Joshua 9 Devotions by Stephen Taylor

Joshua 9:11-14

And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.” ’This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now, see how dry and moldy it is. And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.” The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.

These verses are a perfect example of why we can’t lean on our own understanding. The LORD had given two commands, the first being to destroy all those living in the Promised Land that He was giving them, and the second was to offer peace before war to all those outside of the Promised Land that they would come up against.

The people in the above verses lived near to them but portrayed themselves as being from a distant land, so we can see how Joshua and the leaders would think they were following God’s command when, in reality, they weren’t. This is why we have to rely on God and not ourselves or our own understanding of truth. For in their own eyes, they were walking in His will, but really, they were walking outside of it.

God knows, sees, and understands the things we can’t. In order to understand and walk in the commands of our God, we must first be surrendered and seeking Him out, not just one or two times but in every way and situation. We can’t just take for granted or assume that we know what to do, but instead, let us be fully reliant upon Him, and then we can know for sure what to do! He didn’t say, “Figure it out and meet Me there” but rather, “Pick up your cross and follow Me!”

Matthew 16:24- Then Jesus said to his disciples, “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me.

Proverbs 3:5,6- Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.

God bless! I love you all, but His love will lead us into His peace, provision, and protection! Glory, honor, and praise now and forever to Papa God, Jesus Christ our King, and the Holy Spirit!