Asking for directions from the LORD even in times of prosperity
Jos. 9
The Israelites had taken Jericho and Ai. Because of their victories, they had become widely known. They were so strong that no one could defeat or stop their onward march. The Hitties, Canaanites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites gathered and planned to fight against Joshua and the Israelites.
Meanwhile, the Gibeonites, by trickery, came to Joshua and pleaded with him to make a treaty with them. They came to him dressed in worn-out dresses and told him that they have come from a distant land. Since they appeared to have come from a land far away, Joshua made peace with them. In all these, the Israelites nor Joshua “did not ask direction from the LORD” (Jos. 9:14).
What a big mistake!
On the third day, they came to realise that the Gibeonites were their neighbours and could not attack Gibeon, Chephirah, Beeroth and Kiriath-jearim anymore. Because they could not attack them, they could not follow the LORD’s command to destroy everything. It also meant that they could not destroy the thorns and thistles that were to prick the Israelites in the years to come.
It is easy to forget the LORD when we are prosperous and victorious. It is also easy to trust our own strengths and decisions when we are doing good. It also appeared that the Israelites also forgot to ask the LORD for directions because of their victories and prosperity.
It is always important to remember the LORD in all situations – good or bad.
Therefore, Christians today must also learn this lesson – to trust and seek directions from the LORD in all circumstances and not to trust in our own understandings (cf. Prov. 3:5-7).
