Seeking Direction from the One Who Knows
I’ve been reading the book of Joshua in my quiet times recently, the stories of the Israelites reaching and going into the Promised Land after years of wandering in the wilderness with Moses. Odds are, you’re familiar with some of it, like the battle of Jericho, where they followed God’s instructions to the letter, marching around the city quietly six times and then shouting and raising a ruckus on the seventh. The Lord brought the walls down and honored their obedience. Then there’s the story of Achan, the guy who decided to steal some of the gold plunder and hide it. He brought big trouble not just on himself, but on all the Israelites. The next town trounced them, and Joshua 7:5 says the hearts of Israel “melted in fear and became like water.” They consecrated themselves before the Lord, repentant and desperate for His blessing, and He gave it. Whew, lesson learned. Right?
So I was a little bit dumbfounded when I got to the next story in Joshua 9. The people in the surrounding land had heard about the Israelites, and they were afraid. The Hivites, from the next town over decided to try to trick God’s people. Joshua 9: 4-6, says,
“They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread in their food supply was dry and moldy. Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”
The thing is, the Israelite leaders didn’t quite buy it. Something seemed off just enough. They had a little niggling suspicion, and they were bold enough to voice it. Verse 7 tells us, “The Israelites said to the Hivites, ‘But perhaps you live near us, so how can we make a treaty with you?’”
The Hivites from Gibeon gave a non-answer. “We are your servants,” they said to Joshua. But Joshua asked at the end of verse 8, “Who are you and where do you come from?” Blunt. To the point. He knew something wasn’t right. In his gut.
They lied (v.9): “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt…” And in verses 12-13, “This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”
I’m not sure exactly how I thought this would play out. But Joshua had such a close relationship with God! Think of the way he heard God, the directions he had to take from God. This isn’t—to me—just normal conversation. This is listening to God. Joshua has a pattern of asking and hearing. He is in touch with God, and there is a real connection there. Bare minimum, I think I expected Joshua to ask.
So when I read verses 14-15, I stopped.
“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 assembly leaders ratified it by oath.”
It’s easy when we’re reading Old Testament stuff to want to shake those people, reach through time, grab them, and say, “What were you thinking?” This week, I wanted to ask, “If you had a hesitation, Joshua, why did you not ask God?”
Yet, I could see myself doing some of those things. When I think I know what I’m doing, I can make decisions by myself. I think, “I got this.” We can all do that, right? We’re comfortable with the information, the circumstances. Something seems practical to us. But once I have a question, once I’m in doubt, I go to the person who is smarter than me. I find someone who has the answers I need.
Being honest here: I know that I have had life-changing decisions that I just jumped on, either because it was clear to me or didn’t even enter my mind to ask God what He wanted for me. The answer just seemed like good sense.
That should not be how it is.
Even as I examine myself, I’m looking at the fact here that Joshua didn’t ask God. And he had a hesitation! It wasn’t even a “good sense decision.” He had a gut check. When I’m thinking about who I’m accusing here, Joshua was “the guy.” He was a leader of leaders, an example of examples. He led God’s chosen people into the Promised Land. And then, boom. He just decided without talking to God about it, and its consequences affected the Israelites. All of them.
So what’s the lesson here?
Seek God for direction. All the time. In everything.
1
We should know we’re making a decision. Every choice has consequences. Sometimes, part of why we don’t go to God is that we don’t realize we’re in the middle of making a decision. If we thought, “This is a moment that has the potential to affect other moments and other people,” we might take it to God. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 tells us to “pray without ceasing.” Everything should be something we talk to God about. He’s always with us (Joshua 1:9, Hebrews 13:5) and always wanting good for us (Joshua 1:7-9, Romans 8:28. Building daily habits that invite the Holy Spirit’s guidance into our ordinary moments is important.
2
Let’s not be overconfident in ourselves. Just because we might be smart and practical doesn’t mean we should make decisions without God’s word and His instruction. James 1:5 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” The world makes decisions without God. We should be different.
3
In those key moments when everyone knows the decision we’re making is big and will affect our families (or the body, or our community), we absolutely have to ask Him. When we have questions and doubts, when something seems off, these are not moments to make decisions on our own. We, like Joshua, should have a pattern of asking and listening to God. He will give us direction in His Word, and He will confirm it in unity if we are seeking with others. (Matthew 7:7 – Ask. Seek. Knock.)
Let’s be like Joshua on his good days and cultivate an open connection with the Lord, praying without ceasing, and listening for the answer.
