Judges 18:7-10 – Speaking Presumptuously
After receiving false assurance from Micah’s priest, the five Danite spies set out northward from the country of Ephraim in order to find a land in which their tribe can dwell. Travelling in that direction, they would have found that the lands were occupied by the Israelite tribes of Manasseh, Asher, Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali. Therefore, there is no place available to them until they come to the northern extremity of the land of Canaan. There they find the city of Laish (called “Leshem” in Joshua 19:47). The people of Laish are a peaceful people who have no dealings with anyone else – meaning they have no friends or allies to aid them if they are attacked. Their land is bountiful, just the sort of place for which the spies are looking.
The five men return to the land of Dan and tell their fellow Danites about this rich and fertile valley they have found. They describe the peaceful inhabitants as “unsuspecting,” and advise their tribesmen to go and take this land. Their advice is utterly sinful. First, it ignores the LORD’s commandments that the tribes are to capture the lands allotted to them (and this land was not allotted to Dan). Second, it encourages the strong to prey upon the weak – something completely inconsistent with God’s revealed will. Finally (and arguably worst of all) the spies speak falsely of God, saying of Laish, “God has given it into your hand.” Thus, they presumptuously speak for the LORD.
We must take great care never to speak presumptuously for the LORD. We can only know God’s will from His revealed Word. If we cannot determine something is His will from the clear statements of Scripture or from reasonable application of it, we must not claim to know His will.
Questions
- How do we know the Danite spies spoke presumptuously?
- How can we avoid the same sin?
Prayer Points
- Ask God to keep us from the sin of speaking presumptuously for Him.
- Use prayer points from your congregation.
- Pray for family matters.