Successes out of Failures

Scripture: The Gibeonites were not Israelites but rather a remnant of the Amorites. The Israelites had taken an oath concerning them, but Saul had tried to kill them in his zeal for the Israelites and Judah. So David summoned the Gibeonites and spoke to them. He asked the Gibeonites, “What should I do for you? How can I make atonement so that you will bring a blessing on the Lord’s inheritance?” 2 Samuel 21:2-3

Observation: Israel is being punished due to a sin committed by Saul in attempting to kill the Gibeonites. This is interesting because ... Joshua was instructed to destroy the Gibeonites, but through an act of deceit instead made a treaty of them. Saul attempted to reverse that treaty, and all Israel is punished years later. David must then seek them out and attempt to resolve this act, in a way to bring blessing back to Israel.

In other words, Joshua was to drive the Gibeonites out of the land. His failure to do so was a kind of sin. However, once he made a treaty with them, it was a sin to violate that agreement. This is an example of God using our mistakes to work out his will. It was a mistake for Joshua to fall for the trick the Gibeonites played on him. That said, with the treaty in place, it was God's will to use that treaty to manage the obedience of Saul. When Saul made the mistake of attempting to wipe out the Gibeonites, God used that mistake to test the discernment of David in coming to him for a resolution to the famine.

Application: God acts within our failures. He can take my mistakes, and turn them into opportunities for myself or others. I have made many, many mistakes, and there are others out there who have had opportunities to grow out of my failure to obey.

That said, failure for the sake of others isn't the point. The point is, David obeyed when God used this series of mistakes to test him. As I have learned from my mistakes, am I ready to properly respond and obey? Could I pass a test of faith and trust? Do I take the time to pray and discern when faced with challenges? I would like to answer 'yes' to those first two questions, but the problem is that the answer to the third question is 'no'. I don't pray enough, thus I cannot hear God's leading in most situations.

Prayer: Lord, I ask only that you guide me today. May I have just enough wisdom to know that I don't have enough wisdom, and that I need to turn to you. Amen.