When the people of Israel went into the promised land — they were commanded to take possession , and to destroy all it’s inhabitants.

Fast forward to Joshua chapter 9.  Here we read about the classic Gibeonite blunder:

The Gibeonites pretended to be foreign people from a land far away — and tricked the Israelites into making a treaty with them. In reality they lived three days journey away — and should have been destroyed.

How in the world did this happen?
How did God’s people get duped into making a treaty with their enemies?

The Gibeonites wore old clothes, brought old moldy bread with them, and old wineskins.

Joshua and the other leaders looked at what was in front of them and made a decision based on what they saw.

v14  …the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but did not ask counsel of the Lord. (v15) So Joshua made peace with them, and made a covenant with them to let them live…

Often times — as leaders, as elders, as pastors — we take a look at things, and make a call.

We see this golden opportunity to do something great for the Lord. It seems so obvious. Of course its the right thing to do. And so we send up a quick prayer and go for it.

Or we meet up with someone who seems to be full of sin. It’s pretty obvious they need a strong rebuke. Of course it’s the right thing to do. And so, once again, we send up a quick prayer –and go for it.

To Joshua and the elders — the right thing to do seemed obvious as well.
They didn’t even send up a quick prayer — they just made a treaty.

As God’s people, we are to be a people of prayer.
But not just a people of prayer — who are good at asking a blessing.

But prayer — in the sense of waiting on the Lord’s direction.

How can we say “The Lord is My Shepherd”, when we call the shots — personally, and as a church?

The problem is — if the Lord is not my Shepherd, if He is not leading me — I’m lost. And I’m on my own.

That’s when I as an individual, and us as a church get ourselves into sticky situations.

“But look at that opportunity! It seems so right!”
“Or look at their sin — it must be dealt with!”

Our Bible gives this phrase “but did not ask counsel of the Lord”..

In Hebrew though — the phrase is only these three words: “Inquire mouth YHWH”.

If we would wait on the Lord — to inquire what He wants to speak to us directly from His lips to our ears — oh how blessed we would be!

No more blunders. No more long lasting treaties with sin.

Psalm 27:14 puts it this way:
Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

But wait — there’s more.

There is another very simple but important lesson for church leaders here.

In verse 18, the congregation gets word of the new treaty with their best friends the Gibeonites.

It says “All the congregation complained against the rulers”.

And what ensues — is the leadership trying to smooth things over with the people, and to spin it favorably.

Listen my friends — if you want to shepherd the church, be led by the Good Shepherd.
Don’t move a muscle, or a resource, or a ministry decision until you hear it from the mouth of the Lord.

If you don’t wait for the Lord — you will make a blunder.
And the people will recognize it’s not from the Lord, and they will complain against you.

You want to do things right?
You want success in ministry and harmony in your congregation?

Then wait for the lord, yes, wait for the Lord.