JOSHUA 9:1-15
The Gibeonites wanted Israel to make a league with them, which was contrary to God’s
instructions. God had said all the Canaanites were to be destroyed. Unfortunately, the leaders of
Israel believed the lying Gibeonites and did as they suggested.
We are no match in ourselves for Satan’s subtle ways. We can defeat him only as we remember
the admonition of Proverbs 3:5-7 to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and to lean not on our
own understanding. We are to acknowledge God in all our ways, and He will direct our paths. It
is when we turn to Him that He gives us wisdom.
Israel’s problem was that they were presumptuous, acting on the basis of their own wisdom. In
our case Christ has been made unto us wisdom, but we must watch. Be especially careful of
decisions that have to be made under pressure.
This is an area I have been careful about with regard to my own life, and it has paid off. When
someone comes along and tells me that I have to make a decision right now because the
opportunity might be gone by tomorrow, then I am even more on the alert.
That kind of argument, particularly with spiritual things involved, could be Satan’s subtle way of
deception. Many persons have been led from the work of the Lord into side issues because they
made decisions suddenly without consulting God.
“See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the
days are evil. Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is” (Eph.
5:15-17).
Theodore Epp
www.backtothebible.in
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