Have you ever made a decision that seemed right in the moment—logical, reasonable, even wise—only to later realize it was a huge mistake? Maybe it was a financial decision, a relationship, or even a simple choice that led to unintended consequences. Now imagine making that mistake, not just for yourself, but for an entire nation.

That’s exactly what happened to Israel in Joshua 9. Up until this point, they had seen incredible victories—Jericho fell, Ai was finally conquered, and God's promises were unfolding before their eyes. But then, for the first time in the biblical record, something was missing. Something critical. They did not inquire of the Lord.

And that one decision changed everything.

In our last lesson, we explored how faith and obedience are the path to life, the key to walking in step with the Spirit. But today, we take it one step further—inquiring of the Lord must be our practice if we want to stay aligned with His will.

Israel’s failure to seek God’s counsel resulted in a deceptive treaty, one that bound them to a people God had commanded them to remove. Their mistake serves as a warning but also an invitation—to learn from their error and develop a lifestyle of seeking God in all things.

So today, we ask:

Why is inquiring of the Lord so essential?

What happens when we don’t seek His guidance?

How does God lead us today through His Word and His Spirit?

Let’s dive into the text and discover what it means to truly walk in step with God by making it a habit to ask first, act later.