Deception

My wife and I are facing a major financial decision. We learned a few days ago that our AC unit has reached the end of its life. Our dilemma … Can we trust that our HVAC repairman is giving us the best advice to replace the system?

Everyday we are bombarded with information that appears truthful and reliable. I have listened to peoples stories for years. Some of them were truthful. Others were not. It’s not always easy to discern the truth.

In Joshua we read about a story of deception. The people of Gibeon were fearful of the Israelites and resorted to deception to save themselves (Joshua 9:4-5). This small band pulled off the perfect ruse that tricked the Israelites into guaranteeing their safety.

A critical mistake.

Joshua and his leaders failed to protect themselves by trusting their own judgment. We read in Joshua 9:14, “So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord.“

Even though the Gibeonites had lied about their true identity, Joshua could not break his word to protect them. Additionally, he was facing a trust issue with his nation.

Just because someone has a great story, advice, or sales pitch, you need to be wise.

Consult the Lord!

We are reminded to “Trust in the Lord with all our heart; do not depend on our own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take” (Proverbs 3:5-6).