Inquiring of the Lord

Joshua 9-11; 1 Corinthians 6 

“The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath.”

Joshua 9:14, 15

The Gibeonite deception of Israel reminds us how much we need the Lord’s perspective in matters of discernment and all of life. “Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart (1Samuel 16:7). The Israelite leaders illustrated that “There is a way that seems right to a man, but in the end, it leads to death” (Proverbs 14:12). By trusting the Gibeonite evidence of having been on a long journey, the Israelites leaders forgot the living presence of God who was parting the Jordan River, defeating Canaanite kings, and knocking over Jericho’s walls. How quickly we fix our eyes on what it is seen rather than what is unseen (2Corinthians 4:18)!

Will we fix our eyes on Jesus today in each matter of discernment, in each obstacle, and in each opportunity?

Will we fully surrender our will to the Lord and pray with ‘expectant neutrality,’ “not my will but yours be done”?

“Lord Jesus, I surrender my will and my future to you, for your glory.”