. . .he restores my soul; He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
Psalm 23:3
After the Lord shows us that we are on the wrong path, it is our responsibility to accept His plan and follow His way. If we are obstinate and follow our own way, we will be miserable. Isaiah warned the people that they were obstinate because they carried out their own plans rather than the plans of the Lord, forming an alliance, but not by His Spirit. (Isaiah 30:1) They consulted with the Pharaoh of Egypt, aligning themselves with ungodly advice (human wisdom and reasoning) and sought protection from the Pharaoh. Their sin, according to Isaiah, was like a high wall, cracked and bulging, collapsing suddenly. (Isaiah 30:13) We also have our “high walls” built on human reasoning and unholy alliances. The Lord is calling us to depend on Him, to trust Him, and to come into agreement with His Word laid forth in the Scriptures. The rebellious people in Isaiah’s day told the prophets to tell them only pleasant things and to stop confronting them with the Holy One of Israel. (Isaiah 30:10) In our nation today and in our personal lives, we can hear the cry of many saying, “Don’t tell me any more bad news about God’s judgment; don’t confront me with the truth of Scripture.”
Paul writes to the church in Corinth to beware of leaning on human wisdom or reasoning, saying, Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world?
(I Corinthians 1:20) Paul recognized that when we are not in alignment with God’s Word and are, instead, dependent on our human wisdom, we are led astray. Seeking God’s wisdom enables us to follow His way and His path for us. Recently, I was confronted with a choice. I made a hasty decision and suffered the consequences. The Lord spoke to me in my time with Him one morning, showing me what had happened. I had not consulted with the Lord, and the path that I took was the wrong one.
Joshua fell into the same problem. He did not consult God when the Gibeonites came to seek an alliance with Israel. They deceived him, saying that they were from far away. Joshua did not consult with God, but relied on logic and human reasoning. He soon discovered that he had entered into an alliance with a people not ordained by God. (Joshua 9) Remember the next time you need direction to call on the Lord and wait on His leading.
Heavenly Father,
I have been like the Israelites and consulted with many people concerning a decision I have to make. Forgive me for not seeking You first, for relying on human wisdom and not relying on You. I know that You do speak through people, but I have depended solely on them and not committed myself to pray. Today I seek Your wisdom to lead and direct me.
In Jesus’ name, Amen
