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Strong & Courageous Message 08 of 11
This Could Have Been Avoided
Pastor Anthony King· February 22, 2026
Joshua 9
0:001:13:18
A sermon on Joshua 9: decisions made without prayer can lead to avoidable compromise and costly mistakes. Discernment fails when we trust appearances, experience or urgency instead of seeking the Lord, so believers learn to pray first, seek godly counsel, and listen to God's Word.
“And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof;”
Joshua 9:1
Things that look right can still be wrong when prayer is missing.
Not everything that looks humble or sincere is from God. All that glitters isn’t gold.
Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.1 John 4:1
People may reach toward God with the wrong motives. God is not impressed.
Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.Psalm 51:6
Relying on experience without seeking God leads to compromise.
When God’s people trust what they see instead of what God says, discernment always fails.
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.Isaiah 55:8
Leaning on our own understanding, even after many victories, opens the door to costly mistakes.
Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the LORD, and depart from evil.Proverbs 3:5-7
Beware of urgency without clarity.
Also, that the soul be without knowledge, it is not good; and he that hasteth with his feet sinneth.Proverbs 19:2
God shows grace and faithfulness even when His leaders fail.
Israel honors the covenant because it was sworn in the Lord’s name. We must reflect His faithfulness, keeping our word even when it costs us.
When thou vowest a vow unto God, defer not to pay it; for he hath no pleasure in fools: pay that which thou hast vowed. Better is it that thou shouldest not vow, than that thou shouldest vow and not pay.Ecclesiastes 5:4-5
If a man vow a vow unto the LORD, or swear an oath to bind his soul with a bond; he shall not break his word, he shall do according to all that proceedeth out of his mouth.Numbers 30:2
God is able to bring good from human failure, just as He used Joseph’s brothers’ sin to preserve many lives.
But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive.Genesis 50:20
Jesus gives discernment and mercy for a praying people.
Prayer is the safeguard against spiritual deception.
Watch and pray, that ye enter not into temptation: the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.Matthew 26:41
God promises wisdom to those who ask Him in faith, guarding them from the snares of the enemy.
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.James 1:5
Jesus welcomes deceptive, broken hearts and transforms them into willing servants.
A new heart also will I give you, and a new spirit will I put within you: and I will take away the stony heart out of your flesh, and I will give you an heart of flesh.Ezekiel 36:26
Before major decisions, marriage, moves, ministry roles, refuse to move on appearances alone.
Invite wise, godly counsel into your choices instead of assuming experience is enough.
When you recognize a rushed, flesh-led decision, confess it honestly before God and others, then seek His wisdom to honor both your word and His name.
Make a habit of asking, “Lord, what do You say?” before acting quickly.
A measure of spiritual success never replaces the need for a continual seeking of God.
1And it came to pass, when all the kings which were on this side Jordan, in the hills, and in the valleys, and in all the coasts of the great sea over against Lebanon, the Hittite, and the Amorite, the Canaanite, the Perizzite, the Hivite, and the Jebusite, heard thereof; 2That they gathered themselves together, to fight with Joshua and with Israel, with one accord. 3And when the inhabitants of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done unto Jericho and to Ai, 4They did work wilily, and went and made as if they had been ambassadors, and took old sacks upon their asses, and wine bottles, old, and rent, and bound up; 5And old shoes and clouted upon their feet, and old garments upon them; and all the bread of their provision was dry and mouldy. 6And they went to Joshua unto the camp at Gilgal, and said unto him, and to the men of Israel, We be come from a far country: now therefore make ye a league with us. 7And the men of Israel said unto the Hivites, Peradventure ye dwell among us; and how shall we make a league with you? 8And they said unto Joshua, We are thy servants. And Joshua said unto them, Who are ye? and from whence come ye? 9And they said unto him, From a very far country thy servants are come because of the name of the LORD thy God: for we have heard the fame of him, and all that he did in Egypt, 10And all that he did to the two kings of the Amorites, that were beyond Jordan, to Sihon king of Heshbon, and to Og king of Bashan, which was at Ashtaroth. 11Wherefore our elders and all the inhabitants of our country spake to us, saying, Take victuals with you for the journey, and go to meet them, and say unto them, We are your servants: therefore now make ye a league with us. 12This our bread we took hot for our provision out of our houses on the day we came forth to go unto you; but now, behold, it is dry, and it is mouldy: 13And these bottles of wine, which we filled, were new; and, behold, they be rent: and these our garments and our shoes are become old by reason of the very long journey. 14And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the LORD. 15And Joshua made peace with them, and made a league with them, to let them live: and the princes of the congregation sware unto them. 16And it came to pass at the end of three days after they had made a league with them, that they heard that they were their neighbours, and that they dwelt among them. 17And the children of Israel journeyed, and came unto their cities on the third day. Now their cities were Gibeon, and Chephirah, and Beeroth, and Kirjath-jearim. 18And the children of Israel smote them not, because the princes of the congregation had sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel. And all the congregation murmured against the princes. 19But all the princes said unto all the congregation, We have sworn unto them by the LORD God of Israel: now therefore we may not touch them. 20This we will do to them; we will even let them live, lest wrath be upon us, because of the oath which we sware unto them. 21And the princes said unto them, Let them live; but let them be hewers of wood and drawers of water unto all the congregation; as the princes had promised them. 22And Joshua called for them, and he spake unto them, saying, Wherefore have ye beguiled us, saying, We are very far from you; when ye dwell among us? 23Now therefore ye are cursed, and there shall none of you be freed from being bondmen, and hewers of wood and drawers of water for the house of my God. 24And they answered Joshua, and said, Because it was certainly told thy servants, how that the LORD thy God commanded his servant Moses to give you all the land, and to destroy all the inhabitants of the land from before you, therefore we were sore afraid of our lives because of you, and have done this thing. 25And now, behold, we are in thine hand: as it seemeth good and right unto thee to do unto us, do. 26And so did he unto them, and delivered them out of the hand of the children of Israel, that they slew them not. 27And Joshua made them that day hewers of wood and drawers of water for the congregation, and for the altar of the LORD, even unto this day, in the place which he should choose. Joshua 9
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