“Friend or Foe”

[I love tying in song titles to these lessons, maybe I’ll release a collection of these..think it’s a called a book🤔]

Today’s lesson is out of Joshua 9. Fresh off two victories, Joshua & Israelites continue their journey into The Promised Land. As they’re traveling, the rulers of the land are hearing about this group of people whose GOD is UNDEFEATED and are planning to wage war. Well all rulers except ONE group, who decide to disguise themselves as weary travelers who just happened to hear about what God was doing and came to join forces with the Israelites. Their plan is to trick them into making a treaty so when God tells them to attack the Israelites won’t be able to without breaking the covenant and cursing themselves. The plan ultimately works, because the Israelites didn’t consult with GOD about making a treaty and partnering with them. Though it didn’t backfire on them, it could’ve proved to be detrimental to them!

Takeaway: Take ALL things - decisions, partnerships, relationships, moves etc 𝗯𝗲𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲 GOD 𝘉̲𝘌̲𝘍̲𝘖̲𝘙̲𝘌̲ entering into agreement!

It’s easy for us to rest on our own understanding, even easier to have empathy on others especially if we perceive they’ve been on a similar journey as us. I think that’s what happened with the Israelites..yeah they questioned the credentials of the people, but ultimately maybe it was hearing someone else with a similar story as theirs that made them drop their guard.

When you’ve been in isolation, it’s easy to gravitate towards almost anything that looks like it could fill that void; when you’ve been deprived it makes you desperate. Like Esau, forfeiting his birth right for stew, don’t give up the lifelong promise/blessing for a “right now need”.