This type of incident is not uncommon however, for in our own experiences we have often made decisions based on gut feelings, or very little information regarding certain situations that seemed to require an immediate answer. Whenever these conditions arise we should view them as a call to prayer, for The Lord never advises decisions that are made without first seeking His counsel. Let's read:
Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
In our day there seems to be a rush for everything, for we are living in the "Now" generation, and a fast-food mentality has taken hold on our minds. While it is good to execute our decisions and responsibilities with energy and dispatch, yet we must not forget to pray for guidance in the affairs of life, for by so doing we can avoid many of the snares which are craftily laid for our feet.
We therefore end with a passage of scripture that promises God's wisdom and leadership through the unnumbered decisions that we need to make in life. Let's read:
Isaiah 30:21 And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.
May we realize the necessity of prayer as we live from day to day for God has promised to be with us throughout life's journey, if we would only invite Him in. "Good night" and God bless!