Sin Spreads

"The sons of Dan set up for themselves the graven image; and Jonathan, the son of Gershom, the son of Manasseh, he and his sons were priests to the tribe of the Danites until the day of the captivity of the land. So they set up for themselves Micah’s graven image which he had made, all the time that the house of God was at Shiloh." -Judges 18.30-31

One man's willingness to compromise leads many astray. The sons of Dan take possession of the land they found, and once they are settled they set up the idols they took from Micah. To further deviate from the truth, now there are members of the tribe of Dan serving as priests, the role that the Levites were designated for. What stated out as a single Levite serving as a families priest of idol worship has turned into an entire tribe being absorbed by idol worship and setting up their own priesthood.

The worst part of all of this is that the house of God is in Shiloh, a place not far from where all of these events started. Micah's house was in the hill country of Ephraim, so is Shiloh. Maybe that is where the Levite was originally headed but became sidetracked by Micah's offer. The of Dan would have been near Shiloh as they searched for a place to settle and could have turned there to seek the blessing of God, but instead they find the Levite at Micah's house and seek it from him. As the tribe moves to war they also would have been near Shiloh, and yet they turn aside to steal idols, not seek God.

The sin of one man has led to the sin of an entire tribe. This sin does not last a generation, or until the Levites' death, but it lasts until 722 BC when Assyria captures the northern tribes of Israel. This goes on for hundreds of years. One man's choice to make an idol and employ a Levite brings an entire tribe to idol worship. One man's choice to compromise and serve as the priest for idol worship causes countless families to be led astray and serve an idol.

Men, sin spreads. One decision, one compromise, can have far reaching effects. We have the choice of God or not God, one brings life and the other brings destruction. Choosing to not serve God can have lasting effects that cause more suffering than you could have ever thought possible. But choosing God will bring life that reaches farther than the suffering.

We each face a choice, go to Shiloh or the house of Micah. Seek the truth or indulge in a lie. We have the responsibility to lead our families, and we will lead them closer to God, or away from Him. We can lead them to Shiloh, the place where true worship of God took place, or to Micah's house were idol worship happens. Where will you go?

Let us be men who lead to God. Let us refuse to compromise and let us do what we can to keep sin from spreading.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor