Joshua 9:14-15 So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord. Then Joshua made a peace treaty with them and guaranteed their safety, and the leaders of the community ratified their agreement with a binding oath ( NLT)
Recently, I began to study the book of Joshua as part of my devotional reading of scriptures. When I got to the story on how the Gibeonites deceived Joshua and the Israelites, my eyes opened to a truth I have not seen for all the years i've been reading that portion of scripture.
The Gibeonites occupied one of the lands the Israelites were meant to conquer and take as their possession. Out of fear of being overun by the armies of Israel, they devised a scheme to deceive Joshua into making a peace treaty with them. Joshua fell for it. Later, he realized they were deceived but it was too late to rescind his decision because he made an oath with them in God's presence.
I saw the reason Joshua and the elders of Israel were deceived in chapter 9 verse 14: "So the Israelites examined their food, BUT THEY DID NOT CONSULT THE LORD".
Any time we fail to seek God's face concerning pending choices and decisions, we open ourselves to deception. With my little experience, there are phony, fake and deceptive people around who will always want to take advantage of our kindness to their selfish advantage.
Several stories abound among God's people about how they were deceived into marriages, businesses and other life endeavours. Long ago, I heard the story of a committed church sister who was deceived into marriage by a muslim who pretended as a christian brother. On the night of their wedding, he declared his identity and mandated her to start praying the muslim way.
I am very sure it is not the will of God for anyone who has fallen victim of deceit to be deceived. Oftentimes, God's people bypass spiritual order and fall headlong into the pool of deception.
To think God is pleased when his children are deceived is to have a very wrong view of Him. He gave us an assurance of comprehensive guidance in his word: "The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you"( Psalms 32:8 NLT). Reading this text of scripture, do you think God is pleased If we are deceived?
If we fall prey of deception in any form, it is traceable to our failure in seeking God's face and waiting on him patiently for answer. It is one thing to seek God's face, it is another thing to wait on him patiently for answers.
Don't run ahead of God. Never be in haste to make crucial decisions that can make or mar your life. Haste is the undoing of fools. Before making that decision, what is God saying?
Father, I receive the grace to wait on you patiently and never to be in haste until you give a go ahead in Jesus name.