March 8, 2010

Today's reading: Joshua 9, 10, 11; Psalm 8, 38, 68, 98, 128; Proverbs 8

Joshua 9:14, "And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD."

I remember growing up on the farm I would often go walking around the farm and find all kinds of things to do. One particular time I went into the shop and began to look around for something to do. I found some wood and began to cut it up. I made what looked like a boat. I was so excited. I took my new boat to the creek and put it in. It did not take too long for my excitement to fade away into disgust. My boat sank.

I took it back to the shop and left it until it dried out. I then painted it with some silver paint that we used to pain the plow with. The paint would seal the metal on the part that went into the ground and keep it from rusting until the next spring.

This time I took the "boat" out to the water trough where the horses drank and tried it again. It sank to the bottom again. It was far too heavy and would never float. In my anger I got a drill and put a bit into it and drilled a bunch of holes in my "boat". I turned my prized "boat" into a pencil holder. It was pretty much worthless. Such is life.

The problem was that I did not ask for help. I did not try to find some plans to show me how to make the "boat". If I had asked for help my "boat" might have actually floated. Nothing like floating your own boat.

Okay, I know that was pathetic. My point today is that just like God's people we go about life doing our own thing, our own way. This is a problem. If we are going do God's will, God's way then we need to consult with Him first. God's people did not pray or consult with Him before making a league with these strangers and then it came back on them. They found out these people lied to them and then they were in a bad situation.

You and I need to consult with God and with godly Christians who are mature and get counsel before we make decision because if it is a wrong decision it could haunt us for a long time.

Any big decision coming up in the near future? Check with God.