Have you ever been in a situation where you just don’t know what to do, almost like there is a fork in the road in your life, and you are not sure what to do? King Solomon gave us some great advice when he wrote, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and don’t lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will direct your paths.” Prov 3:5-6 When you are facing a very challenging life situation, the advice you get can make or break you! What you turn to and who you turn to when you are encountering those confusing times are crucial? 

When the children of Israel, under the leadership of Joshua, went into the promised land, they conquered everybody they faced by the power of God. The nations that act of that occupied the land promised to Israel were terrified of the Israelites because they could see that the Lord, the God of the heavens, was on their side. While fearing the inevitable, they were trying to devise schemes by which they could protect themselves from the Israelites and ultimately, the power of God. This should be a lesson to all those who would listen – whenever God is doing something, stay entirely out of his way! 

One of the nations, the Hivites, could see the handwriting on the wall and devised a scheme to be saved from the Israelites and the power of God. They came to Joshua and the leaders of Israel saying they were from a faraway country and wanted to make a peace treaty with them. They came in dirty, torn up clothes and brought old moldy bread and old wineskins with old wine. Look at what happened. 

Joshua 9:14-18 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord. 15Then Joshua made a treaty of peace with them to let them live, and the leaders of the assembly ratified it by oath. 

16Three days after they made the treaty with the Gibeonites, the Israelites heard that they were neighbors, living near them. 17So the Israelites set out and on the third day came to their cities: Gibeon, Kephirah, Beeroth, and Kiriath Jearim. 18But the Israelites did not attack them, because the leaders of the assembly had sworn an oath to them by the Lord, the God of Israel. 

Have you ever made the same kind of mistake? The results are never good! Within three days, the Israelites found out that those men were from a city only a three days journey away and had foolishly made a treaty of guaranteed peace with them. Because they could not destroy them, they made them slaves who would become their woodcutters and water carriers. 

We all face difficult circumstances. Jesus said, “In this world, you will have tribulation.” Jn 16:33 It is not whether you will have tribulation or not, but rather how you will face it. Getting the best advice during these times is of utmost importance! The word of God tells us that “in the multitude of counselors there is safety.” Prov 11:14 God definitely wants you to get advice! But listen carefully; next time you are facing a confusing and challenging situation, don’t only get good advice, turn to God and… 

GET THE BEST ADVICE 

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