Day 92, Chronological Bible Study Timeline. Map. Go to today’s Bible reading (use your browser arrow to return): Judges 17–21; 1Chronicles 6:4b-15
Note: April 1, we started the book of Judges, reading chapters 1:1–3:6. Today we jump forward to Judges 17–21 before we go back. Why? Whoever composed the book of Judges wrote by themes, and not always in chronological order (more…). Studying the Bible in sequence improves our understanding of the Scriptures. Warning to parents or other children's leaders: today's Scripture reading may not be suitable for young children.
Curing Chaos
When there is chaos in our lives, we become frenzied, and the stress of it can cause us to have headaches. Most of us lose patience, get angry, become disillusioned, quit, or try to get away from the situation in these circumstances. Today’s Bible study will help us rid chaos from our lives.
Lack of Leadership can cause Chaos
Israel is in chaos because she has no king (Judges 17:6). Every person is doing what is right in his own eyes.
What happens when we have no laws or moral guides to follow? Chaos. Has this happened to us? Were we following God, our king? Had we gotten away from regular times of Bible reading, prayer, and worship, and then gone our own way? Chaos ensues when we're not following the disciplined life the LORD intends for us. However, if we obey God, we're more likely to succeed and have peace (at least within us).
Failures Lead to Chaos
In today's Bible reading, a man named Micah from the tribe of Ephraim steals silver from his mother, confesses it to her, and receives forgiveness. Then, as a reward for his repentance, his mother takes the recovered silver and hires a silversmith to make idols. Afterward, she gives it to her son to worship with it.
What? Why does she indulge her son in evil behavior? We don't know for sure, but here are some possible contributing factors:
- Joshua and his generation had died many years ago. The Israelites forgot his leading them into the promised land.
- The leaders, priests, and parents failed to share their faith in God and the stories of all he did for them. They also failed to instruct their children in the Law of the LORD (Judges 2:10-12).
- Ephraim adopted the Canaanite's culture with its idol worship because her tribe failed to drive them out. The Canaanites became the Israelite's servants and co-existed with them.
- Although Israel knows God's name and even praises him, it's clear she, as a nation, doesn't know him, for he is a jealous God. Because of this, she's doing whatever seems right in her eyes. Given all that background, is it any wonder that she behaved this way?
Micah follows his mother's instruction and then installs one of his sons to be a priest for the family. When a young Levite from Bethlehem in Judah comes by his house, Micah entices him to be his family priest. Instead of rebuking Micah for even suggesting idol worship, the priest sees a continual income source. He uses Micah's fashioned ephod, their families' household gods, a carved image, and a cast idol to perform his services.
Later, the priest is offered a better opportunity to be a priest for the entire tribe of Dan. Five Danite spies take Micah's priest and his gods. When Micah objects, the Danites tell him to leave them alone or lose his life and his family's, too. After defeating a city, they return home and worship the idols they took with the priest. Really? Yes.
What about us? Will we Christian parents, teachers, or leaders instruct children and others about God's ways? Or will we fail and let them go their ways to do what is right in their eyes, giving them over to lives of chaos?
No Moral Compass Leads to Evil and more Chaos
Also, in today's Bible reading, there's a horrible story involving yet another Levite. He has a concubine (a secondary wife), but she is unfaithful and leaves him. When he hears she has returned to her father's house, the Levite goes there to take her home.After being delayed by his father-in-law for almost a week, he sets out with his concubine. It's soon night and unsafe to travel. He wants, therefore, to stay in Gibeah, a Benjamite town in Israel. He thinks they will be safe there.
This Israelite city should have been a place of peace and safety. Instead, it's characterized by sexual immorality and homosexuality. It's not safe to spend the night in the city square, so an old man invites them to his house. However, the men in Gibeah aren't safe. They come to the man's house demanding he bring the Levite out so they might have same-sex relations with him. The owner of the house attempts to make a compromise with these dangerous men to protect his guest. It's deplorable, for he offers his virgin daughter and the Levites' concubine to satisfy their sexual appetites. He then sends out only the Levites' concubine to fulfill their desires. They rape her and abuse her all night, and she dies on the doorstep.
The following day, when he discovers his dead wife, the Levite is angry at the Gibeonites' extreme wickedness. He cuts his concubine into twelve pieces and sends her body parts throughout Israel.
What? Yes, this is horrible! And the Israelite tribes are also upset at such evil in their nation. When they inquire about the matter, they demand the Benjamites hand the guilty men over to them, but the tribe defends them. After two costly attempts to defeat Benjamin in a civil war of retribution, finally, the LORD gives Israel victory. The victory, however, costs the lives of 38,000 Israelites and over 25,000 of their Benjamite brothers and their families. They lose a lot of valiant warriors. Because of Israel's wickedness, God exercises judgment on her and almost wipes out the Benjamite tribe.
Will we listen, or must we suffer? As we know, chaos and sin in families can sometimes cause division and almost irreparable damage. If we don't wish this to happen, we need to live in reverence for the LORD and reject our sinful ways. Do we know him? (more). He offers us forgiveness, peace, and spiritual life. He can help bring a cure to a life of chaos.
this ephod is a crafted copy of part of a priest’s clothing
Focus Verses
Hebrews 12:10-11 (NIV) “Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”
Discussion
What were some causes of chaos in Israel and what are they in our lives?
How did the failures of their spiritual leaders bring the Israelites into chaos? What should Christian parents, teachers, and leaders do differently so this does not happen to us?
What does it mean to live in the fear of the LORD? How is this a cure for chaos?
Write a private prayer response to today’s Bible study:
Please send your comments to me, Rod, the author
Looking Ahead: Chaos requires leadership to Step Up to the Plate to stop oppression and end the chaos (at least temporarily). Find out more about how this is done in our Next Lesson.
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