May 4, 2025
Making Wise Decisions #
Joshua 9:3-16
Deut 20:16-18
Introduction
I have been preaching a mini series on stewardship. Part of stewardship is making wise decisions. This passage is not a passage about finances, but it is an important passage about making life changing decisions! We are not talking about what color shirt to wear, or what to eat for lunch, we are talking about serious life changing decisions. Where you work, where you live.
The Nation of Israel had been given clear counsel to clear out the land!
Deut 20:16-18
God didn’t want the influences of these pagan nations to influence his people! It would do us good to NOT BE INFLUENCED by the pagan practices of the world!
God told Israel to destroy them, run them off…. Seems like our country has been overrun, and taken over by the worldly influences!
Let’s look at our text and see things about making important decisions.
I. Confirm the Information (3-6) #
A. They lied about how far they had traveled (6) #
B. They lied about their food (12) #
C. They lied about their winebottles (13) #
D. They lied about their clothes (13) #
E. The liar only has to keep everything long enough to hook you! #
1. They came prepared! – well crafted story #
2. Confirm the story! #
John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.
II. Consult God (14) #
A. Consulting God is not always convenient #
1. Build an altar #
2. Offer a sacrifice #
3. Patience! #
Psa. 27:14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.
B. Consulting God requires time #
1. Error of consulting the world, but not God! #
Is. 30:1 ¶ Woe to the rebellious children, saith the LORD, that take counsel, but not of me; and that cover with a covering, but not of my spirit, that they may add sin to sin: 2 That walk to go down into Egypt, and have not asked at my mouth; to strengthen themselves in the strength of Pharaoh, and to trust in the shadow of Egypt!
2. God offers Wisdom! #
James 1:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
3. Trust that HE WILL LEAD! #
Prov. 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. 6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.
- Joshua 9:15 – Joshua makes a league, covenant, deal!
III. Consult others (16) #
A. Be careful of worldly counsel! #
B. A little prudence and patience #
C. Counsel is important! #
Prov. 11:14 ¶ Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.
Prov. 24:6 For by wise counsel thou shalt make thy war: and in multitude of counsellors there is safety.