Conceiving Samson!?

Dear Beloved,

A pointer earlier this day on Samson, and  I believe our minds were compelled to think about the life and acts of Samson.

First thoughts (when we think about Samson):

1.       Israel’s judge

2.       A mighty man

3.       A womanizer???  (Your opinions may be different). He chased the most beautiful ladies in the town, and they all trapped the poor fellow.

Whatever he ended up becoming, let’s keep all that aside for some time.

Reason: We always have spent our time learning about this person’s life and his actions alone, but we were never compelled to look at his calling.

v.5  ‘for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines’         [ Judges 13 – NASB ]

This was God’s purpose for him.

Now, before we go ahead let us clear our minds of all the pre-conceived ideas about Samson and look at this story/incident in a new light. God’s word teaches us every day, in a new way. And, the primary requirement to learn is to be empty before him, so that He can fill us with His teachings.

Let us play a game, which will help us to forget all we have read about Samson till now in this article.

Q1: Which tribe(s) is/are omitted from the list of restored tribes in Revelation?

Q2: There were 12 tribes in Israel and they were based on Jacob’s sons. So, if some tribes are omitted (in revelation) – how come the count is still 12?

[Please find the answers on your own. You can mail your responses to me on my e-id. I want to see how many people tried to find the answer]

So now, we are all ready now.

Let us look at the sequence of events and understand alongside the hidden secrets:

1.       Israel sinned again, did evil in the sight of God.

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Ohhhhh……. Again I see myself in this statement. Again, and again, and again, despite the continued loving care of our Lord and His clear instructions/command – I choose to sin, break His heart every time.

The height of our worthlessness is seen in the fact that despite being oppressed because of my sin(s), I choose not to repent. I choose to wallow in the dirt, and try convincing myself with statements like:

·         ‘Take life as it comes to you’

·         ‘You can’t fight your destiny’

·         ‘Forget what happened and move on, time will help forget’

Amongst all these there are others (not me) who say:

·         ‘We are the masters of our destiny’

·         ‘Our will and hard work will tilt everything in our favor’

·         ‘I really don’t care about what happened yesterday, what I am doing today, and what will happen tomorrow. I am going to give my best shot and enjoy my life’

Whatever we show, our helplessness or our sufficiency; we are hollow inside - without His love and His providence. And, the root cause of all this is our disobedience.

There is no immediate text also in the passage which shows that Israel repented.

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2.       A family in the tribe of Dan finds grace in the sight of the Lord.

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Well…well… Dan, one of Jacob’s sons – who later on becomes a tribe, is a tribe which will not be restored and is not counted among the 12, because of its continued idolatrous behaviour.

All accounts in the Bible, about Dan – speaks of their wicked behaviour. So much of wickedness that God never wants it be restored.

Is this situation not scary?  God of love, our father – can you imagine Him taking such a decision? Well, it is true. So, let us be careful…

Yet, see the love, the immense love. A family from that tribe finds grace. I find grace, just because He is gracious, and I know for sure – I have no merits to claim.

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3.       The family has a certain problem. The lady is barren.

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Sin and its results – it keeps us from enjoying the life God gave us and living a life worthy of God

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4.       The angel of the Lord appears to this lady and says:

“Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

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you shall conceive and give birth to a son  - God says I will restore you, I will heal you, I will bless you.

be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing – this talks about cleansing myself, repentance, and abstinence from all forms of evil and getting back into a state of obedience. Obedience is the primary requirement for us to enjoy/appropriate all of God’s blessings and promises.

Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines – This is what God wants.

              ]

5.       Come to the end of the chapter

 Then the woman gave birth to a son and named him Samson; and the child grew up and the Lord blessed him.  And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him in Mahaneh-dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

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Samson is born, he is blessed and strengthened by God. The Spirit of the Lord stirred him to do His work.

Isn’t this beautiful, amidst all the despair, pain, and hopelessness – God restores.

Amidst this draught, amidst the barrenness – God gives a fruit

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Practical lessons for me/us:

1.       Am I ready to conceive Samson? Are we all ready to conceive Samson?

2.       Our sin – disobedience – or, even sharing our love for God with the things of the world – leads to a spiritual draught.

3.       Then, I/we lead a fruitless spiritual life.

4.       God restores – repent – obey – and then God helps you conceive Samson – a work/deed/word/ etc. etc. which will bring honor to God, and will show forth the promises and blessings in God.

Please mail in your queries (if any) and the answers to the questions asked. 

Would be glad to hear from you.

Please, pray that we may grow in the Grace of God and in His love, and love one another and build each other up.