Making Treaties Without God

Joshua and the Israelites had just defeated the town of Ai and the surrounding peoples in their area- the Hittities, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites and others. This caused other people in the area to be scared of the Israelites. Because of fear these people had planned to take the Israelites down. But the Gibeonites were shrewder and decided to approach Joshua and make a treaty with him, a treaty that would protect them from coming under attack from the Israelites like the groups mentioned above.

 Joshua went openly into the treaty with the Gibeonites thinking they were a people from a far away land (Joshua 9:6). But in fact they lived right beside the Israelites. Joshua went into a treaty with the Gibeonites without seeking God’s counsel. But by the time Joshua and the Israelites figured out what was what, they couldn’t renege on the treaty, even though they had been deceived (Joshua 9:19).

 We can’t live without God. When we do life becomes hard and often unbearable because of self-made problems. Joshua’s treaty with the Gibeonites was a self-made problem. It could have been avoided if he had taken the matter before God first. Here’s the thing, God isn’t some Spirit that doesn’t talk back to us. When we ask Him for direction and guidance He will speak. He always does. We just have to be patient, wait and listen.

Isaiah 30:21 tells us

“Your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, “this is the way, walk in it,” Whenever you turn to the right hand or whenever you turn to the left.”

So as you live your life, be cognizant and aware of the fact that before you make any destiny altering decision(s) and /or sign a contract, seek God’s counsel to not create any self-made problems.

Happy Friday!