This post is Day 5 in a series of studies about “Samson”. I strongly suggest you begin with the introduction to this study, please click here to read it.

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Samson – Day 5

The parents God chose for Samson the strong man, a future leader in Israel, had an angelic visitation. But they did not recognise it until he disappeared upwards to Heaven! The reaction of Manoah on realising that this had been no ordinary visitor was to fear that they would die!

Judges 13:15-16

Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.” The angel of the Lord replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the Lord.) Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that we may honour you when your word comes true?”

The Thought

These verses remind me of a new Testament verse which tells us to open our homes to strangers because by doing so some people have entertained angels without knowing it (Hebrews 13:1). The couple chosen by God to be the parents of Samson the strong man, a future leader in Israel, had an angelic visitation, but didn’t recognise it until he disappeared upwards straight to Heaven!

Manoah’s reaction on realising that this had been no ordinary visitor was to fear that they would die! His wife was the more practical one who responded with If the Lord had meant to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and grain offering from our hands, nor shown us all these things or now told us this (v23).

The Jewish culture today is still much the same in many parts of the world, and they are always ready to accept strangers into their homes. They are a friendly people trusting God for provision. This causes dislike, mistrust and hatred of them in many parts of the world.

Action

Ask yourself today how you react to people who invite strangers for meals. Maybe you do that yourself? If not, then ask yourself today why you don’t.

Think about the times Jesus ate with His disciples. That is when He often had the deepest conversations with them.

Read Matthew 26:17-30 and imagine yourself at that table with Jesus.

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