“And he said unto them, Thus and thus dealeth Micah with me, and hath hired me, and I am his priest. And they said unto him, Ask counsel, we pray thee, of God, that we may know whether our way which we go shall be prosperous” (Judges 18:4,5).
TEXT — Judges 18:1-6
Message
People who are easily led by their whims and caprices, invariably run the grave risk of plodding eventually the damning and perilous path. Only those who stay close to God and choose to be wholly led by Him are assured of a safe haven ultimately.
This passage shares the story of the tribe of Dan, who ended up compromising their faith and values. They failed to conquer the territory meant for them and instead looked for a new place to settle. Rather than fighting for their rightful land in Canaan, they opted for an easier path. Unfortunately, the area they chose became a breeding ground for spiritual compromise.
The Danites came across Micah, who had created a shrine and appointed his own priest. Micah’s idolatrous practices became a corrupting influence, pulling the Danites further away from God’s truth. They were attracted to Micah’s ephod and idols, thinking these would help them secure God’s presence and blessings. They even sought advice from a priest who was clearly a backslider, and admitted he was only in it for the pay. Eventually, they adopted Micah’s idols and priest, thus drifting away from the true God. They compromised their values and principles, mixing their faith with the surrounding culture. This blending of beliefs would ultimately lead to their downfall.
The story of the Danites cautions believers about the risks of drifting spiritually. We risk losing our spiritual direction when we compromise our faith and values. The previous chapter highlights individuals among the Danites who had backslidden, eventually resulting in the entire tribe straying from God.
The text warns us about the perils of spiritual complacency, and underscores the importance of staying true to God’s word. Sin can spread among believers if left unchecked. We must thus be vigilant and address it before it festers. It also serves as a reminder to resist the urge to mix our faith with the latest religious trends. We need to avoid compromise and corruption. As believers, we should prioritise our faith, remain grounded in God’s word, and resist the pull of idolatrous ideologies.
Thought for the day
A drifting faith often results in a detrimental fate
Listed among “500 most powerful people on the planet” by the Foreign Policy magazine in 2013, Pastor (Dr.) William F. Kumuyi is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Christian Life Ministry (DCLM) headquartered in Lagos, Nigeria. DCLM started in 1973 as a 15-member Bible study group right in Kumuyi’s apartment at University of Lagos where he was a lecturer. His revolutionary Bible teaching on personal holiness and commitment to evangelism soon gained so much traction and resulted in a widespread revival.
