….So the five men left and went to the town of Laish. They saw how the people there lived in security like the Sidonians. They were a peaceful, quiet people, with no argument with anyone; they had all they needed. They lived far away from the Sidonians and had no dealings with any other people.
Judges 18:7
God had already revealed His will by giving each tribe its own original territory. But the tribe of Dan were unfaithful to the covenant and decided to search for new territory through their own methods.
Cruel, despicable behavior is the natural outcome of rejecting God’s plan and doing things our way.
Because the Danites had been unfaithful to God’s plan, they had been unable to drive out the inhabitants occupying their inheritance. Having failed to defeat the enemy in the land God had originally assigned them, they looked for an easier way, even if it meant taking advantage of defenseless Laish. Migrating northward to murder a people living quiet, unsuspecting lives was just another sign of unfaithfulness to God’s plan. Rather than building their lives on the promises of God, they built their city on the ruins of lost lives.
Too frequently, God’s sheep have become Satan’s wolves. Determined to get our perceived rights, we dispossess others of their rights, whether that is emotional, spiritual, or physical.
Thinking our rights are greater than the rights of others, we prey on the vulnerable like wolves among the sheep. Rather than trusting God’s way, we scheme to achieve our goals, even if it means damaging someone’s life.
Reflections
•How often do we also identify the vulnerable and pounce?
•Do I run the risk of becoming an abuser whenever my perceived rights jeopardize someone else’s well-being?
