Idolatry Compromise and Its Consequences.

C: In this lesson we'll be studying about idolatry, and how it damaged the life of Micah, a young Israelite.

1. Don't Compromise With Sin

Judges 17:1-6
1 Now a man named Micah from the hill country of Ephraim
2 said to his mother, "The eleven hundred shekels of silver that were taken from you and about which I heard you utter a curse--I have that silver with me; I took it." Then his mother said, "The LORD bless you, my son!"
3 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."
4 So he returned the silver to his mother, and she took two hundred shekels of silver and gave them to a silversmith, who made them into the image and the idol. And they were put in Micah's house.
5 Now this man Micah had a shrine, and he made an ephod and some idols and installed one of his sons as his priest.
6 In those days Israel had no king; everyone did as he saw fit.

Q: What sin had Micah committed against his mother? [He had stolen 13 kg of silver, worth about 75,000 rupees.]

Q: When he confessed his sin, what did his mother do? [She was fired up, and she used some of the silver to make idols (vv.3-4).]

C: Micah took the idols and made his son a priest for the idols. He made his own gods!

C: It is tempting for us to compromise with sin. Stealing is a sin, even if we take from our boss, or our own family. There are many opportunities to cheat at work. We can take autorikshaw money and then take the bus, and keep the difference. Or we can take kickbacks when we buy things. Or we can steal supplies from work. We can tell lies that "the check is in the mail" or "the boss is not here."

Instead we should tell the truth. If the boss is busy and does not want to speak on the phone, we can say, "the boss is not available to speak right now." At college there are many chances to cheat on exams. At home there are many temptations to follow rituals worshipping other gods. God does not want Christians to do pujas, or worship other gods in any way.

2. Don't Let Anger Rule Your Life

C: After this, some 600 Danites came and took away the man who had been serving as Micah's priest. Micah was upset and chased them, ready for a fight. Look at how they responded.

Judges 18:22-28
22 When they had gone some distance from Micah's house, the men who lived near Micah were called together and overtook the Danites.
23 As they shouted after them, the Danites turned and said to Micah, "What's the matter with you that you called out your men to fight?"
24 He replied, "You took the gods I made, and my priest, and went away. What else do I have? How can you ask, 'What's the matter with you?'"
25 The Danites answered, "Don't argue with us, or some hot-tempered men will attack you, and you and your family will lose your lives."
26 So the Danites went their way, and Micah, seeing that they were too strong for him, turned around and went back home.
27 Then they took what Micah had made, and his priest, and went on to Laish, against a peaceful and unsuspecting people. They attacked them with the sword and burned down their city.
28 There was no one to rescue them because they lived a long way from Sidon and had no relationship with anyone else. The city was in a valley near Beth Rehob. The Danites rebuilt the city and settled there.

C: These men warned Micah that some "hot-tempered" men would attack him and kill him and his family (v.25). Then they went and destroyed the people of a place called Laish (v.27). Anger controlled their lives. But it can ruin our lives.

Q: Let's talk about how we've been doing in the area of anger. It is hot these days, and so it is tempting for us to be tense, impatient and unkind to the people in our house, each other, and the people around us. How have you been doing?