Micah’s Idols as the prodigal son. Judges 17, Luke 15: 4-7

I had opened Micah’s story several times and even tried to find out the meaning of the story. A relatively short story and until yesterday had I gotten the major picture when I read the prodigal son. Prior to this, I had seen many explanations, one of which is:

Judges 17 is a mirror that reflects the danger of moral and religious relativism. In seeking to worship God in his own terms, Micah lost the essence of true worship. The chapter stands as a reminder that it is not enough to worship according to our convenience or understanding; it is crucial to worship God in truth, as He has commanded us.
https://biblehub.com/chaptersummaries/judges/17.htm

Verses 1-2: The Stolen Silver

Micah confesses to stealing 1,100 shekels of silver from his mother, who had cursed the theft. Upon his confession, his mother blesses him and dedicates the silver to the Lord for creating a carved image and an ephod.

The prodigal son tells a story of a man, who has a son who wanted his inheritance, the inheritance stands as an idol to Micah’s story. He then takes what was his inheritance away as Micah took silver from his mother.

Verses 3-4: Making of the Idol

So, the father gives the prodigal son what he wanted his inheritance(idol) which takes and spends all, as Micah uses all his mother’s silver and incurs his mother’s curse which turns to a blessing. Micah actually confesses that he stole the idol, as the prodigal son states he expended his father’s wealth.

His mother helps him make a shrine.

And well, a Bethlehemite comes seeking a place to stay and Micah welcomes him, the reverse is done with the prodigal son, his father welcomes him home. whereas Micah with his idol welcomes the Bethlehemite home.

*Some are to seek the father, and some are to welcome him to dwell in us. *

As the wandering Levite from Bethlehem in Judah comes to Micah’s house. Micah offers him wages, room and board to become his personal priest. Micah, thinking God will now bless him because he has a Levite as his priest, shows a distorted understanding of true worship.

22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. Luke 15: 22

The prodigal son returns home and is offered more than a servant, a party is thrown for him and it shows us what the father through Jesus has to offer us as with the case of Micah welcoming a son that is not his home. Micah’s story is both ways as a curse turned into a blessing when he welcomed the Bethlehemite home (where Jesus is from). Whereas the prodigal son is accepted home. Sometimes, we welcome the King (Jesus) and other times he brings us home.

While we are not hired servants because Christ took our curse much like Micah’s mother (Galatians 3: 13) curse turning to bless him, which would cause him to be linked to actual priest from Benjamin. And because repentance is an ongoing process; sometimes we run back to him when we lose our way, whereas when we come to know him as our lord and savior and take away our idols as Micah, we welcome him to our house (body).

Jesus took our curses to give us blessing; should we love him. In Judges 17 vs 21 Micah (the one who is like God not is God as the name translates), offer him a wage, food and clothes as Jesus offers his son to us, the father offers the prodigal son a robe, puts a ring around his finger and celebrates him.

Micah has a semblance like God but his reach for an actual high priest makes all unbelievers like this, whereas the prodigal son out of love with the father because of his inheritance, Micah love for idols overwhelms him into seeking for a true high priest, Jesus. So, Micah welcomes a righteous man from a Levite lineage and gets blessed. (Matthew 10: 40 – 42).

Micah rejoiced at seeing a Levite, the prodigal son rejoiced at seeing his son who was once lost. Micah had sons but still welcomed a Levite as his son (unbeliever reach for Jesus), so the prodigal son had an older son (saved believer walking in obedience) but still welcome his son (the lost one).

Songs: