Today I am going to share with you a copy of a recent lesson I taught
to the ladies in our church. In looking through Judges chapter 13 through
chapter 16, we learn that Samson was a man of contrasts. There were two
sides to his life, as you will see over the next two days. He was born
at a time when Israel was in distress. His birth was foretold as well
as his purpose - he was to deliver the Israelites from the Philistines.
How like our God to send special comforts when troubles and trials are
at their peak! With such a calling on his life, Samson was going to have
to be raised as a strong leader, therefore the home this ordained deliverer
was born into would have to be weighed heavily by God! Hence, the importance
and value God places upon the woman who is a faithful mother...
Leaders are born in homes where parents are wholly devoted to God... Could
the Lord pick your home to raise a strong leader in??
Judges 13:1-3, "And the children of Israel did evil again in the sight
of the Lord; and the Lord delivered them into the hand of the Philistines
forty years. [2] And there was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of
the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren, and bare
not. [3] And the angel of the Lord appeared unto the woman, and said unto
her, Behold now, thou art barren, and bearest not: but thou shalt conceive,
and bear a son."
Mrs. Manoah's name was not given - her character speaks for itself! Right
off we learn that she was barren. Notice though, that the angel of the
Lord reminded her of this fact! Do you think a childless woman would need
to be told she was barren?? It was obviously not an issue for Mrs. Manoah...
She was at peace, she accepted God's will and moved on. She was content
in her condition and God saw that it was so. Hence, the arrival of baby
Samson would not thwart her godly character. She had proven she could
be trusted to stay loyal to the Lord's purposes in Samson's life!
Judges 13:4-5, "Now therefore beware, I pray thee, and drink not wine
nor strong drink, and eat not any unclean thing: [5] For, lo, thou shalt
conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the
child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to
deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.
Leaders are born in homes that are separated in practice. Now therefore
BEWARE, the Bible says! There are certainly many avenues in this world
in which our children can fulfill their sensual indulgences, amen? Ladies,
are you raising children dedicated unto God from the womb?? The word "begin"
makes me uneasy... It's almost as if the Bible is warning us of the danger
that surrounds those who are set apart for His purposes...
Judges 13:6-7, "Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man
of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an
angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither
told he me his name: [7] But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive,
and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any
unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb
to the day of his death."
There are two wise things that the Bible reveals to us about Mrs. Manoah....
First of all, she shared everything with her husband - even her intimate
conversations with the Lord! Husbands and wives should exchange the areas
that God is seeking to improve them in, bless them in, convict them in
- however He is at work in their lives. It's healthy marital communication!
Ladies, if there is any other person, male or female, that you are disclosing
the majority of your personal concerns to, it will affect your marriage
adversely for such practice hinders the "one flesh" relationship. You
see, intimacy is built on a willingness to cultivate self-disclosure.
It's what distinquishes our marriages above all other relationships. Husbands
and wives should be the closest of friends! Who have you been building
your deepest relationship with?? Keep your heart with all diligence and
in turn you will preserve your marriage as did Mrs. Manoah.
The second thing that stands out to me is that Mrs. Manoah exhibited wise
behavior for a woman alone! She did not take her conversation to an intimate
level with the man of God. How much of your personal life do you really
need to disclose to your pastor, dear lady? Not realizing he was an angel
of the Lord, she did not ask him whence he was... Neither did he tell
her his name. Ladies, when it comes to living for God, we must keep our
focus on the work of God as these two exemplified in conversation. A faithful
woman would not allow herself to tamper with personal matters of the opposite
sex - especially if she is married! What shape are your conversations
with other men taking?
Judges 13:8, "Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let
the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us
what we shall do unto the child that shall be born."
Here we gain a glimpse of the marital relationship in the home a leader
would be born in. Mrs. Manoah's testimony holds weight in her husband's
life and he takes the information his wife gives him to heart and then
goes to the Lord for further wisdom and insight! He asks God to repeat
the instructions for them because it would be a joint effort to raise
godly seed. Manoah was careful in the face of becoming a parent, wanting
to fully understand their upcoming duties and responsibilities. How many
parents today would you say care to order their lives aright for the sake
of their children?? How many look to the LORD for guidance? God's guidance
must always be sought in the spirit of teachableness!
When is the last time you asked God to repeat His instructions to you??
Or did you think you got it all the first time... Do you ever become annoyed
or insulted when the preacher brings the same message twice??
Judges 13:9-10, "And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel
of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her
husband was not with her. And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed
her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me,
that came unto me the other day."
As his wife sat waiting to be instructed of God, at Manoah's bidding the
angel of God came again ready to teach! But one of the students was missing,
for Manoah was not there... What would you do at this point?? Tell the
angel, "Just go ahead and tell me and I'll relay the message to my husband."
Mrs. Manoah RAN to get her husband - another wise move! You see ladies,
she didn't take this opportunity to rush ahead of Manoah in godly understanding
and wisdom. A humble, devoted wife would not strive or take opportunity
to appear superior to her husband in knowledge. Instead, Mrs. Manoah paced
herself and postponed the instruction till her husband was by her side...
Far too many Christian women plunge into spiritual issues without the
oversight, guidance, and companionship of their husbands. Ladies, your
ministry should be carried out alongside your husband - not out in front
of him!!
Judges 13:11-12, "And Manoah arose, and went after his wife, and came
to the man, and said unto him, Art thou the man that spakest unto the
woman? And he said, I am. [12] And Manoah said, Now let thy words come
to pass. How shall we order the child, and how shall we do unto him?"
And Manoah arose... How long O, wife, would you be willing to wait for
your husband to rise up and seek the Lord?? Because Manoah's wife was
not haughty in her spirituality, her influence upon her husband was greater!
Do you let the Words of God come to pass in your home?? This godly husband
was protective of the input that came into his wife's life. He took the
oversight for her spiritual understanding, not allowing her to become
mixed up in teachings he was not aware of. "How shall we order the child,
how shall we do unto him?" were the questions
Manoah asked of God. Here was a man who wanted to know more about living
a separated life... This only came about because Mrs. Manoah moved over
and gave her husband the right of way!! She left his position as leader
open rather than taking it herself! Men become indifferent to spiritual
things when women become insistent!
Yes, there was unity in this home - the term "WE" is used often... There
was not a spirit of competition between husband and wife. They helped
each other in the way that was holy and begged God's help together. The
climate of this home was just right for God to raise up a leader; the
very home where Samson was born...
Judges 13:24-25, "And the woman bare a son, and called his name Samson:
and the child grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord
began to move him at times in the camp of Dan between Zorah and Eshtaol."
"At times" - another phrase that leaves me uneasy; a clue that Samson,
though raised in a godly home, yielded to carnal appetites as we'll see
tomorrow...
God Bless,
Pam
Isaiah 60:1&2
Copyright 2001 Pamela A. Iannello
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