Self-Deception Sounds Spiritual | Judges 18:21-24

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Our text today is Judges 18:21-24.

So they turned and departed, putting the little ones and the livestock and the goods in front of them. When they had gone a distance from the home of Micah, the men who were in the houses near Micah's house were called out, and they overtook the people of Dan. And they shouted to the people of Dan, who turned around and said to Micah, “What is the matter with you, that you come with such a company?” And he said, “You take my gods that I made and the priest, and go away, and what have I left? How then do you ask me, ‘What is the matter with you?’” — Judges 18:21-24

The Danites march away from Micah’s house with his idols, his priest, and his faith-for-hire religion. Micah chases after them and shouts, “What’s the matter with you?”

It’s the right question — but no one in this story has the courage to answer it.

The Danites should’ve said, “Our cowardice.” They were too afraid to claim the land God gave them, so they stole what belonged to others. Disobedience bred desperation, and cowardice turned into theft.

The Levite should’ve said, “My ambition.” He left Micah’s house not because of conviction, but because the job offer was better — more people, more influence, more recognition. His ministry was a career move, not a calling.

But neither the Danites nor the Levite can face their sin. So when Micah asks, “What’s the matter with you?” they flip it back: “What’s the matter with you?” That’s what sin always does — it deflects instead of reflects.

We do the same thing.
When confronted, we defend. And we say, “I’m just under a lot of stress.”
When corrected, we justify. And we say, “At least I’m not as bad as them.”
When convicted, we rationalize. And we say, “God knows my heart.”

But the heart is exactly where the problem lies. Like the Danites, our disobedience starts small — fear, laziness, pride — until it grows into actions we can’t explain or admit. And like the Levite, ambition can masquerade as ministry until the applause becomes louder than obedience.

But the question still stands: What is the matter with you?

This question is not intended to shame you, but to awaken you. To make you stop running long enough to face what’s hiding in your heart. Because until you name the sin, you’ll keep defending it. The Danites justified their sin all the way into idolatry. But God calls us all to something better: to stop deflecting and start repenting.

ASK THIS:

1. When was the last time you blamed someone else instead of owning your sin?
2. What’s harder for you to confront—cowardice or ambition?
3. Have you ever used “spiritual” excuses to justify disobedience?
4. How can confession restore courage and integrity in your life today?

DO THIS:

• Ask the Spirit to reveal one area of your life where you’ve been justifying sin.
• Write down the excuses you’ve used to defend it—then confess them one by one.
• Replace justification with repentance.

PRAY THIS:

Lord, help me stop deflecting and start confessing. Reveal the cowardice or ambition hiding in my heart, and give me the courage to face it with repentance and faith. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

“Refiner.”