After their latest victory (conquering Ai), the villages in the nearby lands heard of it, and decided they needed to deceive the Israelites into making a peace treaty with them. So they threw on old, dirty clothes and sandals, grabbed old wineskins, and found moldy bread to bring. When they arrived to meet the Israelites, they looked as though they had been traveling for far longer than just three days.
The Israelites looked at the "evidence", and took their word when the villagers said they came from a "far away land". Joshua 9:14 clearly says,"So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord."
They went ahead and made the peace treaties, only later to find out that they had been deceived, and were now trapped.
How many times do I do this EXACT same thing? I look at the "evidence" first. I EXAMINE the "food"; I look at what seems so blatantly REAL, and I don't consult the Lord.
I think this is a truth that I NEED and WANT to make happen in my life! I want to stop focusing on my expectations. I want to stop looking at only what I can see with my physical eyes, and start asking God to give me HIS perspective.
Let's start consulting the Lord first. Will you join me?