Why We Must Ask God First ❓ | Joshua 9 Devotional (7-Step QT)

 

7-Step QT Notes

1. 🙏 Quiet Time

Pause.
Take a deep breath.
Ask God to give you wisdom to seek His guidance before making decisions.

2. 📅 November 26, 2025

Today’s passage reminds us:
Don’t rush decisions—seek God’s counsel first.

3. ✝️ Joshua 9:1-15

After Israel’s victories, nearby kings unite to fight against them. But the Gibeonites use deception, pretending to be from a distant land, and ask for a peace treaty. Israel samples their provisions but fails to seek God’s counsel. Joshua makes a covenant with them without asking the Lord.

4. 📖 Key Verse

“So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD.” (v. 14)

5. 📝 Reflection

Joshua was a strong leader, but even he made a critical mistake—he didn’t ask God before making a big decision. The Gibeonites’ story reminds us that appearances can be deceiving. Israel trusted what they saw instead of seeking God’s wisdom.

We often do the same. When faced with choices—career moves, relationships, financial decisions—we rely on logic or feelings instead of prayer. But God sees what we can’t. He knows the truth behind every situation.

Before you sign that contract, start that relationship, or make that big move—pause and pray. Ask God for guidance. He promises to answer (Jeremiah 33:3). True wisdom begins with seeking Him first.

6. 💬 What does this passage speak to you today?

• What decisions am I making without asking God?
• How can I build a habit of seeking His counsel daily?
• Do I trust that God’s wisdom is better than my own?

7. 🙏 Prayer

Lord, help me slow down and seek Your guidance before making decisions.
Give me discernment and humility to trust Your wisdom above mine.
Thank You for always being ready to answer when I call.
Amen.

Scriptures

📖 1 As soon as all the kings who were beyond the Jordan in the hill country and in the lowland all along the coast of the Great Sea toward Lebanon, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Canaanites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites, heard of this, 2 they gathered together as one to fight against Joshua and Israel.

3 But when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and to Ai, 4 they on their part acted with cunning and went and made ready provisions and took worn-out sacks for their donkeys, and wineskins, worn-out and torn and mended, 5 with worn-out, patched sandals on their feet, and worn-out clothes. And all their provisions were dry and crumbly. 6 And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and to the men of Israel, “We have come from a distant country, so now make a covenant with us.” 7 But the men of Israel said to the Hivites, “Perhaps you live among us; then how can we make a covenant with you?” 8 They said to Joshua, “We are your servants.” And Joshua said to them, “Who are you? And where do you come from?” 9 They said to him, “From a very distant country your servants have come, because of the name of the LORD your God. For we have heard a report of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites who were beyond the Jordan, to Sihon the king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, who lived in Ashtaroth. 11 So our elders and all the inhabitants of our country said to us, ‘Take provisions in your hand for the journey and go to meet them and say to them, “We are your servants. Come now, make a covenant with us.” ’ 12 Here is our bread. It was still warm when we took it from our houses as our food for the journey on the day we set out to come to you, but now, behold, it is dry and crumbly. 13 These wineskins were new when we filled them, and behold, they have burst. And these garments and sandals of ours are worn out from the very long journey.” 14 So the men took some of their provisions, but did not ask counsel from the LORD. 15 And Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them, to let them live, and the leaders of the congregation swore to them (Joshua 9:1-15, ESV).

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