There are two things I would like to address today:
“Why do you ask my name?” the angel of the Lord replied. “It is too wonderful for you to understand.” [Judges 13.18]
What's in a name?
Apparently, when you are God, a LOT! And what followed of that whole conversation and meeting revealed that Manoah and the Mrs. had a completely different understanding of God than we do today. Instead of rejoicing or writing a book, Manoah feared for his life.
I think that the modern society of "God-allowing" people as a whole (including agnostics) really would like to see God and speak to Him face to face. But this just reveals how little modern folks know and understand about God. I think deep down, we all feel quite confident that we could handle seeing or speaking to God - but I am afraid this confidence is our greatest folly. There is no question in my mind that we take God all too lightly.
Next, I have some thoughts about ol' Samson. I mean, we've not even gotten to Delilah yet, and this guy is a screw-up! He gets involved with a Philistine woman (a no-no) and it seems obvious he was being motivated by physical attraction ("she looks good to me"). The fact that he was attacked by a lion that could have killed him didn't seem to deter his ambition either. Samson also gambled on a riddle and lost - which revealed a greater problem with his choice of a wife - and he eventually killed thirty innocent men over that fiasco! His would-be father-in-law gave his would-be-wife to his "best man." Samson retaliated by committing arson which landed him in a personal battle with 1000 men whom he killed (oh, and got him 'on the outs' with his own people). And then, to top it all off, Samson was a big cry-baby to God because he was thirsty!
Aside from the fact that God gave Samson a drink, rewind to consider the following:
One day when Samson was in Timnah, one of the Philistine women caught his eye. When he returned home, he told his father and mother, “A young Philistine woman in Timnah caught my eye. I want to marry her. Get her for me.” His father and mother objected. “Isn’t there even one woman in our tribe or among all the Israelites you could marry?” they asked. “Why must you go to the pagan Philistines to find a wife?” But Samson told his father, “Get her for me! She looks good to me.” His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time. [Judges 14.1-4]
Look again at the last sentence (verse 4 actually). All of Samson's ordeals were God's doing. God was in it!
Think about that!
Father, truly You are able to use any and every situation for Your own plans and purposes. Let my life be in perfect alignment with Your plans!
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