Ignorance Leads To Stupidity

Then they [the tribe of Dan] set up the carved image, and they appointed Jonathan son of Gershom, son of Moses, as their priest. This family continued as priests for the tribe of Dan until the Exile. So Micah’s carved image was worshiped by the tribe of Dan as long as the Tabernacle of God remained at Shiloh. [Judges 18.30-31]

As much as I want to rail on Samson's stupidity from today's One Year Chronological Bible reading, I will refrain and discuss instead the scripture above.

Clearly, the tribe of Dan was in violation of the Second Commandment (as was Micah) in worshiping the carved image Micah's mother had made (there was also a cast idol, as the story goes). How could they be so openly wrong?

Here is my opinion: without clear Godly leadership (the context supports this fact), people were simply ignorant.

I said I wasn't going to focus on Samson, but I will use his example here to possibly prove that these people, for whatever reason, seemed to be as stupid as a bag of hammers! For one to be as mindless as Samson was, it comes as no great surprise that idol worship could be overlooked as well. Micah, the priest, and the tribe of Dan all should have had some idea that worshiping a carved image or cast idol was wrong. But, regardless how obvious the circumstances are to us now, they had no clue.

What is the moral of the story?

All I can surmise is that we need to comprehend that ignorance leads to all kinds of stupid actions!

In this century, what worries me is that so many "Christians" believe almost anything they are told with no supportive study of their own of the Bible and the parallel work of the Holy Spirit. While Godly leadership was imperative in Old Testament times, it remains important today but with one very important addition: we have the Holy Spirit and the Bible. 

Many today want the "preacher" to tell them how to live. But that is nothing of what the New Testament teaches. The "preacher" is a declarer of what the Bible and Holy Spirit say for sure, but that guarantees nothing. We too are given the Bible and the Holy Spirit and should confirm everything anyone says to us about them by them! In other words, we are responsible for what the Bible and the Holy Spirit say regardless of what leaders say. Hopefully leaders are indeed in tune with the Bible and the Spirit and their message confirms what the Holy Spirit is speaking to us from the Bible. Likewise, hopefully what we "hear" from the Bible and Spirit are confirmed by our leaders. But we cannot know that unless we too are focused on the Bible and the Holy Spirit!

So, back to the story, ignorance (in this case no "man of God") led to gross violation of a most basic commandment from God.

Contemporary ignorance is just as dangerous. Are there instructions in the Bible that we, as modern believers, simply ignore? Is ignorance of the Word of God leading us to stupid actions?

Ouch.

Ouch.

Ouch!

Father, help us to know You, Your Word, and Your Holy Spirit. Help us to constantly seek confirmation of Your Spirit in everything we do, say, and believe. Help us to listen to one another - again, seeking confirmation of Your Spirit. Help us to vocalize to others what we believe You are saying. Help us to allow Your Spirit to speak to us through others as well - all the while comparing everything to Your Word. If we need anything today, Father, it is more of You and Your Truth!