Judges 18:27-31 - Then they took what Micah had made, and his
priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down
their city. There was no
one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and
had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there. They named it Dan after their
forefather Dan, who was born to Israel--though the city used to be called
Laish. There the Danites
set up for themselves the idols, and Jonathan son of Gershom,
the son of Moses, and his sons were priests for the tribe of Dan
until the time of the captivity of the land. They continued to use the idols Micah had
made, all the time the house of God was in
Shiloh.
Israel still had no king…no judge…no leader…so instead of
conquering the land God had given the tribe…they set out to find an easier
place to live. Spies were sent….and the
5 of them happened by Micah’s shrine and spent the night on their way to check
out the hill country of Laish. The spies
found a peaceful people…which they could destroy easily with their
resources. They ended up taking the land…then
stole Micah’s idols …and Micah’s priest…to set up their own temple in the new
home they called Dan.
The minds of men…when left to their lustful roots…can
justify just about any action as godly. It is so sad to me that a tribe
justified so easily …killing so many peaceful people…whom it does not mention
at all were guilty of the idol worship God saw fit to destroy in the other
parts of Canaan. They had become so self-consumed that they also justified
stealing all that Micah had built around him. It is a living example of why
these great words of Matthew 6:19 word recorded…. "Do not store up for yourselves
treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in
and steal.” What Micah built around him …was
taken in moments…leaving him with nothing.
This story reminds me how important it is to place more
importance on the treasure I store in my heart…instead of the shoes …jewelry…furniture…or
other material wealth that can be destroyed in the blink of an eye. Micah had
no insurance…and sure couldn’t go purchase any in those days…so all he had…because
he had built it for himself…was taken. I
really need to make sure that I have asked God about everything I have around
me…and be sure that the resources I have are being used to do his work. It is our lustful human nature to want to
collect nice things around us…instead of share all we have with others.
I have this one problem that might be a little out of
control. I love yarn…and just can’t seem
to stop buying it. I am sure that I don’t
stop and ask God every time I go to Big Lots and buy 6 or 7 new skeins of yarn.
And I sure don’t think about where I am going to store it...because 3 drawers I
reserved for yarn are overflowing into the floor. And I sure don’t have a plan
in mind when I buy it…it just looks pretty…and I think...I can make something
out of it. One of my sisters has the same shopping disease…but her stash was
wiped out recently…when her basement storage room was flooded. Almost all she
had collected over the years …skeins and skeins…..was destroyed in moments….a
present day reminder to me to be more careful.
A simple story that God can use to remind us all to be careful what we
collect on Earth.
Oh father...help me to let go of the need to have ‘things’
around me. Help me to fill my heart and
soul with your words from the bible….and use the resources you have blessed me
with to help others. Put purpose in all my
collections of ‘things’ and remove from my life anything that threatens to become
an idol. Help me to remember to ask you
each and every time I think I need something new…to make sure is something you
can use in my life to bless others…or help me grow in understanding of your
deep love for me. Amen.
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