Week 16: Appearances can be Deceiving

This week's Bible reading plan is as follows:

• Sunday: Joshua 9:3-10:43; Luke 16:19-17:10; Psalm 83:1-18; Proverbs 13:4
• Monday: Joshua 11:1-12:24; Luke 17:11-37; Psalm 84:1-12; Proverbs 13:5-6
• Tuesday: Joshua 13:1-14:15; Luke 18:1-17; Psalm 85:1-13; Proverbs 13:7-8
• Wednesday: Joshua 15:1-63; Luke 18:18-43; Psalm 86:1-17; Proverbs 13:9-10
• Thursday: Joshua 16:1-18:28; Luke 19:1-27; Psalm 87:1-7; Proverbs 13:11
• Friday: Joshua 19:1-20:9; Luke 19:28-48; Psalm 88:1-18; Proverbs 13:12-14
• Saturday: Joshua 21:1-22:20; Luke 20:1-26; Psalm 89:1-13; Proverbs 13:15-16

Our S.O.A.P. this week is from the book of Joshua:

Scripture: Joshua 9:14, 15
"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."

Observation:
This is one of the most striking instances of deception in Scripture. The Gibeonites knew that Israel had entered the land with a mission to destroy all its inhabitants, including them! They also knew that military resistance was futile. So they resorted to subterfuge, disguising themselves as faraway travelers who came to make a peace treaty with Israel. The truth of the matter is that their towns were only a three-day journey from the point at which they met Joshua and the Israelite leaders.

The problem on Israel's side can be summed up as a lack of discernment. They focused on appearances instead of seeking counsel from the Lord. The men were disguised in old, tattered clothing. They were carrying moldy bread that they claimed was hot out of the oven the day they left on their journey. They lied and said they had been traveling for weeks to reach Joshua and the Israelites. And, rather than asking God for guidance, they believed what they saw and entered into a covenant with the men of Gibeon.

Later, when they discovered that these men lived in the same region, they were helpless to do anything about it. They had already made an oath not to destroy them.

Application:
The moral of the story for me is this: appearances can be deceiving! Scripture elsewhere says that we walk by faith, not by sight. God wants us to follow the leading of his Spirit rather than trust our own wits. God also wants me to take time when confronted with a given decision. He wants me to wait on his leading rather than act impulsively. At the end of the day, he wants me to trust him and distinguish myself as a person of faith.

Today I want to look for the opportunities that God puts before me to trust him and seek his guidance.

Prayer:
Father in Heaven, please help not act impulsively when confronted with choices that seem "obvious." Help me trust you enough to wait for your guidance. When I am tempted to say a given thing is "a no-brainer," please let your Holy Spirit stop me and give me pause enough to back away until I receive a sense of your leading. I pray in Jesus' name. Amen.

Have a great week!

Faithfully,
Chuck