Sometimes men have to just hear it for themselves! But then we all tend to question instructions multiple times, perhaps hoping to clarify what we thought we heard, but at other times hoping that the instructor may alter their instructions to something more reasonable! Are you able to accept instructions the first time and go with it? Let’s see the purpose for these important instructions to Manoah and his wife.

DATE POSTED Friday, 2021-09-24
WRITTEN AT: Okeechobee, FL

BY: Ed Algreen

SCRIPTURE FROM: Judges 13:3-4; 13-14
TRANSLATION: Contemporary English Version (CEV)

BIBLE TEXT: 3-5 …. an angel from the Lord appeared to her and said: You have never been able to have any children, but very soon you will be pregnant and have a son. He will belong to God from the day he is born, so ….
13 “Your wife must be careful to do everything I told her,” the Lord’s angel answered. 14 “She must not eat or drink anything made from grapes. She must not drink wine or beer or eat anything forbidden by God’s laws. I told her exactly what to do.”

APPLICATION: There are times that we are given instructions that really surprise us, and we may ask for the instructions to be repeated so we could make sure we heard right. I actually smiled as I read this story today, because I identified with it in the lives of my wife and I! Manoah, from the tribe of Dan, was married and had not been blessed with children. In preparation for a future king for Israel, God had one of His angels appear to Manoah’s wife and give her the good news of a baby that she will give birth to – a very special baby. Of course this came as a shock to Manoah, and despite being told of all the special conditions given to his wife, Manoah needed to ask some questions of his own, and hear the instructions first hand, just in case his wife may have misunderstood anything. God agreed to this, and allowed the angel to reappear to Manoah and his dear wife. I’m of the opinion that the angel told Manoah that the instructions are precisely as he told his wife! This made me think of how I question my dear wife when she relays an encounter, or instructions, with me. Poor lady, right?? But I bet that many of my readers/listeners are very similar. When we find it challenging to believe something, we tend to question the message, and/or the messenger, and/or the originator! During my employment, it became comical when someone would come with interpretation of a new regulation, because we often found that we could get almost any answer we want, if we ask the question in the right way! But it didn’t seem like this may have been Manoah’s expectation, as the angel just confirmed exactly what was told to his wife. I believe the point of caution in this Scripture is that accepting the word, much like Mary did when she heard from the angel, and not doubting it’s origination or its intention, like Zachariah did when he was told that he and Elizabeth would bear a child in their old age, might actually help is to show God that we believe in His awesome power, no matter how impossible His end result seems to us. For you see dear friends, I believe that if God tells us to do something, only He has the power to help us accomplish that, and we would do best to not stand in the way. I believe that part of building our faith in the instructions given by God, is to know Him in such a powerful manner that we are ready to jump when He tells us to. When we doubt Him, we are actually saying ‘well I’m not so sure about that, could that really be God ordering me to do this, or that?’ Have faith in God my friends, for His power is unlimited, and His ways are way different to our ways. Expect the unexpected, but be ready to respond to His calling, no matter what His orders consist of.

BLESSING(S) NOTED: Miracles will always seem impossible to us, because they are not our ideas nor performed under our power. Trust God, and do what He says!

PRAYER: Precious Lord, we often ask for things that only You can do, yet we tend to question Your response and Your awesome power to do miraculous things through us and for us. Please forgive us when we doubt, and help us to stay focused on Your great love for us, as You will always do what’s best for us, and for the things that will enrich Your Kingdom. Thank You for working miraculously in the lives of Manoah and his wife to produce a son named Samuel, that we study so much about even today. Lord, I know that You are still our mircale-worker today, and that You still have great things in store for Your people even today. Please help us to be open to Your call and to Your miracles that You may do through us. May we always be available for Your miraculous work. AMEN!