Day 95: Judges 17-18; Matthew 13-15

Old Testament reading: Judges 17-18

Micah (not the prophet) is a most intriguing character. He is first introduced as a penitent thief turned idolater. He stole 1100 shekels of silver from his mother, then after returning them had them made into a carved image and ephod. After first making his own son as his personal priest, Micah hired a young Levite to be his spiritual advisor and priest.  Upon so doing, he immediately assumed that God was with him, seeing he had his own personal representative from Levi (talk about putting one’s faith in the wrong things!). However, his joy was short-lived, as the young Levite was found by the tribe of Dan, and they were willing to pay him more and exalt him even higher. Moreover, the Levite took Micah’s silver ephod and the silver idols he had made (18:27). Never trust a man, especially a preacher, who’s in it for money.

New Testament reading: Matthew 13-15

“Little is much when God is in it.” Matthew 14 and 15 provide the accounts of two miraculous feedings at the hand of Jesus.  Each involved a grocery sack of food and several thousand people. About 5000 men, plus women and children, were fed with five loaves and two fish in chapter 14. When everyone had finished eating, twelve baskets of leftovers were taken up. Some time later, Jesus fed 4000 men, plus women and children, with seven loaves and a few small fish. When all had eaten and were filled, they took up seven large baskets of leftovers. I can’t help but wonder if the multitudes actually realized what was going on as the apostles made their way through the crowd dispensing food. No doubt they knew, but even then failed to recognize it significance (as you will see in tomorrow’s reading – Matthew 16:5-12). How often do we fail to see the great good accomplished in seemingly small or obscure deeds and other acts of kindness? One small deed can make the difference in the eternal destiny of one’s soul, which Jesus said is worth more than the whole world (Matthew 16:26)? Not to mention the good it does for our own soul? No matter what it is we do for others, let us do it with the faith that God can make into something big!