I am Micah of Ephraim. I am from a very religious family and we try very hard, but things haven’t worked out. Let me explain and see if you don’t agree. I made a mistake and confessed it. I had taken 1100 shekels from my mother but when I heard her curse – she almost never cursed – I realized that it was wrong and gave it back.

Mom forgave me and blessed me. Then she consecrated the money to the LORD. If that isn’t religious, I don’t know what is! She gave 200 shekels to a silversmith for a carved image and a cast idol. When they were finished, she gave them to me.

Now I must tell you that I have a personal shrine so you can see that I am religious, too. I put the items from my mother in it and added an ephod and installed one of my sons as priest. It seemed like the right thing to do.

But when a Levite from Bethlehem came looking for a home, I remembered that priests were supposed to be from that tribe. The Levite agreed to be my priest and I was sure this would please the LORD.

I got a little glimpse into his qualifications sometime later and it probably should have alarmed me. A delegation of Danites came investigating potential places for the tribe to settle. They had been unable to conquer the region assigned them by Joshua. They asked my priest a question and I heard the whole conversation.

"Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful." The priest answered them, "Go in peace. Your journey has the LORD’s approval." I noticed that he answered without hesitation and did nothing that indicated he was inquiring of the LORD. I probably should have said something.

Next the Danites came back with an entire army and stopped first to offer my priest a job. He immediately accepted the offer, gathered up everything in my shrine and left. At that point I had a vague recollection that priests were supposed to be descendants of Aaron. But while I was thinking about it, some of my neighbors organized themselves into a posse and pursued the army. When we caught up with them, they basically said, “Back off or it could be hazardous to your health.”

The Danites went on to conquer Laish, a peaceful unsuspecting city, and renamed it Dan. Then they dumped my priest and installed Jonathan and his sons, who were descendants of Moses. Moses, of course, was Aaron’s brother. So, was that close enough to being Aaron’s sons? But I had started to wonder. Anyway, their new priest continued to use my idols and ephod. From somewhere deep in my memory I recalled once hearing a reading of the Law, “Thou shalt have no other gods before me.”

I was beginning to have doubts about the whole affair. Maybe my religion was not genuine, and the outcome ought to teach me a lesson. Further, my ignorance of the Law had affected more than just my family. Perhaps it really is important to pay close attention to complete obedience to everything the LORD commanded through Moses.

I remember that the house of God is in Shiloh. Actually, we might have gone there when I was very young. I think I need to go there to find out about the Law and what the LORD requires.

Judges 17, 18

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Discussion Questions

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