Fear Not Friday | Who Are you Aligning Yourself With?
On the discussion of fear, who do you keep with you in your inner circle?
I have learned through the years that those around me matter. I’m not talking about causal acquaintances. What I am talking about here are those relationships or connections that mean something to you.
Do you fear those connections?
Maybe you should.
Have you asked God what he thinks?
There is a bible story in Joshua 9 that talks about the Gibeonite Deception. Joshua and his men had just taken Jericoh (you know the city where the walls fell down after God’s people marched around the city for six days). War was imminent with surrounding regions. The Gibeonites took the matter into their own hands by putting together a way to decieve Joshua.
“However, when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, 4 they resorted to a ruse: They went as a delegation whose donkeys were loaded with worn-out sacks and old wineskins, cracked and mended. 5 They put worn and patched sandals on their feet and wore old clothes. All the bread of their food supply was dry and moldy. 6 Then they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the Israelites, “We have come from a distant country; make a treaty with us.”
Joshua 9:3-6
What does Joshua do? He asks them for their story. Verse 8: “But Joshua asked, “Who are you and where do you come from?”
9 They answered: “Your servants have come from a very distant country because of the fame of the Lord your God. For we have heard reports of him: all that he did in Egypt, 10 and all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites east of the Jordan—Sihon king of Heshbon, and Og king of Bashan, who reigned in Ashtaroth. 11 And our elders and all those living in our country said to us, ‘Take provisions for your journey; go and meet them and say to them, “We are your servants; make a treaty with us.”’ 12 This bread of ours was warm when we packed it at home on the day we left to come to you. But now see how dry and moldy it is. 13 And these wineskins that we filled were new, but see how cracked they are. And our clothes and sandals are worn out by the very long journey.”
Joshua 9:9-13
THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSON:
14 The Israelites sampled their provisions but did not inquire of the Lord.
All relationships are not good. Sometimes people mean to deceive you.
Do yourself a tremendously good favor — ASK GOD WHAT HE THINKS of aligning with the people in your life! An abuser that deceives — he won’t want you with.
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