Scripture Text: Judges 13:1-23
There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children. And the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, “Behold, you are barren and have not borne children, but you shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean, for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.”
Judges 13:2-5
After the death of three minor prophets—Ibzan (Judges 12:8-10), Elon (Judges 12:11-12), and Abdon (Judges 12:13-15)—the people of Israel once again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. Consequently, the Lord gave them into the hands of the Philistines for forty years.
However, the Lord continued to fulfill His covenant to save His people. He used a barren woman, the faithful wife of Manoah, to conceive a Nazirite child named Samson. The angel of the Lord spoke and instructed the couple about the manner and mission of the child. That's why they carefully followed the Lord's instructions mentioned in verses 4, 5, 7, and 14.
There were also some barren women in biblical history, such as Sarah (Genesis 11:30), Rebecca (Genesis 25:21), Rachel (Genesis 29:31), and Elisabeth (Luke 1:7), used by God to fulfill His plan and covenant. These barren women seriously followed the Lord's instructions with the guidance of God's Spirit, and as a result, they were blessed by God.
God's instructions are very important for His children. This was the reason why the Israelites were consistently disciplined by God, because they always disobeyed the Lord's instructions. Sometimes, other believers and followers of Christ would also suffer the consequences because they ignored the instructions of the Lord Jesus Christ.
Reflect
1. Do you seriously follow God's instructions?
2. Do you want to please and glorify the Lord?
Read the Bible always because this contains Jesus' final instructions!
Remember
1. Jesus was the first who perfectly followed the instructions of His Father.
2. The disciples also seriously and carefully followed God's instructions.
3. The Lord Jesus Christ expects us also to carefully follow His instructions because this is a serious matter.
Read
Revelation 1:3
Pray
Father, we thank you for another opportunity to gain insights from the life of Samson's parents. Obeying your instructions is important in your eyes. We ask you, Lord, to give us hearts that carefully take heed of your words. We want to bless you, honor you, and praise you with our obedience. May we be able to please you in all our actions. In Jesus' name. Amen!
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