I’ve made altogether too many “Hivite” decisions in my life. You know? You make a list of pros and cons, talk it over with your spouse, consider all the options and then make a decision. That seems to be the way Joshua and the Israelites decided to enter into a covenant with the Hivites.
They came with worn out clothes, tattered saddlebags and water bags and moldy bread, claiming to be residents of a distant land. Joshua asked them some questions looked at the evidence and then in Joshua 9:14 it says, “So the Israelites examined their food, but they did not consult the Lord.”
After exhausting all my own reasoning and understanding, I will sometimes resort to prayer. But, I believe the best thing to do is to begin with prayer, ie, when facing decisions, “consult the Lord” first, then examine the evidence, make a list of the pros and cons, discuss it with others, commit it to the Lord, and then make your decision in faith.