A GOOD MAN: Samson’s father is a role model for men

Judges 13 and 14

The news of his wife’s pregnancy was almost too much for Manoah, who lived in the small town of Zorah in the territory assigned to the tribe of Dan. Manoah was ecstatic when his wife ran directly to him to tell her story, as recorded in Judges 13: 3, NKJV:

“And the Angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, ‘Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.’”

How miraculous is that? For years, the couple had been trying to have a baby.  They lived during a time and in a culture where children were essential to the economic growth of the family and were considered blessings from God. Their childlessness was not just a matter of timing or faith. An act of God was needed.

The wife told Manoah: “A Man of God came to me, and his countenance was like the countenance of the Angel of God, very awesome; but I did not ask Him where He was from, and He did not tell me His name.” 

Manoah believed his wife’s story, although women held little status in that culture and seldom were taken at their word. To underscore that point, Judges does not reveal her name.

Manoah also trusted his wife, but he wanted to pray for himself because he wasn’t clear on the instructions left by the angel.

The wife told Manoah in Judges 13:7 NKJV: “And He said to me, ‘Behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. Now drink no wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb to the day of his death.’”

Immediately Manoah called on the Lord with a mighty prayer of his own: “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born.”

Yes, Manoah’s strong faith is on display in this prayer. Women of the Word encourage anyone reading this article to pray. Click on the link to hear more about the importance of prayer. (PRAYER PODCAST LINK)

God sent the angel to Manoah’s wife first and Judges 13: 9-10 NKJV said, “And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the Angel of God came to the woman again as she was sitting in the field; but Manoah her husband was not with her.”

When the angel appeared a second time, Manoah’s wife ran to get him.

Judges 13:11-14 describes what happened:

^“So Manoah arose and followed his wife” back to the field where the man was. “When he came to the Man, he said to Him, ‘Are You the Man who spoke to this woman?’”

And He said, “I am.”

Manoah said, “Now let Your words come to pass! What will be the boy’s rule of life, and his work?”

 So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe.”

Manoah’s wife and the angel did not repeat a significant tidbit that the angel shared initially with the barren woman. The angel explained that the reason she had to observe all the Nazarite practices during her pregnancy is because God had designated the couple’s baby to “deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.”

Israel and the Philistines were archenemies. God delivered the Israelites from Egypt and chose Moses to lead them to the Promised Land, called Canaan. Instead of staying focused on God and obeying his commandments, the Israelites allowed the Canaanite cults to make deep inroads into Jewish life. For their disobedience, God allowed His chosen people to be ruled for 40 years by the Philistines, descendants of the giant rude, warlike, and restless races that had once possessed Canaan.

The Israelites endured merciless oppression because they had become weakened by idolatry and disunion. As conditions worsened, the Israelites sent up their cries for help and rescue. The angel’s pronouncement is evidence of God’s compassion toward those who are suffering. Although the Israelites were to blame for their own misfortune, God still sent a deliverer in the form of a baby boy.

After the Angel repeated God’s pre-natal care instructions, Manoah wanted to celebrate because he thought the angel was a man who had an angelic look to him. He asked the visitor his name and insisted that the angel stay for dinner. Instead of a meal, the angel suggested that Manoah make a sacrifice to thank God for the good news.

In Judges 13:18-21, NKJV, “… the Angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful? So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it upon the rock to the Lord. And He did a wondrous thing while Manoah and his wife looked on—it happened as the flame went up toward heaven from the altar—the Angel of the Lord ascended in the flame of the altar! When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell on their faces to the ground. When the Angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and his wife, then Manoah knew that He was the Angel of the Lord.”

Women of the Word encourage you to read the full story of Samson’s birth and life in Judges 13 and 14. The following is food for thought:

• Manoah must have been a “good man” because God listened to his prayers and answered. Proverbs 15:29 states, “God is far from the wicked, but He hears the prayers of the righteous.”
• The Bible also says in Proverbs 18:22, “He who finds a wife finds a good thing, and obtains favor from the Lord.” It seems Manoah was learning this principle. His life would never be the same. Through his wife, Manoah gained a miraculous encounter with the Messenger of God, an answered prayer and the child who would deliver the Israelites from their oppressors.
• Be ready for God to answer your prayers because it only takes an instant.
• This miracle encounter substantiates the mission of Women of the Word to encourage women to develop deeper relationships with God through prayer, worship, and Bible Study. Therefore, even if you currently feel nameless, unimportant, or replaceable, just understand that you are KNOWN by God and He will answer ALL your prayers.

Written by COH

Sources:

Isaacs, Jacob. From Our People. Kehot Publication Society 1946-1948.

Dubov, Mendel. Naso Haftarah Companion: For an informed reading of Judges 13:2-25. Chabad.org.