Today’s Peace Treaties

Sometimes it just seems like the right thing to do. Your child asks to go to a friend’s house and even though you don’t know the family it just seems like the right thing to do. Someone you love needs money and are in a bind, so you give them a loan. It seems like the right thing to do. A new job position is opening up and you could possibly loose the one you are in, so you go for it. It seems like the right thing to do.

This is exactly what the Israelites did in Joshua 9:1 – 27. Ambassadors came to their camp asking for a peace treaty; they didn’t want to find themselves like Jericho and Ai. They dressed themselves up as if they had traveled from far, far away, when in reality they were their neighbors. Their deception worked. Verse 14 – 15 tells us “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.” Any time you see the words “they did not consult the Lord” you know it can’t be good!

I tried to make a peace treaty this weekend without consulting the Lord. It involved one of my teenagers and it ended with a ruined evening and a terrible end to a very busy weekend. Why did I not consult the Lord first? If I had done so, I am sure He would have given me the wisdom I needed instead of the controlling flesh I lived out. He tells us in James 1:5 “If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.” That’s the peace I really need – His wisdom!

Lynn

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