Romans 12:8 “…he that ruleth, with diligence…”
Proverbs 12:24 “The hand of the diligent shall bear rule”
Joshua 9 records how that Joshua and the elders of Israel were deceived by the Gibeonites, unto making a covenant with them, that was contrary to the terms under which Israel was to drive out all the inhabitants of the land of Canaan.
One of the factors the Gibeonites counted on was that God’s people would be inclined to show good will. Sometimes this virtue is allowed to short circuit careful and wise considerations, unto God’s people being taken advantage of. BEWARE: Matthew 10:16 “Behold I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves.”
The Gibeonites presented circumstantial evidence of being from a far country, even though they were not, such as wearing old clothes and shoes, and having dry, mouldy bread to indicate they had been traveling for a long period of time.
They professed to want to join Israel on the level of being servants to the Israelites, “…because of the name of the Lord thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt.” Joshua 9:9
So, based on circumstantial evidence and the Gibeonites profession of faith, Joshua and the elders made the decision to make a covenant with the Gibeonites based on how they felt about them. But they did not ask counsel at the mouth of the Lord. Joshua 9:14b
This account reveals how that our circumstances, our evaluation of intentions, can be enough to formulate how we feel about something unto taking a position regarding it. Our feelings can make it out to be a slam dunk case.
But only when we can take everything else off the table to diligently seek counsel at the mouth of the Lord, are we able to get beyond our limitations unto seeing what really is from God’s infinite point of view. “Not my will, thine be done.”
Thus, as we seek to advance by faith, let us see the merit of adding to our faith by giving all diligence – 2 Peter 1:5.
SHARING
