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

The Desire for Prestige

"When these went into Micah’s house and took the graven image, the ephod and household idols and the molten image, the priest said to them, 'What are you doing?' They said to him, 'Be silent, put your hand over your mouth and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be a priest to the house of one man, or to be priest to a tribe and a family in Israel?' The priest’s heart was glad, and he took the ephod and household idols and the graven image and went among the people." -Judges 18.18-20

The Danites are seeking an inheritance of land and so they send five men out to find a place. These men come to the house of Micah and enquirer of the Levite serving as his priest if God is with them, when he gives them a blessing they move on. After finding a place that will suit the needs of the tribe they return and prepare the men of war for battle. As they march to take the piece of ground that they have decided on they stop at the house of Micah and take the idols he has made. When the Levite priest tries to stop them they offer him the position of priest of their entire tribe. His heart is glad because this means a name for himself, and so he takes the objects of worship Micah has made and goes with the Danites.

The Levite is simply seeking his own prestige and advancement. He agrees to serve as Micah's priest for the payment, and now he takes the position offered to him by the Danites because it's a nice promotion. He is seeking to advance himself, not God, and his desire for prestige causes a tribe to sin by idolatry.

Men, do you desire to advance yourself? Are you willing to do whatever you have to in order to get that next promotion? Are you seeking to build a name and reputation for yourself? What is the cost? What does your career advancement mean to your family? What does it mean to your spiritual life? What does it mean to your health?

There is nothing wrong with doing well in your career. There is nothing wrong with working hard and advancing because of hard, honest work. But when the desire for the promotion becomes what you live for, and it takes away from the things that are really important, you have missed the point. You may be making sacrifices that you can't afford to make, and the end result is not worth what it will cost you to get there.

The Levite had the responsibility to lead the people to God, but for comfortable compensation he agrees to serve as a families personal priest. That first compromise makes the next one that much easier. Since he is already living for himself, the opportunity to advance himself by becoming the priest of an idol for an entire tribe is an amazing opportunity and he jumps at it.

The desire for personal prestige will cost us what we can't afford to lose, but so many pay it without any hesitation.

Let us never live for our own advancement. Let us work hard, seeking to do our best and advance as we are able, but may we never compromise and sacrifice what we cannot afford to lose.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor