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Asking
Counsel Of The Lord
When Joshua and the Israelite army with
God’s help destroyed the Canaanite cities of Jericho and Ai, the
inhabitants of Gibeon became “afraid for their lives.” Knowing that they
too were in danger of being exterminated, they plotted to deceive Israel
into believing that they were “from a far country.” They had been
informed (and correctly so) that while Israel was “to destroy all the
inhabitants of the land” of Canaan, yet they could “proclaim an offer of
peace” to those cities which were “very far away from” them (Deut.
20:10-18). “Now therefore,” they requested, “make a covenant with us”
(Josh. 9:1-ff).
The Bible relates how the Gibeonites
“worked craftily,” producing moldy bread, torn wineskins, worn out
sandals, etc. as “proof” of their “far country” status. They certainly
did their job well in misleading the rulers of Israel to believe such a
sham. But the Scriptures as well provide this one telling statement
concerning Israel’s decision-making process. Israel was not faultless in
the matter, for they neglected to do one very important thing; “they did
not ask counsel of the Lord” (Josh. 9:14). While it was directly
available to them, they did not seek God’s knowledge and counsel.
Rather, they based their decision on how matters seemed to be -- on mere
externals -- and therefore committed themselves to a covenant they later
regretted.
Such a scene has of course been repeated
down through the ages, and our generation is no exception, with men
judging “according to appearance” and not “with righteous judgment”
(John 7:24). God speaks to man today through His Son in His gospel, and
His word (His “counsel“) is able to make us “complete, thoroughly
equipped for every good work” (Heb. 1:1-4; 2 Tim. 3:16, 17). But alas,
multitudes simply choose to “not ask counsel of the Lord.”
Many today choose a religious group with which to associate themselves
without “asking counsel of the Lord.” Many engage in one or more worship
practices without asking His “counsel.” Some blindly covenant themselves
with other fellows in the financial supporting of a “good work” without
consulting God’s word. They are basing their commitments on willful
ignorance, and such will not do with the Lord (Acts 17:30; 2 Peter 3:5).
How many today are involved in unlawful marriages due to the fact that
they have never considered the counsel of God in the first nine verses
of the nineteenth chapter of Matthew? They have made a covenant they had
no right to make.
God’s people can be just as susceptible to such rash behavior. It
sickens us to see all too many parents today committing themselves to the
child-rearing philosophies of “Dr. Spock,” “Dear Abby,” “Dr. Phil” or
other like specialists, rather than to “the training and admonition of
the Lord” (Eph. 6:4). It disgusts us to witness far too many husbands
and wives acting out of character in their God-assigned roles -- wives
irreverently addressing their husbands, and husbands demeaning and
dishonoring their wives. (Doesn’t God’s counsel speak to these?
Eph.5:22-ff; 1 Peter 3:1-7.) Truly, today’s deceitful advice of the
world is yesterday’s Gibeonite trickery (the “moldy bread” and the “torn
wineskins” have merely been replaced by man’s polls, statistics, etc.).
Do we have a question about a matter? (Perhaps there is our problem --
we fail to question, rushing in without
contemplation.) The first consideration in our mind ought to be, “Does
the counsel of the Lord say anything about this?” In my fellowship with
other disciples... in my home life... at work... at play... “What does
the Lord say?” In what I watch and read... in how I dress... in my
speech... would I dare open up the pages of the Bible and inquire of the
Lord’s counsel?
May God help us to more often in the future utter the words, “Speak,
Lord, for Your servant hears” (1 Samuel 3:10).
--Mike Noble
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