Not that Micah
There was a prophet, Micah, who spoke of days coming when men would rest securely, each in the tranquility of his own home.
From Micah God’s people would learn of their coming destruction for rejecting and replacing Him with little-g gods. And they would also discover what God truly desired was that they would love mercy, do justly and walk humbly with God.
This same Micah foretold of one coming Messiah who would stand as Shepherd and who would be for His flock a living, breathing, tangible peace.
But there was another Micah. The one of whom the writer of Judges told.
This Micah was not that Micah.
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Unlike so many controversial Judges characters, the Micah of chapters 17 and 18 didn’t make it into the Hebrews 11 Hall of Faith. He didn’t even make it into the Honorable Mentions.
He had no redeeming moment.
No, Micah shows up in one of two random — and awkward — accounts that close the book. His story doesn’t follow in chronological sequence. As though he was as bewildered as me, the writer tacked it on at the end though it likely took place before Samson’s day. This disorder suits the story; Micah came along during a period of anarchy while the people of Israel were without a judge.
Micah – not that Micah — enters the story as a common thief.
Well, maybe not a common thief. He seems more an uncommon thief. One who would steal from his own mother.
Maybe I’ll just tell it.
She tears boards off windows demanding the daylight invade sleepy shadows. Her shrieking, now unmuffled, cuts through morning stillness as she absorbs the enormity of her loss.
Another domestic at Micah’s? Neighbors cover children’s ears and marvel at this woman’s ease with shipyard discourse.
Micah shrinks. He tiptoes in from his chores, stepping around upended furniture and scattered effects. He holds out a sack of coins as he mumbles, ”About the money — it was me. I took it.”
She rips the sack from his hands, counts. Eleven hundred shekels jingle together making music to gladden the soul.
“I heard you curse the thief,” he admits.
Micah’s mother pulls him, still cringing, into her embrace. Tears flow. It’s no matter now why he returned the coins, only that she had her treasure back. “The Lord bless you, my son. The Lord bless you!”
They rejoice as one, she in the lost-found, he in the curse-retracted.
It is no small thing, this return of lost coins. She bows her head and insists they return the find to Yahweh.
“God has surely smiled on me this day. This money, it must be set apart for the Lord,” she said. “Now go, take the money to the silversmith to cast an idol and carve an image.”
[Play sound of needle scratching across vinyl record and cue up double-take.]
What?
I’ve read this account more times than you’ll believe in the last few weeks. It really says that. Look:
When he returned the eleven hundred shekels of silver to his mother, she said, “I solemnly consecrate my silver to the LORD for my son to make a carved image and a cast idol. I will give it back to you.” (Judges 17:3)
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It gets worse. We’ll get to that in the next few days.
But for now, sit just with this: Micah and his mom did what they thought was right. They understood God to be honored by their gift of an idol.
From the deepest part of their hearts, they believed the LORD, who formed them with His hands, would be pleased to see them worship what they formed with theirs.
They thought they had it right.
Sometimes, I do too.
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I’m going to leave it there. I think as the writer pulls back the curtain we’ll see how it ever got to this point. So there’s more, and we’ll get to it.
But for now, I’m sitting with this: I do it too.
Do you?
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(If you get a chance, check out the High Calling Blogs today. My “last day at work” post is there in this week’s Work feature. I’m humbled. My thanks to the good folks at High Calling Blogs and to Jennifer for being such a generous promoter.)
Unfortunately, I have to say “Yes” to your question. When I think about it it takes the wind right out of me.
I take for granted that everything that I have, and everything that I am comes from Him. In the rush of my day- my week -my month…etc…I lose focus. I make excuses. I make excuses as to why other things in my life take presidence over my relationship with Him. These things become my idols that I lay before Him. Funny thing is…He doesn’t want them…all He wants is me.
Thank you Lyla…….for another amazing post.
2009/11/17 at 9:54 AM
You bet I cast my own idols. I always presume to know how God wants me to serve him and others. In fact, I presume to know how others want me to serve them.
It’s hard to avoid in some ways. We love our neighbors as we love ourselves after all. If we aren’t very sensitive to our neighbors, this can be a bad thing. I end up buying my wife a collection of zombie movies for Valentine’s Day.
On the other hand, we were never supposed to love God as we love ourselves. I guess I should stop putting zombie movies in the collection plate…
2009/11/17 at 4:14 PM
I wonder where the breakdown came–Moses had given them the law and God had spoken many times about idols, but had they not heard this? Or did they think He really didn’t mean it? Or did they merely think that if the idol were offered to God, it’d be ok.
One of my studies gave me the phrase, “Just because it’s a good thing doesn’t mean it’s a God thing.” I try to take that to heart when taking on another service role for Him.
2009/11/17 at 8:29 PM
Julie – “all He wants is me.” Not much more I can say.
Marcus – not sure I ever made the connection that we extend the “love your neighbor as you love yourself” to how we love God. Seems that’s exactly what we do sometimes though. Well intended, but messed up. I saw some of those videos when the offering plate came by last Sunday. Did you visit my church?
Jennifer – not sure what was going through their minds, but I’m pretty sure reading the rest of the text that they functioned fully in a vacuum. The line “everyone did as he saw fit” is pretty key.
2009/11/18 at 8:19 AM
Lyla, thank you for your comment on my blog yesterday. I just discovered you yesterday through that “last day of work” post at HCB, and thoroughly enjoyed your “Unboxing God” post.
Every once in a while, God brings someone across my path who is learning the same things He has been teaching me – the recognition of His Spirit is so sweet. I’m loving this post – after years of working in a Christian “ministry” with sincere believers who gave God glory for their “idols,” I’m absolutely refreshed to see Him speaking for Himself to you and to others too. Sometimes, I feel like I’m the only one; I think He allows the isolation to strengthen my faith, so that I learn to let HIM authenticate His Word without sending me running to others for approval or disapproval…
I’m sorry – it has been a *morning* here. I’m just rambling away… Thank you for sharing what has been on your heart of late. I like listening.
2009/11/18 at 8:50 AM
Kelly, funny how He can work that way. I can start to think that too, only your response is much more mature. When I get that “no, just you” feeling I start to think I’m nuts. Didn’t occur to me to consider how He might use that to pull me in.
2009/11/20 at 9:06 AM