Judges 17 – 21
We read about Micah who admits to stealing money from his mother. Initially verse 17:2 seems like a great example in grace:
Micah (to his mother): 2 Do you remember those 1,100 pieces of silver that were stolen from you? I heard you curse the person who took them. Well, I have them. I took them, and now I want to return them to you.
Micah’s Mother: May my son be blessed by the Eternal!
She forgives him and then makes an idol. What is going on here? Why are these people ignoring God, while quazi-following God? I think verse 17:8 really give us insight to what is happening:
In those days of the judges, there was no king in Israel, and everyone did what seemed right in his own eyes.
People so often can justify their version of truth Biblically. We often distort the Bible to fit what we want to hear or do, as with Micah’s mother. Having a household god seems right and they often can worship it. They may believe that their worship is going to God, but rather misses the mark.
I am rambling, but as you read to the end of Judges the key to the end is just this. People are doing what they think is right and not want God wants. We are doing this today with the “Prosperity Gospel” where preachers are selecting verses that work for their theology and rejecting the rest of the Gospel. Think about it, where do the disciples live lavishly and are blessed beyond their dreams?
Interestingly near the end the nation of Israel almost wipes one of their tribes. I still am trying to get this story, but it’s interesting how this tribe drifts from the one true God and needs correction. My question today is do Jews today relate themselves back to one of Jacob’s sons or is the “tribal” system gone completely?