RPG Adults
THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (III)
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 28
Judges 18:11-26
John 2:12-17
“Love not the world, neither
the things that are in the world…”
THE MEN WHO FAILED GOD (III)
With the report of the spies, a report that was fuelled by the false hope given by Micah’s priest and presented by a false assurance of spies who saw as man sees and not as God sees, six hundred Danite warriors responded to the challenge and set forth out of their allotted inheritance to seek out this new “land of promise.” Guided by the five spies, they made their way North and stopped by the house of Micah in Mount Ephraim.
“…Do ye know that there is in these houses an ephod, and teraphim, and a graven image, and a molten image? now therefore consider what ye have to do” (Judg 18:14). This invitation was for careful consideration and decision: “consider what ye have to do.” But alas, they made the wrong choice and decision. They considered that the prosperity of the spies was somehow by virtue of the Levite’s blessing and intervention. In this, they considered wrongly. They thought that their prosperity would depend on the same priest and idols. In this, they thought wrongly. They then decided to raid Micah’s temple and entice his priest.
“…is it better for thee to be a priest unto the house of one man, or that thou be a priest unto a tribe and a family in Israel?” (Judg 18:19). The picture of a worldly ministry, as Paul pointed out to the Philippians, consists of men who “seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ’s” (Phil 2:21). He then went on to warn against such, pointing out that their “end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things” (Phil 3:19). Micah’s Levite, seeing better prospects and more respect, had a change of heart and mind. Interestingly, he failed to be a father to Micah and his house, and as the tribe of Dan left, “went in the midst of the people.” How true the counsel of Scripture given by Paul concerning bishops is: “If a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?” (1 Tim 3:5). One cannot take up the role of leading the flock to God whose eyes are focused on his temporal good and worldly progress.
THOUGHT: Successful ministry bases its focus on God and His Word.
PRAYER: (Use Psalm 123:1-2.)