Share this Post
Some things just seem like a ‘no-brainer’. You go the grocery store looking for watermelon and find out they are ‘buy one get one free’. Praise the Lord! There’s nothing to think about… you get two. That was easy. However, there are other times in life where the ‘obvious thing’ is not as obvious as it may seem. In Malcolm Gladwell’s book Blink:The Power of Thinking Without Thinking (though not Christian, an excellent book I highly recommend) he explores the concept of ‘gut feeling’s and ‘snap judgements’; those moments where your initial feeling is actually your most accurate and reliable source of council. While there are some amazing stories and interesting concepts revealed throughout the book, the truth remains that there is more to this life than what we see in front of us. We are spiritual beings on a human journey and when we dismiss the spiritual forces and atmospheres surrounding our decisions we relegate ourselves to being lead by our carnal impulses and human calculations. The enemy of your soul is hoping you will operate that way so he can constantly get you to agree with his plan…. without even knowing it. (Click here to read my post on how we sometime do the devil’s job for him)
Are Your Snap Judgements A Set Up?
In the book of Joshua in the Old Testament of the Bible we find a story where this principal is demonstrated. Joshua is leading the Israelites into the Promised Land and is given clear instructions from the Lord not to make any treaties or agreements with the pagan inhabitants of the land. An interesting thing happens in Chapter 9 where a group of people (the Gibeonites) who have heard of the mighty conquests of the Israelites decide to try and make a treaty with Joshua in order to save their city. Knowing that Joshua doesn’t make treaties with people in the land these Gibeonites send a delegation to Joshua dressed in old, ragged clothes and pack moldy bread in their bags to give the appearance that they are a people from a distant land. When they arrive they try to convince Joshua and the leaders of the Israelites that they are a people from far off that have heard of the great might of the Israelites and want to make a peace treaty with them in case they should ever make it to their village in the future. Unbeknownst to him the town of Gibeon where these people lived was actually very near to Joshua’s current position. This is where the story applies to us in a major way… (Click here to read my post on how ‘being real’ might be ruining your life)
Joshua 9:14 says: The Israelites sampled their provisions, but did not inquire of the Lord. Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath. NIV. Joshua made a snap judgement. He and the leaders made an impulse buy. They said, ‘if it looks like a duck and quacks like a duck then…. it’s a duck’. Joshua and the leaders took the bait and settled for examining the Gibeonites’s old clothes and moldy bread and listening to their flattering story to make a crucial decision; a decision that would prevent them from inheriting all of the Promised Land. A decision that later caused a three-year famine in the Promised Land and eventually the death of seven of Saul’s grandchildren. (2 Samuel 21) Had Joshua taken a moment to pray and ask the Lord for discernment, God would have exposed the enemy’s plan and this wicked lie. But Joshua didn’t think that was necessary. After all, he was a good Jewish boy, he knew the Lord, he had his quiet time each day, he loved God… how about you?
Are You In The Game Or Just Wearing The Jersey?
Going to church, having the Bible App on your phone and surrounding yourself with amazing power tools of the Kingdom of God is no substitute for USING those tools. It is not enough to know that prayer is powerful. We must pray. It is not enough to know that God will lead us. We must ask Him for His leadership and ask for ears to hear His voice! God doesn’t want us to walk around fearful that every decision we make is a potential trap, but He does want us to look to Him for help and engage Him. The devil wants to lure us into traps. We are not smart enough or strong enough to navigate this life on our own. Thankfully, the Lord doesn’t want us to and has given us His Holy Spirit to lead us. However, we must choose to be lead by Him and not try and ‘show him how it’s done!’. (Click here to read my post on spending more time with your temptations)
Don’t just sample the provisions today. Don’t settle for the ‘eye test’ and decide something looks good. Pray about that job you’re applying for, about that house your looking to purchase, about that guy you’re considering going out with, about that event you’ve been invited to attend… Pray and watch how God will steer you clear of traps you never even knew were there. It will not only bless and benefit you, but those around you as well. Selah.
From the Bible
Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. – I John 4:1 ESV
Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment. – John 7:24 ESV
Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. 6 In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6 NIV
Share this Post