27th.: People are Not Always as They Seem
After conquering Ai, Joshua considered what to do next.
One city, Gibeon, realized that the Israelites were too successful.
They devised a scheme. They sent emissaries to play-act that they were from a far country.
The emissaries’ job was to make a peace treaty with the Israelites (Josh. 9:1-15).
Joshua did not bother asking the Lord about this peace treaty.
If Joshua had asked the Lord, it is very likely God would have told him who those people were.
As it were, Joshua leaned on his own understanding, and the Israelites signed the treaty.
Shortly after signing the peace treaty, Joshua, and his leaders, found out that the
Gibeonites were neighbors (Josh. 9:16).
However, now that the peace treaty was signed, the Israelites had to honor it.
Deuteronomy 34:9 tells us, “Joshua was full of the spirit of wisdom,
for Moses had laid his hands upon him.”
Yet, despite this advantage, he made mistakes, as seen with the Gibeonites.
Likewise, it is good if we take our plans (all of them) to the Lord, to see what He would say.
“… and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.” (Pr. 3:5b-4)