Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the Lord’s counsel. So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them. - Joshua 9:14-15
Fearful of attack and annihilation at the hands of the Israelites, the Gibeonites devised a ruse to preserve their people. They deceived Joshua and the other leaders into thinking that they lived a great distance away and, therefore, posed no imminent threat. Wrongly perceiving that the armies (and the people/culture) of Gibeon could not hurt them, Israel entered into an ill-advised treaty ... a treaty that would introduce a pagan people into their midst.
Like Israel, we often neglect God's wise counsel and "wed" ourselves to our ungodly culture in ways that may, at first, seem harmless. Because these influences pose no immediate threat, we wrongly assume there is no danger. Such is the intelligence and subtlety of our enemy. What he could never accomplish by force, he often wins by deceit.
It only takes one bad decision to be destroyed. To avoid disaster, take a moment, stop, and ask, "Is this of God?"
The Bible as a book stands alone. There never was, nor ever will be, another like it. As there is but one sun to enlighten the world naturally, so there is but one Book to enlighten the world spiritually. May that Book become to each of us the man of our counsel, the guide of our journey, the inspiration of our thought, and our support and comfort in life and in death. - A. Galloway
Comments