Then the woman went to her husband and told him, “A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn’t ask him where he came from, and he didn’t tell me his name. But he said to me, ‘You will become pregnant and have a son. Now then, drink no wine or other fermented drink and do not eat anything unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite of God from the womb until the day of his death.'”

Judges 13:6-7 (NIV)

In Judges 13, we read about an angel of the Lord appearing to Manoah’s infertile wife and telling her she will have a child. While reading through the tale of Samson, it occurred to me that Samson’s father, Manoah represents the old covenant between God and the people of Israel, while his wife represents the new covenant with Jesus Christ. Throughout this short passage, we see the law represented by Manoah and faith by his wife.

The angel of the Lord appeared to Samson’s mother first. His mother didn’t ask any questions of the Lord but accepted what she was told as true, demonstrating great faith. When his mother went to her husband, Manoah, he was the one who prayed to the Lord and asked questions of the angel when he appeared, revealing little faith.

The wife, here, isn’t named anywhere in the Bible. She is simply known as “Manoah’s wife.” However, between the two of them, she was the one who accepted what she was told without asking any questions of the Lord. Manoah treated the angel more like another human being than an angel of the Lord. For example, Manoah wanted to know or do the following:

  1. What is the rule for the child? (Judges 13:12)
  2. He wanted to feed the angel. Prepare a young goat (Judges 13:16).
  3. He wanted to know the angel’s name so that he could be honored when what the angel says comes true (Judges 13:17).
  4. Declared that they were going to die after realizing that an angel of the Lord had come to them (Judges 13:22).

Manoah behaved in a worldly, rule-based way toward the angel of God while his wife received what she was told by faith.

When Manoah asked how the child was to be raised, the angel of the Lord repeated to him what had already been said to his wife. When Manoah offered to feed the angel of the Lord, he was told that he was wasting the angel’s time, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food.” (Judges 13:16 NIV) Furthermore, the angel of the Lord pointed to honoring God, “if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.” (Judges 13:16 NIV)

We are called by God to believe, by faith, in Jesus. We are called to believe that God will do what he has said he will do. While God is patient with us and doesn’t actively discourage us from asking why things happen. It’s better to do what God says and accept His will in our lives than to question why or how it can be done. Consider Zechariah, who couldn’t speak after doubting Gabriel about John the Baptist’s birth. It is by faith that we are saved. Not by works.

Do you know God? God knows you, and he loves you. He sees you as significant because you are. No one is insignificant to Him. He’s with you today, and he wants you to know him. Jesus died for your sins and mine so we could be free of guilt, freed from death, and live eternally with him. Eternal salvation is just a prayer away.

Pray this prayer with me to accept the gift of salvation:

Lord Jesus, forgive me for all my sins. I repent from my ways. Wash me in your blood and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. I believe you died on the cross and were buried, and God the Father raised you from the dead on the third day. Right now, Lord Jesus, I open the door to my heart and receive you into my heart as my Lord and personal Savior. Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, then congratulations! You are on the first step of a brand new life. Allow me to be the first to welcome you to my family, the family of God. There are abundant resources available online for new Christians. You can visit here for more information on what to do next. You can also leave me a comment, and I’ll do my best to help you on the next step of this incredible journey.

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