While the six hundred men of the Danites, armed with their weapons of war, stood by the entrance of the gate, the five men who had gone to spy out the land proceeded to enter and take the idol of cast metal, the ephod, and the teraphim. The priest was standing by the entrance of the gate with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war. When the men went into Micah's house and took the idol of cast metal, the ephod, and the teraphim, the priest said to them, "What are you doing?" They said to him, "Keep quiet! Put your hand over your mouth, and come with us, and be to us a father and a priest. Is it better for you to be priest to the house of one person , or to be priest to a tribe and clan in Israel?"Judges 18: 16-19 NRSV
The question the Danites give to the Levite is really a trick question: there is no right answer! What kind of Levitical priest uses an idol? Why was he a household priest in the beginning? Does he have any choice but to go with the six hundred men armed with weapons of war? This is not the correct treatment of priests, tribes or God.
We, as well as the priest, can find ourselves in life situations in which there seems to be no good way out. Perhaps we, like the priest, have made some poor choices. Perhaps we, like the priest, have to make decisions under pressure or threat. How, then, do we disentangle ourselves?
Often we cannot do it without God's help. When we find ourselves in such a deep, dark hole, it may be only up to God to get us out.
But first we have to admit to God where we are and place ourselves in God's hands, giving God ultimate control.
God, there may be at least one person reading this prayer today who needs to know that you are there and all they have to do is relinquish total control to You. In Jesus' saving grace we pray. Amen.
Question of the day: Have you let go yet?
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
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