A Failure To Pray (Joshua 9.14)

So the leaders partook of their provisions, and did not ask direction from the LORD…

Background

This passage mentions prayer, but there is no prayer. Unlike the passages in 1.17 and 7.20–21, where it was not clear if there was a prayer or not, here the writer tells us that the leaders did not pray. 

In the scene prior, Joshua called the people together to hold a solemn ceremony. An altar was built, which followed God’s specific directions given to Moses by God and then by Moses to Joshua. When finished, they offered sacrifices upon the altar, again following God’s instructions. Despite past failings of Israel and the lack of spiritual leadership, the Israelites are back on track with their faith and practice. Alas, once again, it does not last.

A band of weary travelers appears in the region. Their clothes are old and worn; their food is stale. They tell Joshua that they have come from far away and wished to settle in the land, at least for a while. They had heard rumors of the Israelites victories—they stress that they are not there to cause problems. They propose a covenant and a meal to be shared in honor of that promise. Joshua and the elders agree to the covenant. They will live in peace with these travelers. The scene closes with this ominous sentence: they “did not ask direction from the LORD.”

A reader familiar with the book of Joshua might respond with a weary “Oh, no.” A reader familiar with cultures of the ancient near east will know that it was normal for any community to inquire of their gods during negotiations. One group did not make a covenant with another group without seeking a divine word. Here, the chosen people of God do not even bother to ask advice of Him. If they had, they would have discovered that these travelers were not as they appeared. They were not from far away. They were local inhabitants who had dressed like travelers to deceive the Israelites so that they could keep their land and their lives.

When the Israelites discovered the deception, they were angry. Joshua told them that there was nothing he could do, because, “We have sworn to them by the LORD, the God of Israel, and now we must not touch them” (v19).

The leaders had sworn the oath in the name of God, without asking Him first. (Note that the Israelites have the integrity to keep this covenant, but cannot seem to keep God’s covenants.)

The short-term result was, perhaps, negligible. Later, there would be problems with foreign influence in faith and practice and worship other gods. God intended the land to be free of such influences. He gave the land to the Israelites so they could live in peace and in concert with God. Because the leaders did not inquire of God, the land still had people worshipping other gods and living by other values. It would cost the Israelites in their spiritual life and more.

Meaning

What can we learn about a passage where people should pray, but do not? There have likely been times in our lives where we should have prayed but did not. It is (hopefully) rare that we intentionally do not pray. Our reasons for not offering prayer might be that we were too rushed or distracted. We might know that it is a good idea to pray before a major decision or before any important event. God’s followers should inquire of God. God’s followers make Him a part of their decision-making. Whether He answers or not is irrelevant—we are His children and He is our parent—we talk to him. There may be no answer, and perhaps He is telling us, “do what you prefer, it doesn’t matter.” Either way, it is the communication that is important between parent and child, between the Creator and the created.

When we neglect to pray, it might not be at a low point in our spiritual lives. It may just be that we are finite humans who are sometimes weak and inconsistent. Joshua and his people held a sacrificial service, then immediately ignored God. Likewise, we may be attending worship services, praying, and reading scripture. We may look as if we are following God, and then it appears we forgot. We are weak and easily distracted. It is the reason we need God and the reason why we need constant reminders of who we are, who we follow, and how we must live our lives.

Application

This passage is a reminder that we should always be alert times for times when we can pray. We do not want to be like Joshua and the leaders of Israel, who worship at one moment and go off on their own as if it never happened. Our task is to teach ourselves, when we are busy and distracted, to stop—even for just a moment—and inquire of God. This takes practice; it takes a community of believers holding each other accountable. It may also require some humility and reflection of why we neglect prayer in some circumstances, and to think of ways in which we can avoid it in the future. And, of course, we can pray about our failure of prayer! 

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