"Before she got all gussied up, she looked as plain as a turnip," crowed the old woman. She didn't have much of an opinion of our locally-grown celebrity.

Her comments reminded me of Mark Twain's famous line, "Cauliflower is nothing but cabbage with a college education."

Who are we really? What do people hide behind their calm smiles, blooming bank accounts, or "poor me" demeanours? Should we be cautious?

Joshua 9:3-6 – But when the people of Gibeon heard what Joshua had done to Jericho and Ai, they worked cunningly, and went pretending to be ambassadors and took [provisions and] old sacks on their donkeys and wineskins, old, torn, and mended, and old and patched shoes on their feet and wearing old garments; and all their supply of food was dry and moldy. And they went to Joshua in the camp at Gilgal and said to him and the men of Israel, We have come from a far country; so now, make a covenant with us. (AMP)

Unfortunately, the Israelites depended on their own wisdom.

Joshua 9:14-15a – So the [Israelite] men partook of their food and did not consult the Lord. Joshua made peace with them, covenanting with them to let them live. (AMP)

They did this on a stranger's word and a mouldy lunch? What? Three days later, they found those visitors to be liars, but because they'd made a deal, they were stuck with it. It didn't turn out so well for the liars either. They spent the rest of their days as woodcutters and water carriers for the community.

Are you in the midst of some kind of deal now? Whether it is for a babysitter or a building contract, beware. First, consult the One Who knows all!

Prayer: Lord, let it not be said that we, Your people, are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Amen.

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About the author:

Brenda Wood <brenda.w@nextcom.ca>
Sandycove Acres, Innisfil, Ontario, Canada
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