They didn't ask God

Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the LORD. – Joshua 9.14

Crossing the Jordan did not end Israel’s problems that they kept bring on themselves. They may have been out of the wilderness, but they were not out of ignorance.

When they settled they were told to defeat all the peoples of the land. The Gibeonites heard about it and hatched a plan to trick Israel. The approached the leaders, but they had dressed themselves in worn out clothes, patched theory wine skins, wore works out shoes, and carried stale bread. They told the leaders of Israel that they were not local, but have travelled from a distance and were surrendering to serve Israel.

And because they didn’t ask God for direction they had constant problems with the Gibeonites.

We do the same kind of thing all the time – or at least I do. I get in a rush and can rush ahead and never stop to ask God or consider what He wants.

And when I do that I get in trouble as well. The problem is that my way is not going to compare to His. I’m just Roger – He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe. It only makes sense that his way is the best way and my best bet it to ask Him what to do.

This doesn’t need a whole lot of explanation actually. It only makes sense to seek advice before we act and God’s counsel is the counsel that will never fail. We ignore it our own peril.