Judges 18:1–6 (ESV)

In those days there was no king in Israel. And in those days the tribe of the people of Dan was seeking for itself an inheritance to dwell in, for until then no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them. So the people of Dan sent five able men from the whole number of their tribe, from Zorah and from Eshtaol, to spy out the land and to explore it. And they said to them, “Go and explore the land.” And they came to the hill country of Ephraim, to the house of Micah, and lodged there. When they were by the house of Micah, they recognized the voice of the young Levite. And they turned aside and said to him, “Who brought you here? What are you doing in this place? What is your business here?” And he said to them, “This is how Micah dealt with me: he has hired me, and I have become his priest.” And they said to him, “Inquire of God, please, that we may know whether the journey on which we are setting out will succeed.” And the priest said to them, “Go in peace. The journey on which you go is under the eye of the LORD.”

How is it that no inheritance among the tribes of Israel had fallen to them?

Because they failed to fully conquer the land the LORD gave them.

The Amorites pressed the people of Dan back into the hill country, for they did not allow them to come down to the plain. The Amorites persisted in dwelling in Mount Heres, in Aijalon, and in Shaalbim, but the hand of the house of Joseph rested heavily on them, and they became subject to forced labor. — Judges 1:34–35 (ESV)

So, now they’re looking for someone else to conquer. Besides being just plain nasty, this is in direct violation of what God told them to do. Somehow this is right in their own eyes. Wow.

So, they go down to Ephraim and bump into Micah’s priest, whom they recognize. It takes them a while to get past the shock of seeing him there, but eventually they make sense out it all.

But then, amazingly, they seek his council and his blessing.

Even more amazingly, they get it.

The Danites’ mission will go on to succeed. That speaks volumes about God’s grace. How can something so wrong gain His blessing?

That’s a tough question, but it’s also the story of our lives. We are like the Danites. Saul, who became Paul, was like the Danites. In the stoning of Stephen, God let everyone involved succeed in their evil act.

Then they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. — Acts 7:58 (ESV)

History is complicated. Saul’s path to salvation was, like our paths, complicated.

The whole Old Testament is the story of the path to the Messiah. It’s a mess, but that’s to set the stage.

These Monday—Friday DEEPs are written by Mike Slay. The Weekend DEEPs are written by Matt Richardson. To subscribe to all the DEEPs click here:

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The weekly study guides, which include the Monday–Friday devotionals plus related questions for discussion or meditation, are available for download here:

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. ESV stands for the English Standard Version. © Copyright 2001 by Crossway. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NIV stands for The Holy Bible, New International Version®. © Copyright 1973 by International Bible Society. Used by permission. All rights reserved. KJV stands for the King James Version.