| Day 197: Read today's devotional on Bible Gateway. Idols Take OverThen, with Micah's idols and his priest, the men of Dan came to the town of Laish, whose people were peaceful and secure. They attacked with swords and burned the town to the ground. There was no one to rescue the people, for they lived a great distance from Sidon and had no allies nearby. This happened in the valley near Beth-rehob. Then the people of the tribe of Dan rebuilt the town and lived there. They renamed the town Dan after their ancestor, Israel's son, but it had originally been called Laish. Then they 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 18:27-31) ReflectThe tribe of Dan had stolen Micah's idols, and now they set them up in Laish. Although the Danites were actually denying God by worshiping these images (Exodus 20:1-5), they probably assumed they were worshiping God through them. The true worship of God should have been maintained by the Levitical priests who lived throughout the land and by worshiping at the Tabernacle in Shiloh. Instead, pagan influences and moral depravity had crept into every corner of Israelite culture. Although 300 years had passed since they entered the Promised Land, they still had not destroyed the idolatry and evil practices within it. Now they were reaping the consequences. The children were paying for the disobedience of their parents. You may have adopted seemingly harmless habits in your life, but they can become dominating forces. These values, attitudes, and practices can be exposed by practicing obedience to God and looking for how your habits conflict. Once you see these habits for what they are, you can begin to address them appropriately. RespondAsk God to help you see where you may have adopted the world's values, attitudes, and practices. Then ask for forgiveness and get rid of them. | 
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