More Than I Can Comprehend

Samson judged Israel for twenty years during the period when the Philistines dominated the land. [Judges 15.20]

In today's OYCB reading, it starts off speaking about Jephthah who made a vow to God to offer as a burnt offering the first thing out of his house upon his victorious return from battle with the Ammonites. Why he never considered his own daughter might just be the first thing out the door upon his return is a mystery to me.

Then, Samson comes into focus. What an entitled brat! I mean, really... how could God work with such people?

There are so many questions surrounding this period of time. As ridiculous as some of the characters seem in this time, why would God even bother to appear or speak to them (let alone, use them)? And, if God would deal with them then, in their strange circumstances, why doesn't He appear to us today in our less-than-ideal circumstances?

Here is an interesting observation in the midst of this: In Judges 13, Manoah and his wife, unaware they were speaking to God, invited Him to dinner. God's refusal to eat with them is worth our consideration. 

“I will stay,” the angel of the LORD replied, “but I will not eat anything. However, you may prepare a burnt offering as a sacrifice to the LORD.” (Manoah didn’t realize it was the angel of the LORD.) [Judges 13.16]

In consideration of God eating with man, back when God was telling Abraham His plans to destroy Sodom, it appears He ate with Abraham, the father of faith. After this meal, God (the Father?) stayed with Abraham while the two others with Him (the Holy Spirit and the Son?) went on to destroy Sodom. Once they arrived in Sodom, they also ate with Lot. Their work was to destroy Sodom and to rescue Lot resultant to Abraham's intercession with God.

Not ironically then, Jesus ate with people. With a little time and meditation, we can see that Abraham's whole deal was foretelling Jesus' Advent to earth... (think about it).

But why would God, Who had come to them as one and not three, not eat with Manoah and his wife? It would seem things had digressed to the point that God could no longer fellowship with man in that way. It was simply too dangerous for man.

I am only thinking with my fingers here (typing). What intrigues me is that we are Christ on earth with the Holy Spirit indwelling us. God's actual presence would probably consume most of us in a fiery flash. But Jesus ate with sinners... we can eat with sinners... Why? Because God still loves the world and remains intent on redeeming all who will believe.

I know this is super scattered, but there is more here than I can articulate...

Father, help me to consider Your eating with Abraham but not with Manoah. Help me to consider that Jesus ate with sinners. Help me to consider that Your Holy Spirit dwells in me...