I Got Jacked!

Sept. 29

Judges 18:1-27a

I Got Jacked!

“But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him…” (v.27a)

Any blessing or gain we have that comes from our own efforts and “taking matters into our own hands” will soon be lost. There is no permanence to these things… they are fleeting… they are prone to being “stolen”…taken by other evil people. We see this in the way that Jesus describes “reward” and “treasure” in the scriptures:

“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”- Matt. 6:19-21

“Beware of practicing your righteousness before other people in order to be seen by them, for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven…But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, so that your giving may be in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.” - Matt. 6:1,3-4 (Note how Jesus is seeking to maximize your reward)

Likewise we see this in Paul’s writings as well when he speaks of “inheritance”:

“And now I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified. I coveted no one's silver or gold or apparel.” - Acts 20:32-33

In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will… (you) were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.” - Eph 1:11,13b-14

And finally in Peter’s writings as well:

“According to his (God’s) great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…” - 1 Peter 1:3-4

The point is this, that the blessing, purpose, meaning, direction, joy and fullness that comes from the Lord is the only “reward”, “treasure” or “inheritance” that is everlasting… that will endure. Micah had built a shrine and a system where he sought purpose, direction, and blessing through his own means… and in the end it was stolen from him! He lost it all. It did not last. The irony is that it was stolen by fellow Israelites who had problems of their own. The tribe of Dan HAD been given land - but somehow they had lost it to the Philistines. Therefore, they were forced to strike out seeking a new place to live. Instead of staying where God had instructed them… where God had placed them they thought they would go someplace else and make a name for themselves there. It seemed a whole lot easier than battling the Philistines!

When the 6 scouts from the tribe of Dan arrive at Micah’s house - before they rob him later - they ask the priest who they recognized to affirm God’s blessing on / “rubber stamp” their quest to TAKE LAND from peaceful and “unassuming” people. (cf. 18:5,27) The priest with no real authority claims, ““Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD.” (v.5) This is another example of “confirmation bias” and the way that we tend to “hear what we want to hear.” When these men come back, they rob Micah of all his things and coerce the Levite to come with them! What a silly thing to take “gods” with you in an effort to have them protect you / make you prosper… and they are not even powerful enough to stop themselves from being stolen! (v.14) This shows us the character of the tribe of Dan. Although given a place and mission by God, they chose to abandon that place in the face of adversity (opposition by the Philistines) and instead try to leave and go someplace else. They long for the affirmation / a sense of God / gods being with them so they rob and steal to provide themselves with a false sense of what they are doing being right. How will you respond to loss in life? Are you willing to “dwell” where God has placed you? Are you trying to run away from the work the Lord has for you instead of trusting that he is with you and will grant you victory if you trust in him and obey what he has for you? In the blink of an eye, Micah’s work and resources are taken. (v.18,21)

The work of the Lord is lasting, the work of our flesh is fleeting. The riches we attempt to acquire for ourselves will fade, rot, break, or be stolen. The provision of the Lord and the blessings HE gives us will never disappoint… they will not fade or break or be stolen… and if they DO - there is always “more where they came from”! “The earth is the Lord’s and EVERYTHING in it!” Where is our treasure? Where is your hope? What are you running from? Who are you “robbing”? Do you have ears to hear the Lord speak to you? Or do you only have ears to hear what you want to hear? Are you consulting the one TRUE GOD? Or are you consulting a crooked priest … who in the end is going to sell you out in a heartbeat? Love you guys! - JDP