Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video.

Our text today is Judges 18:25-29.

And the people of Dan said to him, "Do not let your voice be heard among us, lest angry fellows fall upon you, and you lose your life with the lives of your household." Then the people of Dan went their way. And when Micah saw that they were too strong for him, he turned and went back to his home. But the people of Dan took what Micah had made, and the priest who belonged to him, and they came to Laish, to a people quiet and unsuspecting, and struck them with the edge of the sword and burned the city with fire. And there was no deliverer because it was far from Sidon, and they had no dealings with anyone. It was in the valley that belongs to Beth-rehob. Then they rebuilt the city and lived in it. And they named the city Dan, after the name of Dan their ancestor, who was born to Israel; but the name of the city was Laish at the first. — Judges 18:25-29

The Danites finally get what they wanted—a city, a priest, and a name. From the outside, it looks like triumph. But it's all built on theft and deceit. They conquered Laish not through faith, but through force.

God never told them to take this land. They took it because it was easy. They called it "God's will," but it was just willpower.

That's how sin disguises itself: it borrows the language of faith to bless the work of the flesh.
The Danites built a city on the illusion of success. But anything built on disobedience will eventually collapse.

We have all done this: We push instead of pray. We manipulate instead of trusting. We use strength, strategy, and spin to get what we want—and then call it God's blessing. But real victory never comes by force.

It comes by faith. Faith waits when force demands. Faith obeys when ambition rushes. Faith surrenders when pride insists.

The tribe of Dan won a city—but lost its way. Don't lose your way, do things God's way.

ASK THIS:

1. Where have you been pushing by force instead of walking by faith?
2. Have you ever mistaken human success for God's blessing?
3. What would it look like to stop striving and start trusting?
4. How can you rebuild what's been done your way, God's way?

DO THIS:

• Pause before your next decision—ask, "Am I forcing this, or is God leading it?"
• Read Psalm 127:1: "Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain."

PRAY THIS:

Lord, keep me from building by force what You've called me to build by faith. I don't want hollow victories or false success—only what's done in Your strength and truth. Amen.

PLAY THIS:

"Wait On You."

Welcome to The Daily, where we study the Bible verse by verse, chapter by chapter, every day.

Read more about Project23 and partner with us as we teach every verse of the Bible on video. And Merry Christmas to you all.

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."