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30 May 2008
Word on the Web
Judges 18 v 14-21
The five men who had explored the land around Laish said to their relatives, "Do you know in one of these houses there are a holy vest, household gods, an idol, and a statue? You know what to do." So they stopped at the Levite's house, which was also Micah's house, and greeted the Levite. The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance gate, wearing their weapons of war. The five spies went into the house and took the idol, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue. The priest and the six hundred men armed for war stood by the entrance gate.
When the spies went into Micah's house and took the image, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue, the priest asked them, "What are you doing?"
They answered, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us and be our father and priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and family group in Israel?" This made the priest happy. So he took the holy vest, the household idols, and the idol and went with the Danites. They left Micah's house, putting their little children, their animals, and everything they owned in front of them.
In these paragraphs, the priest is happy to go off and be a priest for a tribe and family group in Israel, leaving behind Micah and his home. How would we feel in such a situation? On the one hand achieving something bigger by working for a bigger 'organisation' seems to make sense. On the other, how could the priest refuse when greeted with 600 people? Despite taking place in a faraway land in a bygone era, this story is something we can relate to today. All of us have to recognise when it is time to leave one thing and move on to the next. Most of the time we do so leaving the job 'unfinished'. For example, a church pastor today cannot serve all of the people in his parish who need his or her teaching and ministries forever; a time will come when it is right to leave the parish behind and move on to the next thing. In a similar way, someone working in an office will do a certain job for a while before feeling the need for a new challenge and a new direction. Before we make such a big decision, it is sensible to ask God for some wisdom - so that we can be sure we are moving on for the right reasons, and not because we are trying to live up to other people's expectations.
Lord Jesus, I don't ask you to be there for me when I reach a junction in life, but to be with me on the whole journey, from beginning to end, for now and forever. Amen.
Written by Howard Dobson
Word on the Web
Judges 18 v 14-21
The five men who had explored the land around Laish said to their relatives, "Do you know in one of these houses there are a holy vest, household gods, an idol, and a statue? You know what to do." So they stopped at the Levite's house, which was also Micah's house, and greeted the Levite. The six hundred Danites stood at the entrance gate, wearing their weapons of war. The five spies went into the house and took the idol, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue. The priest and the six hundred men armed for war stood by the entrance gate.
When the spies went into Micah's house and took the image, the holy vest, the household idols, and the statue, the priest asked them, "What are you doing?"
They answered, "Be quiet! Don't say a word. Come with us and be our father and priest. Is it better for you to be a priest for one man's house or for a tribe and family group in Israel?" This made the priest happy. So he took the holy vest, the household idols, and the idol and went with the Danites. They left Micah's house, putting their little children, their animals, and everything they owned in front of them.
In these paragraphs, the priest is happy to go off and be a priest for a tribe and family group in Israel, leaving behind Micah and his home. How would we feel in such a situation? On the one hand achieving something bigger by working for a bigger 'organisation' seems to make sense. On the other, how could the priest refuse when greeted with 600 people? Despite taking place in a faraway land in a bygone era, this story is something we can relate to today. All of us have to recognise when it is time to leave one thing and move on to the next. Most of the time we do so leaving the job 'unfinished'. For example, a church pastor today cannot serve all of the people in his parish who need his or her teaching and ministries forever; a time will come when it is right to leave the parish behind and move on to the next thing. In a similar way, someone working in an office will do a certain job for a while before feeling the need for a new challenge and a new direction. Before we make such a big decision, it is sensible to ask God for some wisdom - so that we can be sure we are moving on for the right reasons, and not because we are trying to live up to other people's expectations.
Lord Jesus, I don't ask you to be there for me when I reach a junction in life, but to be with me on the whole journey, from beginning to end, for now and forever. Amen.
Written by Howard Dobson
