What can happen when we fail to consult the Lord
We now consider two instances where the Israelites did not consult the Lord and created serious problems for themselves
The deceit of the Gibeonites
Joshua 9:15 So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. 16 And it happened at the end of three days, after they had made a covenant with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours who dwelt near them.
19 Then all the rulers said to all the congregation, "We have sworn to them by the Lord God of Israel; now therefore, we may not touch them.
21 And the rulers said to them, "Let them live, but let them be woodcutters and water carriers for all the congregation, as the rulers had promised them."
The Gibeonites' deception is a story about the Gibeonites tricking the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. God had told Israel to destroy all the Canaanite tribes.
The Gibeonites were Canaanites who disguised themselves as travellers from a faraway land to save themselves from Joshua's army. They wore old clothes and sandals, loaded their donkeys with worn-out sacks and wineskins, and brought dry, mouldy bread. They then asked Joshua to make a covenant with them.
Joshua made a peace treaty with the Gibeonites and guaranteed their safety.
Three days later, the Israelites learned that the Gibeonites were their neighbours.
Joshua couldn't break his promise to the Gibeonites, but the treaty threatened Israel's covenant with God. The Gibeonites eventually became fully assimilated into Israel as slaves
The Israelites did not do an ID check with the Lord to see where the Gibeonites came from. Israel had to make do with the situation they had gotten into-by not consulting the Lord!
The defeat of Israel at Ai
There were two battles at Ai (see Joshua Chapters 7-8)
Israel was defeated in the first battle – due to the sin of Achan
However, after repentance Israel, won the second battle
Another example where Israel did not consult the Lord was their military defeat at Ai (pronounced as Ai or eye).
Israel is defeated by the inhabitants of the city of Ai, and it is revealed that the reason for the defeat is because one of the Israelites has sinned and kept some of the “devoted things” from the spoils at Jericho. Achan, from the tribe of Judah, is found (by lot) to be the guilty party, and he and his household are all executed according to God’s instructions.
We need to pay attention to what the Lord is saying in any given situation and of course be obedient to what he has said.
Take away points
We need to consult the Lord before our battles, major decisions, projects and everything else that is important. Do you consult the Lord in this way?
Amen
Prayer
In Part 4 (our final part) we consider what it means to be totally committed to the Lord.
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