July 23, 2021
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Reading along with us in Judges? Here’s today’s reading:
Judges 13 (NIV)
The Birth of Samson
1 Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, so the Lord delivered them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, “You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son............Continue Reading
Judges 13
Finally in judges. A familiar name and a familiar truth. Samson being set apart from God from birth and his life before him to win incredible victory’s for his people and God. But he let his senses dictate Some of his decision which ended up defeating him. Love but hate this story. An awesome example for me and maybe for others. That’s why his story is so popular. We can relate!!
Judges 13
This origin story of Samson is an interesting one. Shrouded in uncertainty they accept the words from the angel of the Lord but treat him like a man not a true messenger from God so God shows them that indeed it is Him they are dealing with as the angel disappears into the fire. God knows when we need a push to believe and accept the plan He has for us and shows us in His way but this was a pretty cool way!
Judges 13–the announcement of Sampson.
God likes eccentric characters.. He likes raising up people who are different, and even weird. Inspires me not to be afraid to be a little special and different from others.
Well the story of the most recognized judge of Israel begins. And unlike the others, he is unique in the way that he is born as well as the way that he is to live. It just amazes me that the Israelites suffer for 40 years and just don’t get what is causing this or don’t have the will to follow the true God who keeps rescuing them. And it is not even their cries for help or their repentance (at least not mentioned) that causes God to act in this case. God is so committed to His people and perseveres with them in spite of all the things they have done that forsake Him. And we can add Samson’s mom to the list of barren woman of whom God miraculously opened their wombs. We see that nothing is impossible for God which should cause us to trust Him for our lives! It is also interesting to see that the angel of the Lord is recognized as God (Samson’s dad fears that they will die for seeing Him). and yet He doesn’t accept direct worship as far as a burnt offering being offered to Him. He does seem to be the one who is sent to interact with humanity and He takes on an even more significant expression of that when the second member of the trinity takes on flesh and is born of Mary.
And the Lord did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: 20As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. 21When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord.
22“We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!”
23But his wife answered, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this.”
24The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, 25and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.
I think the Angel of the Lord’s answer is interesting:
“Then Manoah said to the Angel of the Lord, “What is Your name, that when Your words come to pass we may honor You?”
18 And the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?”
I was thinking of Jesus’ names – “Wonderful, Counselor, Almighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”