FINDING GOD’S WISDOM IN DIFFICULT SITUATION
THE SEED
“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”Psalm 9:9-10 NIV
In Joshua 9, the Israelites were deceived by the Gibeonites, who disguised themselves as travellers from a distant land. Fearing destruction, the Gibeonites tricked Joshua and the leaders into making a peace treaty. Their key mistake was not seeking God’s guidance (Joshua 9:14). Instead, they relied on their judgment, leading to an agreement they later regretted. Life often presents unexpected challenges. Sometimes, we find ourselves in difficult situations due to poor decisions, deception, or unforeseen circumstances. Joshua 9 teaches us valuable lessons about handling mistakes. Joshua and the Israelites did not ignore the problem. When they discovered the deception, they acknowledged the mistake – (Joshua 9:16-17). Some people hope their mistakes will disappear, but acknowledging them is the first step toward resolution. Though deceived, the Israelites honoured their covenant because it was made before God (Joshua 9:19). Even in mistakes, our integrity matters, we can not effectively right wrongdoing by making a wrong decision, but rather we should seek God’s wisdom moving forward. Instead of making another rash decision, Joshua assigned the Gibeonites to serve as woodcutters and water carriers for God’s house instead of having them killed (Joshua 9:27). Though this was not God’s plan it helped them manage the consequence of their error. Proverbs 3:5-6 encourages us not to lean on our own understanding because human reasoning is limited. When we find ourselves in a difficult situation, for us to experience a breakthrough, we must admit our mistakes, act with integrity, and seek God’s wisdom. Even in failure, God can bring about redemption when we trust Him.
BIBLE READING: Joshua 9:14-26
PRAYER: Lord, help me to turn my mistakes into opportunities to glorify You. Amen.
WÍWÁ ỌGBỌ́N ỌLỌRUN NÍNÚ ÀÌBÀLẸ̀ ỌKÀN
IRUGBIN NAA
“Olúwa ni ààbò fún àwọn tí a pọ́n lójú, ààbò ní àkókò ìjàǹbá. Àwọn tí ó mọ orúkọ Rẹ gbẹ́kẹ̀lé Ọ,nítorí Ìwọ, Olúwa, kò fi àwọn tí ó ń wá Ọ sílẹ̀.” Orin Dafidi 9:9-10 NIV
Nínú Jóṣúà 9, àwọn ọmọ Ísrẹ́lì jẹ́ ẹ̀tàn láti ọwọ́ àwọn ará Gíbéónì, tí wọ́n fi ara wọn ṣe bí àwọn arìnrìn-àjò láti ilẹ̀ jíjìnnà. Nítorí ìbẹ̀rù ìparun, àwọn ará Gíbéónì tàn Jóṣúà àti àwọn olórí láti bá wọn ṣe àdéhùn àlàáfíà. Àṣìṣe pàtàkì wọn ni pé wọn kò béèrè ìtọ́sọ́nà Ọlọrun (Jóṣúà 9:14). Dípò bẹ́ẹ̀, wọ́n gbẹ́kẹ̀lé ìdájọ́ ara wọn, tí ó sì mú àdéhùn tí wọ́n kábàámọ̀ nígbẹ̀yìn wá. Ìgbé ayé máa ń mú àwọn ìṣòro àìròtẹ́lẹ̀ wá. Lẹ́ẹ̀kọ̀ọ̀kan, a máa ń bá àìbàlẹ̀ ọkàn pàdé nítorí àwọn ìpinnu búburú, ẹ̀tàn, tàbí àìròtẹ́lẹ̀. Jóṣúà 9 ń kọ́ wa ní àwọn ẹ̀kọ́ pàtàkì nípa bíbá àṣìṣe lò. Jóṣúà àti àwọn ọmọ Ísrẹ́lì kò gbàgbé ìṣòro náà. Nígbàtí wọ́n rí ẹ̀tàn náà, wọ́n gba àṣìṣe náà wọlé (Jóṣúà 9:16-17). Àwọn ènìyàn kan ń retí pé àṣìṣe wọn yóò parẹ́, ṣùgbọ́n gbígba àṣìṣe wọlé ni ìgbésẹ̀ àkọ́kọ́ sí ìwòsàn. Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé a tàn wọ́n jẹ, àwọn ọmọ Ísrẹ́lì bọ̀wọ̀ fún májẹ̀mú wọn nítorí tí a ṣe é níwájú Ọlọrun (Jóṣúà9:19). Kódà nínú àṣìṣe, òtítọ́ inú wa ṣe pàtàkì, a kò lè tún ìwà búburú ṣe pẹ̀lú ìpinnu tí kò dára, ṣùgbọ̀n kàkà bẹ́ẹ̀ a gbọ́dọ̀ wá ọgbọ́n Ọlọrun tẹ̀síwájú. Dípò kí wọ́n tún ṣe ìpinnu àìròpọ̀ mìíràn, Jóṣúà yan àwọn ará Gíbéónì láti máa ṣe gẹ́gẹ́ bí àwọn gégéolé àti pọnmí fún ilé Ọlọrun dípò kí a pa wọ́n (Jóṣúà 9:27). Bí ó tilẹ̀ jẹ́ pé èyí kì í ṣe ètò Ọlọrun, ó ràn wọ́n lọ́wọ́ láti darí àbájáde àṣìṣe wọn. Òwe 3:5-6 ń gbà wá níyànjú kí a má fara ti òye ara wa nítorí pé òye ènìyàn ní àlà. Nígbàtí a bá bá àìbàlẹ̀ ọkàn pàdé, fún wa láti ní ìṣẹ́gun, a gbọ́dọ̀ gbà àṣìṣe wa, ṣe pẹ̀lú òtítọ́ inú, kí a sì wá ọgbọ́n Ọlọrun. Kódà nínú ìkùnà, Ọlọrun lè mú ìràpadà wá nígbàtí a bá gbẹ́kẹ̀lé E.
BIBELI KIKA: Jóṣúà 9:14-26.
ADURA: Olúwa, ràn mí lọ́wọ́ láti sọ àṣìṣe mi di ànfàní láti ṣe ògo Rẹ. Àmín.