Beware of Deception

¹⁴ So the men [of Israel] took some of their own provisions [and offered them in friendship], and [foolishly] did not ask for the counsel of the Lord. Joshua 9:14

The Hitites had heard of the God of Israel and believed He would do what He said to Moses. They feared for their lives and were very wise in their deception. It saved their.  lives. Joshua and the people accepted their words as appearances matched their story. But they failed to pray and seek God’s will in the matter.

It amazes me that these Hitite people probably had more fear of Israel’s God than some of the Israelites themselves. They had heard and knew the reputation of God and knew they were toast, so they fought with their minds and lies rather than their bodies. Their trickery was well thought out and I’m sure it took a long time to set up. Everything looked legit and visual evidence seemed to match their story. The Israelites looking at what seemed right (without consulting the Lord) made a treaty.

What a warning for us today. No matter how right or legit things look, or how logical or accurate the story appears, we need to check the facts and consult with God before we make commitments, promises or pledge our support to anyone or any ideology. We live in an immoral culture saturated with deception and self-centeredness. Things are not always, or rarely what they seem. This is a warning to us to consult scripture, the actions of Jesus and the Holy Spirit when giving our word or support in any area that not only affects us but those around us.

Lord, this is a time for wisdom and discernment in our decisions and life choices. That is easy to do when things look wrong, feel wrong, and the red flags are flying high. But, when the enemy poses as an angel of light and the situation promises to benefit us, or that which we see on the surface looks so legitimate, give us discerning hearts and remind us to seek You first and stand firm on Your truth. Thank You for being faithful and trustworthy when we listen and obey.