Duped ...

I feel like there were a lot of days in teaching when I had to ask myself, "Am I gonna fall for this?"  "Could this possibly be true?"  Those high schoolers could really put on a first-class drama over homework!!  I still feel like I'm surrounded by excuses ... there must be an "app for that" because I don't know how else these folks could have soooooo many of them at their fingertips.  Guess it goes with the noncommittal, non-commitment honoring culture we've found ourselves in ... but perhaps, that's a rambling for another day.

Joshua 9 ... the Israelites were duped by the Gibeonites.  I'll admit.  It was a pretty good scheme.  They went to a LOT of trouble to pull it off (kind of like the little ring that is counterfeiting BCM parking passes ... yep, you heard right ... I cannot BELIEVE the lengths these folks have gone to to deceive.  BCM, really???  Pretty sure they got away with it for quite a while now, too!)  But, the Gibeonites ... they aged their bread and wore worn out clothes and brought old wineskins claiming they had traveled so long and so far that everything was worn out.  They were entreating Joshua and Israel to make a treaty of peace with them, claiming that they were from far, far away and had heard about the God of the Israelites and were afraid.

Ok.  So, I know I am looking at this in hindsight which is always great.  But I am pretty sure that God had told Israel to destroy all the inhabitants of the Promised Land as they possessed it ... so whether they were near or far, not sure what possessed them to make a peace treaty.  But they did ...

The men of Israel sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the LORD. (Joshua 9:14)

hmmmm ... maybe that's why.  They looked at the situation and critically evaluated it.  But, they did not seek the Lord.  Just like us, they aren't quick to learn the lessons that got them into trouble in the past.  Pretty sure the golden calf seemed a great idea to their grandparents as well!

Pretty sure Satan does a happy dance when we fail to inquire of the Lord and are duped by one of His schemes!!  Thinking today as I encounter situations and make decisions:

1. Does it line up with what I KNOW to be God's will? (kind of think God had already made it clear that there'd be no treaties ... that seems to be covered in destroy all the inhabitants ... kind of confident that I don't have to inquire of God about my attitude or about being kind)

2. Did I seek Him? (... even if something seems right or good)