Joshua 9 - Steve Wiggins Daily Devotional

“Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions, but did not seek the L_rd’s counsel. So Joshua established peace with them and made a treaty to let them live, and the leaders of the community swore an oath to them. Three days after making the treaty with them, they heard that the Gibeonites were neighbors living among them. Joshua 9: 14-16

Let’s once again consider Israel’s deliverance into Canaan as a metaphor for our salvation. The “land” would represent your own body. The “former inhabitants” would be representative of those former fleshly desires that used to drive you down destructive paths.

Once Israel received deliverance, by G_d’s grace, they were commanded to drive-out those former inhabitants. In a similar manner, once we have been delivered through Messiah, we are commanded to drive-out the “former self” and its controlling desires.

Israel was doing a pretty good job of it. They had the issue with Achan taking spoils of war, but they dealt with him. Soon, they were back on the path to victorious dispossession.

Then came the Gibeonites. Israel was so naïve that they fell for a scam that seemed too simple to be a lie! Followers of Yeshua, young in the faith, can do the same thing….and sometimes older believers do it, too!

Satan comes to lie, steal, and destroy. He lies to entice you away from the L_rd. Once you fall for the lie, he steals your blessing. Set apart from the L_rd’s blessing, Satan has effectually destroyed your impact as a believer. Often times, he will present a “former inhabitant” in a new light, or even try to disguise it as a whole other thing that the L_rd would approve of.

Israel’s problem is that they forgot the most important part of their investigation: They didn’t seek the L_rd’s counsel.

You may have experienced victories in various areas of morality, but don’t ever believe the lie that says you don’t need to seek the L_rd, continually. He cares about the smallest details of your life. The only stupid question is the one you didn’t take to the L_rd, and weigh against trustworthiness of His Word.

Consider the verse we teach children: “Trust in the L_rd with all your heart and do not rely on your own understanding; think about Him in all your ways, and He will guide you on the right paths. Don’t consider yourselves to be wise; fear the L_rd and turn away from evil.” Proverbs 3: 5-7

Blessings,
~Steve Wiggins
Daily Devotional, Friday, July 25, 2014