Seeking Counsel

“But [the men] did not ask counsel from the LORD.” —Joshua 9:14

When the time finally arrived for the people of Israel to enter their promised land, they were ready. They marched across the Jordan River without fear and conquered Jericho by God’s unusual instructions. Their reputation had swept across the land, causing the people they had once feared to now fear them.

Most of all, the people were determined to obey God. Whatever He said, they would do. He had told them to conquer the land, and they were determined to do so.

But sin creeps up in the most unexpected places. Joshua, the new leader after Moses died, sometimes acted without first seeking counsel from God. He acted on what he thought was right.

Maybe he thought some situations were too simplistic to need divine aid. In one instance, he led an assault against a city that turned into disaster. They were doing what they were supposed to in conquering the land, but if he had asked God’s direction first, he would have learned that one of his people had rebelled against God’s commands, thus removing them all from God’s protection.

In another case, a group of people whom they should have conquered pretended to be foreigners from a far land. Instead of asking God what to do about them, Joshua acted on his own understanding and promised to protect them. Only later did he realize they had lived in this land all their lives, and they were people they should have driven out.

Presumption—assuming we know what’s right—is a sin stemming from pride. We believe we know what’s best. We don’t have to ask God for help, because we already know the answer, so why not save ourselves a step?

As Joshua showed, though, this is a road that always leads to disaster. Only God knows all things. Matters that seem simple to us are actually far more eomplex. We must seek God, even when we think we know the answer. Perhaps especially then.

We serve Him. He must direct our steps.