Judges 18:1-6 – False Assurance
In Judges 1:34 we learned that the tribe of Dan had failed to capture all the land allotted to them. Their settlements were confined to the hill country, while the lowlands near the Mediterranean Sea remained in the hands of the peoples of the land. Now we find that some of the Danites have completely given up on the notion of obeying the LORD’s commandment to seize the land allotted to them. Instead, they send five spies to find another “inheritance.” Setting out from Zorah and Eshtaol, they head north through the hill country of Ephraim. While there, they stay the night at the home of Micah (whom we encountered in chapter 17). Hearing the voice of the Levite whom Micah has made his priest, they recognize by his accent that he is from somewhere else. When they inquire what brought him there, they learn he is serving as Micah’s priest, upon which they ask him to inquire of God whether their mission will succeed. The false priest assures them their journey is “under the eye of the LORD,” which is a figure of speech meaning God is blessing their undertaking.
A benediction from a false priest serving idols should give the Danites no confidence at all. However, he has told them what they want to hear, so they are ready to believe it. If the Danites were really interested in doing what God blessed, they would have repented of their sins, trusted only in the LORD and obeyed His commandment to capture the land He had given them.
Like these Danites, many people want God’s blessing, but do not want to know what God really thinks. We must avoid the folly of the tribe of Dan and seek to obey God’s revealed will, wisely applying what He has told us in His Word. Only then can we be assured of the LORD’s blessing on our undertakings.
Questions
- Why do the Danites send these five spies to find an “inheritance”?
- What does the Levite tell them when they ask him to inquire of God?
- How do we know this is a false assurance?
Prayer Points
- Pray for the wisdom to apply God’s revealed will to our lives.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.