God Can Use Mistakes
Joshua 9:14 Just as in chapter 7, Joshua decides to do things on his own without consulting God first resulting in a big mistake. Despite the Israelites' error, God was able to us it for His plan. The same is true for Christians today.
10/31/20251 min read
14 Then the men of Israel took some of their provisions; but they did not ask counsel of the Lord. 15 So Joshua made peace with them and made a covenant with them to let them live; and the rulers of the congregation swore to them. Joshua 9:14-15 (NKJV)
Joshua once again makes a decision without seeking the Lord which turned out to be a big mistake. The Gibeonites, a group of people living nearby, came up with a plan to deceive Joshua and the Israelites. They dressed in worn-out clothes, took old provisions, and approached the Israelite camp pretending to be from a distant land, seeking a treaty of peace. Joshua and the leaders of Israel, unaware of the deception, agreed to make a treaty with the Gibeonites without seeking guidance from the Lord. They were swayed by the appearance and words of the Gibeonites, and a covenant of peace was made between them. When the Israelite people found out, they were not happy with their leaders and grumbled with them. God used Joshua's mistake and incorporated the Gibeonites into his community as woodcutters and water carriers.
Just as in the Old Testament, we all make mistakes, and just like the Israelites, God uses our mistakes for good. Romans 8:28 says, "And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." Our mistakes do not define us; instead, they can lead to profound lessons and transformations when we seek God's guidance and forgiveness. There are people who have struggled with addiction for many years. After hitting rock bottom, they surrender their lives to Christ and not only find sobriety, but also a new purpose in helping others with similar struggles. God can transform our darkest moments into powerful testimonies of his grace and redemption. God uses our failures to transform us, to open new doors of service, transform the lives of others, and to revel our sin and change our futures.
Let God use your mistakes for His greater purpose. Join a recovery group and share your testimony. Your story matters and you can use it to help someone else in their time of need or prevent them from making the same mistakes you did. We all make mistakes. We just need to let God use them.