by Pat Hackney
In the ninth chapter of the book of Joshua we see the children of Israel had experienced great victories over Jericho and Ai because they had followed God�s plan of action. The next city to be conquered was Gibeon. The Gibeonites, fearing for their lives, devised a plan to deceive Joshua and the princes of Israel. They assumed the appearance of wayworn travelers. With old shoes and sacks, torn and patched wineskins, dry and moldy bread they came to Israel�s encampment. They said they had heard of the name of Jehovah and the fame of His mighty deeds. They wanted to make an alliance with Israel.
Unknowingly, Joshua and the princes made peace with the Gibeonites and swore to them by Jehovah to save their lives. Three days later they learned the truth when they reached the city of Gibeon. The covenant, however, was allowed to stand for fear of breaking the oath they had made before God.
The reason for the deception is made clear in verse fourteen. They had not �ask the counsel of the Lord.� Today, God�s people continue to fail because they do not ask His counsel before making important decisions. This is especially true in matters of religion. Regardless of what men may think is correct, the only thing that truly matters is what God says. May we always seek His counsel first before an important decision is made. In his book, Portrait of God, Frank Chesser makes this amazing statement: �Divine Counsel is grace teaching faith how to respond to God in obedience motivated by love.� May we always be motivated by love to seek God�s counsel.