Devotion 196
DEVOTION 196: “They Ask not the Counsel of the Lord” coming out of Josh. 9
That’s the beginning of every disaster for the child of God in Christ. We step outside the Word of God when we act without seeking His counsel.
Remember He is the Wonderful Counselor.
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
He was the Wonderful Counselor in the days of Joshua, the days of Isaiah, and He is the Wonderful Counselor today. He is the same Jesus Christ yesterday, today, and forever.
Let’s read:
Joshua 9:1-4 “And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; [2] That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. [3] And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, [4] They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;”
They were false believers. They appear as believers but they worked willily, joined a church but never joined Christ. They may even be preaching the gospel. They are deceived, and deceiving others.
We continue our reading.
Joshua 9:5-14 “And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. [6] And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. [7] And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? [8] And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? [9] And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, [10] And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. [11] Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. [12] This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: [13] And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. [14] And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.”
Discernment is seeking the counsel of the Wonderful Counselor. If Joshua had sought the counsel of God, he would have discerned these false believers.
We continue our reading:
Joshua 9:15-22 “And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. [16] And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. [17] And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath–jearim. [18] And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. [19] But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. [20] This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. [21] And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. [22] And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?”
The Serpent was only able to beguile Eve because she stepped outside the Word (the Wonderful Counselor).
Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
The Serpent came to the woman not with guns or arrows but with words — words of reasoning.
The Serpent was successful because Eve followed reasoning and not the simplicity of faith in the Word.
2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
We are beguiled today with false believers, false preachers, and false doctrine because we stand not on the simplicity of faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
If we identify with Him in His life, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, ascension, and now dwelling in us in the form of the Wonderful counselor (Holy Spirit) we will not be beguiled by false believers or false doctrines. Serpents will have no chance.
We conclude our reading:
Joshua 9:23-27 “Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. [24] And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. [25] And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. [26] And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. [27] And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.”
They were cursed by Joshua. Understand that Josue cannot curse anyone. It’s God who curses or blesses.
They made a league with Joshua but was not with God. Many may join a church but until we come through the proper Door which is identification with Christ, we are still thieves cursed by God.
John 10:7-8 “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”
There is only one Door.
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
We come into Christ no other way but through death with Him.
Let the Word of God bring you through the right Door. BELIEVE, and confess Christ the Word. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, in Christ!
That’s the beginning of every disaster for the child of God in Christ. We step outside the Word of God when we act without seeking His counsel.
Remember He is the Wonderful Counselor.
Isaiah 9:6 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”
He was the Wonderful Counselor in the days of Joshua, the days of Isaiah, and He is the Wonderful Counselor today. He is the same Jesus Christ yesterday, today, and forever.
Let’s read:
Joshua 9:1-4 “And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; [2] That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. [3] And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, [4] They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up;”
They were false believers. They appear as believers but they worked willily, joined a church but never joined Christ. They may even be preaching the gospel. They are deceived, and deceiving others.
We continue our reading.
Joshua 9:5-14 “And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. [6] And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. [7] And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? [8] And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? [9] And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, [10] And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. [11] Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. [12] This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: [13] And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. [14] And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD.”
Discernment is seeking the counsel of the Wonderful Counselor. If Joshua had sought the counsel of God, he would have discerned these false believers.
We continue our reading:
Joshua 9:15-22 “And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. [16] And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. [17] And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath–jearim. [18] And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. [19] But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. [20] This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. [21] And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. [22] And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us?”
The Serpent was only able to beguile Eve because she stepped outside the Word (the Wonderful Counselor).
Genesis 3:1 “Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”
The Serpent came to the woman not with guns or arrows but with words — words of reasoning.
The Serpent was successful because Eve followed reasoning and not the simplicity of faith in the Word.
2 Corinthians 11:3 “But I fear, lest by any means, as the serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.”
We are beguiled today with false believers, false preachers, and false doctrine because we stand not on the simplicity of faith in Jesus Christ and Him crucified.
If we identify with Him in His life, crucifixion, burial, resurrection, ascension, and now dwelling in us in the form of the Wonderful counselor (Holy Spirit) we will not be beguiled by false believers or false doctrines. Serpents will have no chance.
We conclude our reading:
Joshua 9:23-27 “Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. [24] And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. [25] And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. [26] And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. [27] And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose.”
They were cursed by Joshua. Understand that Josue cannot curse anyone. It’s God who curses or blesses.
They made a league with Joshua but was not with God. Many may join a church but until we come through the proper Door which is identification with Christ, we are still thieves cursed by God.
John 10:7-8 “Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. [8] All that ever came before me are thieves and robbers: but the sheep did not hear them.”
There is only one Door.
1 Corinthians 12:13 “For by one Spirit are we all baptized into one body, whether we be Jews or Gentiles, whether we be bond or free; and have been all made to drink into one Spirit.”
We come into Christ no other way but through death with Him.
Let the Word of God bring you through the right Door. BELIEVE, and confess Christ the Word. He is the Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, in Christ!
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