Judges, 18
8. When the five returned to their kinsmen in Zorah and Eshtaol and were asked for a report,
8. When the five returned to their kinsmen in Zorah and Eshtaol and were asked for a report,
Judges 18 tells the story of a Dan tribe looking for a new land to dwell, and ends up finding an idolatrous priest and a city named Laís, which is conquered by Dan's men. The topics covered in this chapter include the search for a new home, idolatry and land conquest. Below are five verses related to these themes.
Genesis 12:1, "Now the Lord said to Abram, Get out of your land, your parent, and your father's house, to the earth I will show you." Just like Dan's men in Judges 18, Abram was called by God to get out of his land and look for a new home.
1 Corinthians 10:14: "Therefore, my beloved, I ran away from idolatry." The story of the idolatrous priest in judges 18 serves as a reminder that the worship of idols is a serious offense in the eyes of God.
Joshua 18:3, "He said Joshua to the children of Israel, How long will you be negligent in passing the land that gave you the Lord God of your parents?" Dan's search for a new land in judges 18 reflects the importance of possessing and taking care of the lands God has given us.
Deuteronomy 20:16-17: "But from the cities of these nations, that the Lord your God gives you for inheritance, nothing that you have breathtaking. Before, before, you will destroy them totally: the Hites, the Amorites, the Canaanites , the Ferezeites, the Heveus and the Jebuses, as the Lord your God commanded you. " The conquest of Lais by Dan's men in judges 18 is similar to the conquest of land by the Israelites in the Old Testament, following God's instructions to take possession of the promised land.
2 Samuel 7:10: "And I will prepare a place for my people, for Israel, and plant it, that it may dwell in its place, and never be removed, nor the children of wickedness afflicted him more, as before." Dan's desire for a new home in judges 18 is similar to God's desire to find a permanent place for his people, where they can live in peace and prosperity.
“Como Jesus, preparemo-nos a duas ascensões: uma ao Calvário e outra ao Céu. A ascensão ao Calvário, se não for alegre, deve ao menos ser resignada!” São Padre Pio de Pietrelcina
