My prayer today is “open my eyes that I may see.” I’ve learned that I can “get moving” into the day without seeking God’s advice. That usually doesn’t turn out too well. I think of Joshua doing the same kind of thing. After defeating and taking the city of Jericho in Joshua chapter 6, he sends out spies again. This time to the city of Ai.
Joshua 7:1-4:
But the children of Israel COMMITTED A TRESPASS in the accursed thing: for Achan, the son of Carmi, the son of Zabdi, the son of Zerah, of the tribe of Judah, took of the accursed thing: and the ANGER OF THE LORD WAS KINDLED against the children of Israel.
And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven, on the east side of Bethel, and spake unto them, saying, Go up and view the country. And the men went up and viewed Ai.
And they returned to Joshua, and said unto him, Let not all the people go up; but let about two or three thousand men go up and smite Ai; and make not all the people to labour thither; for THEY ARE BUT FEW.
So there went up thither of the people about three thousand men: and they FLED BEFORE THE MEN OF AI.
After such an astounding victory at Jericho, Joshua and his men felt pretty confident. But at Jericho, Joshua had asked God what to do, and he got specific instructions about marching around the city and shouting so that the walls would fall. Here at Ai, he doesn’t ask God what to do, but goes with the 5-senses assessment of his spies. If he had asked God, God would have told him about Achan’s sin, and they could have handled that, then easily defeated Ai. Now they were “on the run” from their enemies for the first time!
Joshua 7:5-9:
And the men of Ai smote of them about thirty and six men: for they chased them from before the gate even unto Shebarim, and smote them in the going down: wherefore the HEARTS OF THE PEOPLE MELTED, and became as water.
And Joshua rent his clothes, and fell to the earth upon his face before the ark of the LORD until the eventide, he and the elders of Israel, and put dust upon their heads.
And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord GOD, WHEREFORE HAST THOU at all brought this people over Jordan, to deliver us into the hand of the Amorites, TO DESTROY US? would to God we had been content, and dwelt on the other side Jordan!
O Lord, what shall I say, when Israel turneth their backs before their enemies!
For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land shall hear of it, and shall environ [surround] us round, and cut off our name from the earth: and what wilt thou do unto thy great name?
Joshua was blaming God for their defeat. He even sounded religious in asking how this defeat would affect God’s reputation in the local area. But at least Joshua is finally trying to get direction from God. And God faithfully answers:
Joshua 7:10-13:
And the LORD said unto Joshua, Get thee up; wherefore liest thou thus upon thy face?
Israel hath sinned, and they have also TRANSGRESSED MY COVENANT which I commanded them: for they have even taken of the accursed thing, and have also stolen, and dissembled also, and they have put it even among their own stuff.
Therefore the children of Israel COULD NOT STAND before their enemies, but turned their backs before their enemies, because they were accursed: neither will I be with you any more, except ye destroy the accursed from among you.
Up, SANCTIFY THE PEOPLE, and say, Sanctify yourselves against to morrow: for thus saith the LORD God of Israel, There is an accursed thing in the midst of thee, O Israel: thou canst not stand before thine enemies, until ye take away the accursed thing from among you.
God told Joshua to quit groveling before Him, and get up. It wasn’t time to blame God, but to look at the sin that caused all the trouble. I am learning that I need to constantly stay prayerful and thank God for forgiveness when I don’t follow His advice. That is what repenting is all about. Here, God told Joshua exactly what to do to fix the sin problem [verses 14,15], and Joshua did what God advised [verses 16-26]. Then God tells Joshua how to defeat Ai, and they do [Joshua 8:1-29].
Let’s slow down, even when we are “on a roll” and doing well, to check in with our heavenly Father before we jump into things. It will always bring peaceful and positive victory. For today, Christ is our victory over the adversary and his devices.
1 Corinthians 15:57:
But thanks be to God, which giveth us the VICTORY through our Lord Jesus Christ.
One reply on “Asking God Before We Act”
So very true! It reminds me of what pilots do when they go through all their aviation checks before they can take off for a flight. Except we’re checking in with the highest authority available! One who’s really looking out for our welfare.