Tribe of Dan worships idols

Judges Chapter 18

Israel had no king at this time and the tribe of Dan had no place to settle because they had not driven out the people who lived in the land assigned to them. They sent warriors to scout out land and they men came to Micah's home. The noticed the young Levite priest and asked about his presence there. He told them of his arrangement with Micah as his personal priest. The men asked the Levite to pray to God to have a successful journey and he told them to go in peace.

The five warriors went to Laish where the people led carefree lives and were wealthy because their soil was fertile, but they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby. The warriors from Dan returned and reported on what they had seen and recommended an attack on the peaceful people. So six hundred warriors set out and came to the house of Micah. There they confiscated the carved image, ephod and household idols from Micah's shrine. When the Levite priest saw what they were doing, they asked him to come along and be priest for an entire tribe of Israel and he agreed.

Soon Micah and his neighbors chased after the warriors from Dan. Micah demanded his gods and priest back, but when they refused, he had no choice but to return home because there were too many warriors to fight.

In Laish, the men of Dan killed all the people and burned the town. Then they rebuilt it and lived there and called the town Dan. They set up the carved image and appointed Jonathan, son of Gershom (a descendant of Moses), to be their priest. This family continued as priests for the tribe until the Exile. So Micah's carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle remained at Shiloh.

BIBLE NOTES SHOW: The Danites failed to trust God in their effort to conquer territory and were thrust out of their own territory. Rather than fight, they looked elsewhere for new land. They ran across a disobedient priest in the household of Micah and throughout this part of the incident, no one worshipped God. Micah's idols were taken, leaving him with no spiritual connection, or so he thought. His empty shell of a life lacked an investment in God.
Did the tribe of Dan have a right to kill the people of Laish? No, this city was not within the boundaries set for Dan. But the tribe had no regard for God's law. This shows how far from God they had wandered. God was not leading them any longer. The true worship of God should have been maintained through the Levitical priests scattered throughout the land and the influence of the Tabernacle in Shiloh.

How does this Chapter relate to us today? So many lessons in this chapter. In today's world many people invest all their energy in pursuit of idols like money, power and success. If we take these away, people are left with an empty shell, like Micah. Also, we tend to think that being successful means that God has blessed us, but that is not true. Success doesn't always meet God's approval, so don't let success be your measuring stick on whether or not you are pleasing God.

Yours in Christ,
Mary

Prayer Requests are needed for:
HEALTH: Gabe, Wanda, Janice Long’s parents, Arlene’s nephew David, Lori (who suffered a terrible accident)and her family. And Barb who went in for back surgery and had a heart attack and stroke. Update on Stella: Her parents now face difficult decisions based upon her non response to the lung treatments. They need your prayers so badly. Let’s all raise our voices to God to hear our prayers.
SPIRITUAL UPLIFTING: Gail, Mary
RESTORATION OF FAITH: Al, John
LOVE AND SUPPORT: Claire, Hunter
SUPPORT: Haiti, Chile, those who need jobs, those who are about to lose or have lost their homes. Pray too, for our country’s leaders and our military people who die each day for our freedom.