Ask First
Scripture Reading: Joshua 8-9; Psalm 83
The people of Gibeon knew they couldn’t defeat Israel in battle. So, they devised a scheme. Dressed in worn-out clothes and carrying moldy bread and cracked wineskins, they approached Israel’s leaders, pretending to be weary travelers from a distant land. Their deception worked.
The leaders of Israel were skeptical at first, but after examining the "evidence," they made a treaty of peace with the Gibeonites. It seemed like the right decision. But there was one problem—they never asked God.
The key verse in this account is Joshua 9:14:
"So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD."
In other words, they didn’t pray about it.
The Israelites had everything they thought they needed to make a sound decision. The evidence pointed in one direction, so they acted on what seemed reasonable. But appearances were deceiving, and their failure to seek God’s guidance led to consequences they hadn’t anticipated.
How often do we do the same? We rely on our own understanding, making decisions based on what we can see, instead of seeking wisdom from the One who sees all. We assume we have enough information, so we move forward without stopping to pray.
I remember a lesson I learned years ago when I worked in a retail store. A man I knew came in to look at a television he was considering buying. He spoke with the store owner for a while and then left. Afterward, my boss scoffed, saying, "He wanted to pray about it," as if the idea were ridiculous.
But I knew this man. He was well off. Buying the television wouldn’t have impacted him financially at all. Yet, he wanted to ask the Lord if it was the right thing to do. He understood something my boss didn’t—everything belongs to God, and seeking His counsel is always the best decision.
How much heartache could we spare if we simply paused and prayed? If we took every decision—big or small—before the Lord?
James 1:5 reminds us:
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to him."
We don’t always see the whole picture. But God does. And He is always willing to guide us—if only we ask.
Prayer:
Lord, help me not to lean on my own understanding but to seek Your wisdom in all things. Remind me to pause, pray, and trust in Your perfect guidance. Amen.
