Joshua 7-10
Failing to Consult with God

After the rousing victory over the city of Jericho, the Israelites looked to the next city in their conquest of Canaan. Ai, only a short distance west of Jericho, was a smaller city and less of a tactical challenge for the invading army. After a recon mission, Joshua was told, "Do not have all the people go up, but let about two or three thousand men go up and attack Ai. Do not make the whole people toil up there, for they are few." Joshua heeded their advice and the people went to battle, only to return in defeat leaving 36 of their own men behind-dead.

"Then Joshua tore his clothes and fell to the earth on his face before the ark of the Lord until the evening, he and the elders of Israel. And they put dust on their heads. And Joshua said, Alas, O Lord God, why have you brought this people over the Jordan at all, to give us into the hands of the Amorites, to destroy us? Would that we had been content to dwell beyond the Jordan! O Lord, what can I say, when Israel has turned their backs before their enemies! For the Canaanites and all the inhabitants of the land will hear of it and will surround us and cut off our name from the earth. And what will you do for your great name? The Lord said to Joshua, Get up! Why have you fallen on your face? Israel has sinned; they have transgressed my covenant that I commanded them; they have taken some of the devoted things; they have stolen and lied and put them among their own belongings," Joshua 7:7-11. It seems the fault of Israel here-and especially their fledgling commander-in-chief-was a failure to consult God. Such a failure had serious repercussions. They lost because God was upset with them over something that happened during the destruction of Jericho. Had Joshua been more concerned with God's assessment of Ai, rather than the spies, he would have learned of God's displeasure and refusal to be with them before sending his soldiers into battle-and some to their deaths.

After consulting with God and dealing with the reasons for God's anger, under God's direction Joshua and the Israelites attack Ai again. This time they were victorious.

It is easy-very easy-to be so confident of what God wants that we fail to consult God. People do that all the time in searching out answers to religious questions. We turn to human experts we trust to give us good advice-parents, religious leaders, well-meaning friends. But, all that is worthless unless we turn to God. We cannot assume to know what God wants unless we look to Him to tell us. "Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding" (Proverbs 3:5). As Joshua learned, failing to consult with God can have devastating consequences. "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:8-9).

Of course, we listen to God today by turning to His word-that is how He talks to us today. Are you spending time in His word? Seeking His guidance? His wisdom? As Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 2:16, "We have the mind of Christ." Let's avail ourselves of it.