And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? and what is this that ye say unto me, What aileth thee(Judg. 18:24)?
When Joshua cast lots to divide the Promised Land between God’s people (Josh. 18:10), considerable territory was given to the tribe of Dan. And the seventh lot came out for the tribe of the children of Dan according to their families. And the coast of their inheritance was Zorah, and Eshtaol, and Ir-shemesh, And Shaalabbin, and Ajalon, and Jethlah, And Elon, and Thimnathah, and Ekron, And Eltekeh, and Gibbethon, and Baalath, And Jehud, and Bene-berak, and Gath-rimmon, And Me-jarkon, and Rakkon, with the border before Japho (Josh. 19:40-46). This should have left them well-situated, but in defiance of God’s will, they neglected to drive out the original pagan inhabitants. As a result, the Lord withdrew His support, and the Amorites forced the children of Dan into the mountain: for they would not suffer them to come down to the valley (Judg. 1:34).
Having failed to occupy the land allotted to them, they searched for a land that would be easier to commandeer (18:1). They did not do this at the behest of God, nor did they pray for guidance or clarification of His will. Instead, driven solely by the desires of their hearts, they left the territory given to them by God and, without warning, attacked and utterly destroyed Laish, a peaceful city that God had not designated for occupation or destruction (18:27).
The aggression of the Danites was not confined to attacking those they considered their enemies. On the march to Laish, the fighting men of Dan temporarily turned from their journey so that they could plunder the household of Micah, a fellow Israelite. The actions of the tribe of Dan were deeply disturbing, but it is when we read the account of their victim’s complaint that we realize just how far Israel had fallen as a whole.
Micah was a ‘good man’ who believed in his heart that he was a follower of God. To that end, he had hired a nomadic Levite to serve as his personal priest, and he had in his possession multiple religious relics made of pure gold, the most precious amongst them being a household idol (representing God) to which he addressed his prayers and worship (17:4-5). When these items were taken, Micah was beside himself with fear and grief. And he said, Ye have taken away my gods which I made, and the priest, and ye are gone away: and what have I more? Micah was sincere in his belief, but his sincerity did not make him any less wrong. His idols and the self-appointed priest in whom he had placed his faith were worthless; they in no way represented the Almighty God. Although he had been robbed, he had been left with just as much as he had in the first place – absolutely nothing.
God cannot be made, He cannot be possessed, and He cannot be taken away by the actions of others. It is only through our own actions or inactions that we can separate ourselves from His presence. Micah and the raiding men of Dan were opposites in many ways, but they both were well and truly lost. By willfully turning away from the Word and seeking their own path, they had lost sight of the only one that would lead them to God.
Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it(Matt. 7:14).
Thought for Today: Often, when we feud amongst ourselves and wrong one another, we assume that God is with one side or the other. However, it is more likely that each side is equally lost.
Christ Revealed: In those days there was no King in Israel (Judg. 18:1). Christ was the rejected King of Israel. Pilate saith unto them, Shall I crucify your King? The chief priests answered, We have no king but Caesar (John 19:15).
Word Studies: 18:2 coasts = territory; 18:9 still = when are you still here; 18:15 saluted = greeted; 18:19 lay thine hand upon thy mouth = stop complaining or suffer the consequences; 18:21 carriage = goods.
Pray For Staff:Jennifer Palafox • Government Official: Rep. Ted Lieu (CA), Sen. Catherine Cortez Masto (NV)Rep.Jasmine Crockett (TX) • Country: Vanuatu (266,937) South Pacific O, cean • Major Languages: More than 100 local languages, Bislama • Religious Freedom • 70% Protestant; 12.4% Roman Catholic; 3.7% Customary Beliefs; 12.6% Other; 1.1% None; 0.2% Unspecified • Prayer Suggestion: Pray that you would be sanctified through the truth of the Word of God (John 17:17).
Optional Reading:John 20