Bible Study - Joshua 9
S - So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the Lord. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them.
Joshua 9:14–15 ESV
O - Commentary:
Caught off guard by the cunning strategy of the Gibeonites, the leaders of the Israelites concluded a formal treaty with them. But Joshua and the Israelites made at least two mistakes. First, in sampling their provisions they accepted as evidence things that were highly questionable. If the visitors were true ambassadors with power to conclude a treaty with another nation they should have had more substantial credentials. It was foolish of Joshua not to demand them.
The second and primary reason for Israel’s failure is stated in verse 14: the leaders did not seek direction from God. Did Joshua think the evidence to be so beyond question that they needed no advice from Yahweh? Did he think the matter too routine or unimportant to “bother” God with it? Whatever the cause it was a mistake to trust their own judgment and make their own plans. This holds true for believers in all ages
Donald K. Campbell, “Joshua,” in The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, ed. J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck, vol. 1 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985), 349.
A — We make the same two mistakes. First, we see something we want, and we skip the diligence because we're dazzled by the shine. Even good things aren't always God's best for right now. Second, we get the size wrong. We either shrink God down to "this doesn't matter enough to bring to Him" or we puff ourselves up to "I've got this one on my own." God wants in on all of it. You don't need a prayer meeting to pick a shirt — but you do need to ask Him to lead your whole day. And when it's covenant-sized? Bring it to Him first.
R — Father, You are God. There is no other above You. You alone created all things, and from You all things come. We worship You, and we ask You to be part of every corner of our lives — the small decisions and the covenant-sized ones. Teach us to ask counsel before we act.
