Judges 17: Who Is Your Leader?

“There was no king in Israel at that time; everyone did whatever they wanted.” – Judges 17:6

I feel like this could be a headline in the news, today, right now!

When there’s no clear leadership, when there’s no anchor—people just do whatever seems right to

them. I don’t claim to know everything, but that sounds like a recipe for disaster.

Micah was kind of a mess. His actions looked spiritual—he built a shrine, made an ephod, even appointed his own priest. From the outside, it might have seemed like he was doing all the right things. His motives weren’t love, reverence, or obedience—they were rooted in fear. He didn’t want to be cursed, so he checked all the religious boxes trying to cover himself.

I once heard a Christian comedian compare people (especially believers) to sheep. As sad as it is,

it's very true. We are sheep. I am a sheep. I need a Shepherd. Left to my own devices, I’ll try to control, fix, perform, or please—and none of that leads to peace.

If you want a good laugh, watch the skit Ken Davis performed. It's an oldie, AND a goodie! SUPER SHEEP

I’ve definitely been Micah before—going through the motions, doing the “godly” things but feeling so empty. I think that’s because, like him, my faith was rooted in performance for a long time. I thought I had to prove myself or somehow earn God's acceptance.

Im so grateful the Lord, in His kindness, drew me to His Word. It has changed everything. Now, I don’t read scripture out of duty—I read it because I get to. The Word gives life. It’s like my daily diet. Just like my body needs food, my soul needs the Word. It grounds me, corrects me, encourages me, and leads me. I can’t imagine trying to do life without it anymore.

What about you? What keeps you anchored when the world around you is doing “whatever they want” too?