The Israelites cling to their idolatrous ways. God delivers them into the hands of the Philistines. Manoah is a man from the tribe of Dan. His wife is barren. They live in Zorah. An angel announces to Manoah’s wife that she will become pregnant and that her child will dedicate his life to the service of God. During her pregnancy, she must refrain from drinking alcohol and eating unclean food. Manoah’s wife tells her husband about this revelation. Manoah prays to God and the angel appears again to repeat his announcement to Manoah. Samson is born. He grows to become a man of God. Samson’s mother surrenders herself to God. She promises to dedicate her son to the service of God. Her devotion is rewarded by having the privilege of raising one of the most important heroes in Israel’s history. She is blessed because of her love for God.
“For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son;… and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5)
“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” (Judges 13:8)
“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”( Judges 13:24-25)
Blessings are multiplied when shared; by sharing, we truly change ourselves and the world for the better.
