Ask God First! (Part 2)

But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai,they resorted to deception to save themselves. They sent ambassadors to Joshua, loading their donkeys with weathered saddlebags and old, patched wineskins.They put on worn-out, patched sandals and ragged clothes. And the bread they took with them was dry and mouldy.When they arrived at the camp of Israel at Gilgal, they told Joshua and the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant land to ask you to make a peace treaty with 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. Joshua 9:3-6, 14-15 (NLT)

As you might have noticed we are still focusing on the same verses as last week. We need to constantly remember that our God knows it all because He is Omniscient. He knows the end from the beginning, and He is the only one who can direct us successfully, if we let Him. The Psalmist said, “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.” Psalm 119:105 (NLT)

King David is a good example. He regularly consulted God before going into battle or embarking on a task (1 Samuel 30:8). Every time David asked God’s direction before a battle, God directed him differently and he came out victorious.

I sometimes fall into the trap of “I’ve been there, done that” and end up failing at the task miserably. I’m learning that I can’t rely on my own wisdom but that of God (no matter how educated I might be!). With God’s help, we will see each task with a fresh eye and most importantly with His eyes.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6 (NKJV)

“‘For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways,’ says the Lord.” Isaiah 55:8 (NKJV)

King David was successful because he relied wholeheartedly on God. But the generation of kings that followed were not fully committed and faced the consequences.

King Asa started his reign well, he carried out a major religious reform in Judah during his time. On one occasion when Judah was being attacked by a mighty Ethiopian army, Asa called on God and won the battle.

However, later on in his reign, he was attacked by Israel, and instead of turning to God, he turned to the king of Aram for help. Thinking he had sorted the problem, the word of God came to him, “…Because you have put your trust in the king of Aram instead of in the Lord your God, you missed your chance to destroy the army of the king of Aram.” 2 Chronicles 16:7 (NLT)

How many times have we missed out on great opportunities because we failed to seek God’s help?

2 Chronicles 16:12-13 (NLT) says, “In the thirty-ninth year of his reign, Asa developed a serious foot disease. Yet even with the severity of his disease, he did not seek the Lord’s help but turned only to his physicians. So he died in the forty-first year of his reign.”

It’s sad, the passage said, “So he died…” Could he have lived longer or healed of the disease if he had sought God’s help? Maybe.

God is willing and waiting to help us, we only need to ask. The song – What a friend we have in Jesus, says:

Oh, what peace we often forfeit. Oh, what needless pain we bear. All because we do not carry everything to God in prayer.

Stay blessed,

Lara