Judges 13
-A new period in the history of Israel begins in this
chapter as God’s people again did evil in the sight of the LORD with Him giving
the disobedient rebels into the hands of the Philistines for 40 years (Judges
13:1). In this setting, God reaches out to a family in the tribe of Dan (the
inherited area just to the north of Judah and west of Benjamin, not Tel Dan of
the extreme north). The wife of Manoah of Zorah, who was barren having borne no
children, is visited by the angel of the LORD. He relates to her that she needs
to be careful not to “drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing”
for she shall conceive and give birth to a special son who will begin to
deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Judges 13:2-5).
-Upon hearing this news, she reported to her husband that
this man from God with the appearance like that of an angel, very awesome, had
brought this message. She didn’t think to ask where is He was from or what His
name was. All she knew was that this boy would be a Nazarite to God from the
womb to the day of his death. With the hearing of this, Manoah entreated the
LORD asking Him for a second appearance of the man of God that He had sent for
the purpose of teaching them what to do for the boy who was to be born. God
certainly listened to the voice of Manoah and responded by sending the angel
back to the woman while she was sitting in the field. Manoah wasn’t with her at
the time, but she went to get her husband quickly. He came back with her to
meet this special messenger. When Manoah asked if He was the person who had
come previously to inform his wife, the angel said, “I am.” Manoah wanted to
get information about what to do with the boy that they would be given in terms
of his mode of life and vocation. However, the angel simply told them to pay
attention to all He had given the woman about not eating anything unclean that
comes from the vine, nor drink wine or strong drink, nor eat anything that was unclean.
She was to observe all that the angel commanded. With that, Manoah invited the
man of the LORD to be detained so that they could prepare a goat for Him to eat.
The angel instead told them that if they were to prepare an animal that they
should offer it to the LORD. Manoah did not yet know that this was an angel of
the LORD. Manoah questioned him as to His name. He wanted to show Him honor
when these words came to pass. “But the angel of the LORD said to him, ‘Why do
you ask my name, seeing that it is wonderful (pil'iy- incomprehensible,
extraordinary)?’” This truly seems to be a Christophany at this point (Judges
13:6-18).
-Now
Manoah took the young goat with a grain offering and presented it on the rock
to the LORD. The special guest performed “wonders” while Manoah and his wife
looked on. “It came about when the flame went up from the altar toward heaven,
that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar.” Upon seeing
this incredible miracle, both husband and wife fell on their faces to the
ground. The angel never appeared to them again. But Manoah now knew that this
was indeed an angel of the LORD (Judges 13:19-21). Manoah thought that they
would surely die because they had seen God. But the wife assured him, “If the
LORD had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a
grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor
would He have let us hear things like this at this time (Judges 13:22-23).” The
son was eventually born and was named Samson. The child grew up, and the LORD
blessed him with His Spirit stirring him in Mahaneh-Dan (the camp of Dan),
between Zorah and Eshtaol (Judges 13:24-25).
-*Application* How quick are we to recognize the visitations
of the LORD in our lives? Perceptive, open hearts are required to see the
miracles of the Almighty when He wants to show up unannounced and unexpected.
The LORD is creative in all His ways, but we see the figures and themes of the
everlasting story. Think about how Christ is portrayed in this instance: He
comes at a point of need when sin and oppression is prevailing, He offers a new
and living hope, He makes a call to holiness, He listens to petitions and
requests, He is wonderful (incomprehensible, extraordinary), He is the “I Am.”
The list could go on and on. God wants to visit our lives in the same way
today. Allow His presence to manifest. Take time to cultivate His Spirit in
life. Don’t be distracted and consumed with other things. He wants to do a work
to begin a deliverance.
Verse to Memorize:
Judges 13:5
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