Decisions, decisions, decisions. It’s been said that one of the major reasons for our existence is to learn how to make good decisions. One successful CEO was being interviewed for a magazine outlining his career. He was asked for his secrets to success. He said one of them was making good decisions. He was then asked, “How do you make good decisions?” To which his reply was, “By making bad decisions.”
He learned by experience, mistakes, setbacks, and those of others, applying lessons learned to future decisions. Proverbs 3:5-6 says “Trust in the Lord with all thy heart, and lean not to thine own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy path.” It’s been said that this is a major key in making good decisions.
Let’s look at the story of Rahab in the Old Testament of the Bible.
Joshua sent spies into Jericho to scout the land. The spies visited Rahab the harlot. They were spotted and were being pursued. Rahab garnered a promise from the spies in return for her and her family’s safety. The spies countered with a counter-proposal. Note the specifics and details in these verbal contracts.
12 (Rahab:) Now therefore, I pray you, swear unto me by the Lord, since I have shewed you kindness, that ye will also shew kindness unto my father’s house, and give me a true token:
13 And that ye will save alive my father, and my mother, and my brethren, and my sisters, and all that they have, and deliver our lives from death.
18 (The spies:) Behold, when we come into the land, thou shalt bind this line of scarlet thread in the window which thou didst let us down by: and thou shalt bring thy father, and thy mother, and thy brethren, and all thy father’s household, home unto thee.
19 And it shall be, that whosoever shall go out of the doors of thy house into the street, his blood shall be upon his head, and we will be guiltless: and whosoever shall be with thee in the house, his blood shall be on our head, if any hand be upon him.
20 And if thou utter this our business, then we will be quit of thine oath which thou hast made us to swear.
- Joshua Chapter 2, KJV
This was likely just one of many decisions Rahab made that day. This decision, however, had major implications; not only for the preservation of her house, life, and lives of her family and future generations, but this choice also sealed her a very special place in history.
Not only is she mentioned in the story of Jericho, but by her courageous actions and promise, secured her place in the physical bloodline of Jesus Christ. (See the genealogy written in Matthew Chapter 3.)
Though your choices may seem inconsequential, they aren’t – they set the stage for future possibilities. It’s prudent to apply the counsel of Proverbs 3:5-6:
Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths. Happy decision-making!