- Sounds like Mary: An angel came to Samson's mother and announced his conception. The angel also issued instructions to raise him as a Nazirite (long hair & no alcohol). When she described the angel to her husband, she described him as "terror laced with glory" (Judges 13:6-7). They made offerings on an altar, and the angel ascended in the flames of the altar. Wow! I don't remember ever hearing that story before.
- Samson fell in love with a Philistine girl, which was forbidden. But God was behind it, Scripture says, arranging an opportunity to go against the Philistines (Judges 14:4). God works in mysterious ways.
- Samson judged Israel for 20 years, so along with his amazing exploits (the lion & honey incident, the jawbone incident, the wife actually going to his best man incident, the city gate incident), he must have been a wise and just man. When he died by bringing down a large building with his bare hands, he killed 3000 Philistines at the same time.
- Chaos: "In those days there was no king in Israel. People did whatever they felt like doing" (Judges 17:6).
- Phinehas is still around? Aaron's grandson, Phinehas, was still the priest when the Israelites began a civil war with the tribe of Benjamin, which came about as the result of a brutal rape in the town of Gibeah. (Gibeah was a Benjaminite town, but it sounded exactly like Gomorrah). As a result of the war, 25,000 Benjaminites were killed. "God routed them" (Judges 20:34-36).
Elena's verse of the day: "In those days Israel wasn't ruled by a king, and everyone did what they thought was right" (Judges 17:6 & 21:25).
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Thank you, Susy! I cracked up at Tola, son of Puah, son of Dodo, too. It is proof positive that God has a phenomenal sense of humor!
ReplyDeleteI struggled very much with Jephthah's story and truly hope that the professor is right; that she was dedicated to the Lord's service and became the first Nun. Jephthah's story made me reflect more deeply about what happens when we try to control and manipulate God's will for our own self-interests. The results can be devestating - brokeness, loss of hope and faith, separation from God. yuck. wholly depressing.
As I read through Deuteronomy, Joshua and Judges, I saw an interesting theme unfold about the people that God chose to lead and protect Israel. Moses, Joshua, Rahab, Deborah, Jael, Gideon, the unknown woman who stoned Abimelech, Jephthah, Manoah and his wife (Samson). They were outcasts of society - prostitutes, women, sons of prostitues, the least of their families, had physical ailments. But they all had one beautiful thing in common - an unwavering devotion to the one true God. It reminded me of Jesus' words in Luke 9:48 "For he who is least among you all - he is the greatest".
I like that. God does not need perfect overachievers with "type A" personalities who want to control the universe (Firstly no such person exists. And seriously. Like we could keep the Earth tilted on its axis and order in the cosmos). No, no. God wants us with all our flaws, in our weakest moments, when we are utterly humbled before Him. That's when He says, "Yup. I can use you now". And the miracles start happening - like defeating thousands of soliders with three hundred men or bringing a smile to someone's heart that was hardened by life's disappointments.
Yes, we have an amazing Abba, Father!