Considering God in Every Decision

Rosalio Campa

Joshua 9:1-4 And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;

Today's devotion has to do with a bad habit that exists in all human beings. This habit is becoming complacent when things are going well.

Now on the other side of the Jordan River with God on their side, He reminded Israel that His hand would be with them, for good, as long as they stay faithful to Him. God also gave them a warning about the nations that live on this side of the river. His warning was to not let them dwell among them for they would turn them away from God.

That is exactly what happened to the children of Israel, after destroying Jericho and Ai. We read in Joshua 9 how the Gibeonites were subtle by coming to the Israelites saying they were ambassadors of a far land. They brought with them their old sacks, old rent wine, old clothes, old shoes, and old bread as part of their long journey They did this to save their lives, when they were their neighbors.

Joshua 23:6-7 Be ye therefore very courageous to keep and to do all that is written in the book of the law of Moses, that ye turn not aside therefrom to the right hand or to the left; That ye come not among these nations, these that remain among you; neither make mention of the name of their gods, nor cause to swear by them, neither serve them, nor bow yourselves unto them:

Joshua 23:12-13 Take good heed therefore unto yourselves, that ye love the LORD your God. Else if ye do in any wise go back, and cleave unto the remnant of these nations, even these that remain among you, and shall make marriages with them, and go in unto them, and they to you: Know for a certainty that the LORD your God will no more drive out any of these nations from before you; but they shall be snares and traps unto you, and scourges in your sides, and thorns in your eyes, until ye perish from off this good land which the LORD your God hath given you.

That day, after seeing and hearing the Gibeonites lies and their long, sad story, they felt sorry for them and made a pact with them to let them live.

Joshua 9:15 And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them.

Israel without really wanting to, had allowed the Gibeonites, pagan people, to dwell among them, something that God had warned them not to do.

Where did this problem begin? – It began in verse 14:

Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.

The Israelites' problem began when they became complacent and did not ask for counsel from the Lord.

They believe the Gibeonites’ story, but forgot to ask God if it was true. The problem is that they got complacent.

Here are three things we need to understand why we need to make God a part of every decision in our lives:

1. Let us understand that neglecting to consult God one single time can cause great evil.

Proverbs 14:12 There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

One decision without asking God for counsel can cause a lot of damage in our lives and to those that we love.

2. Beware of the subtlety of the devil who wants to enter and destroy what God has been building. He uses things that in the sight of man do not look EVIL OR DESTRUCTIVE.

The children of Israel saw their old clothes, old shoes, and old bread. Their appearance did not look dangerous. Let’s be careful with things that don’t appear dangerous.

2 Corinthians 11:14 And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Matthew 7:15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.

3. Let us understand that the more we depend on God for all matters in our life, the better decisions we will make, and the fewer tears we will shed.

Proverbs 3:5-8 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil. It shall be health to thy navel, and marrow to thy bones.

Rosalio Campa

Pastor Campa serves the Lord full-time as our Spanish Pastor. He and his wife have three children.

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