Joshua 9:14 And the men took of their victuals, and asked not counsel at the mouth of the Lord.
The Gibeonites were a local people, living in the land God gave Israel to occupy. But they lied to Joshua and the elders, claiming they were from a far country. Joshua believed their lie and signed a treaty with them, allowing them to live in the land that was supposed to belong to Israel. Joshua made peace with the Gibeonites, contrary to the command of the Lord. (As it turned out, this peace agreement became troublesome for Israel later.)
Usually. Joshua prayed and sought the counsel of the Lord before a battle; but in this instance of peace he asked not the counsel of the Lord. This peace deal was not God’s will, but he let himself be deceived and did not pray about it first. God would have forbidden it. Joshua “leaned on his own understanding,” and did not “seek first the kingdom of God.”
Many strategic decisions confront us daily, and we get into trouble when we plow ahead without giving the Lord a thought. Pray about it is wise advice. In fact, we pray daily, “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Life is better when we surrender our own will, die to self, and pray that we will know and want to do the will of God. First, we believe and confess “Jesus is Lord,” then, we pray, ask his counsel, and determine to do His will, not mine. This is not so easy, and so we pray the Lord’s Prayer every day. Decision-making becomes easier, and blessed, when we practice (and it takes practice) asking counsel at the mouth of the Lord.