Day 16

The Birth of Samson

from the Judges reading plan


Judges 13:1-25, Numbers 6:1-12, Romans 12:1

BY Kaitlin Wernet

I have always wanted to need glasses. While my peers growing up feared being called “four eyes” as a result of their impaired vision, I teemed with jealousy over their newest accessory. While I’m, of course, very grateful for my 20/20 vision, I secretly fear reading glasses will no longer be in style when I actually (fingers crossed) need them one day.

When it comes to this life, I think we all secretly hope that there’s more than meets the eye, that we aren’t quite seeing the full truth just yet. When we experience pain we don’t understand and our circumstances don’t turn out the way we’d hoped, we try to analyze things from all angles. “How did this happen? Did I miss something? How could I have avoided all this suffering?” Wouldn’t it be a huge relief to look through a viewfinder and have someone adjust things until they appear more clearly, until we’re able to make sense of what we see?

All throughout the book of Judges, it’s obvious that Israel was blinded by their own sin. In fact, this ominous phrase occurs once again in today’s reading: “The Israelites again did what was evil in the LORD’s sight” (Judges 13:1). Israel had come to trust only what their own eyes could see.

Imagine the surprise Manoah and his wife must have felt when, after years of barrenness, the angel of the Lord announced that they would have a son. It’s doubtful they saw this blessed, yet baffling, news coming. Many questions followed: How can this be? What will the boy’s responsibilities and work be? What is this angel’s name who has brought us this great news? While they didn’t receive answers to those questions, the angel’s instruction made it clear that this son was to be set apart (vv.4–5).

Clearly, there was more at work than what their human eyes could see. Samson’s impending birth was an introduction to the birth of new possibilities they never could have dreamt up for themselves, an unexpected form of redemption, bringing God’s heart a little more into focus.

As God’s children, this is where we can settle our trust: Christ’s coming keeps us focused on hope. The gospel is our viewfinder. Even if all the other details of life seem blurry and unknown, we know we can put our trust in Jesus. May we view this story and our own as just a small piece of the grander reality of God’s great plan for His people.

Post Comments (32)

32 thoughts on "The Birth of Samson"

  1. Jo Wee says:

    A reminder from today’s passage: God’s timing is better than our timing (Samson given to a barren couple). Partnering with the Holy Spirit means hearing from God every step of the way, even if we don’t know what is to come. Draw near to Him, and He will draw near to me.

  2. Mercy says:

    Thank you BETH so much for the distinction between Nazarite vs. Nazarene. I appreciate it.

  3. Brielle Hebert says:

    This story reminds me so much of when the angel came to Mary to tell about the birth of Jesus. A lot of similarities! Samson coming to rescue Israel is a foreshadowing of the one, true Redeemer for all of humanity.

  4. Tammy Stecker says:

    ❤️❤️❤️

  5. Kimberly Z says:

    Happy Wednesday ladies. @Mary Henderson – I don’t know if it’s too late for you to see this but I am praying for you and your family. Trust me I know no family is perfect we all have our faults. Praying it gets easier for you and your family.

  6. Cindy Hanna says:

    Clearly there is more at work than human eyes can see. Thank you my good, good Father and Lord for this reminder. Your ways are higher than mine and your purpose outstrips all my expectations. I pray that you will always find me actively placing my trust in you, even in my darkest moments. All glory belongs to you. Amen.

  7. Mary henderson says:

    I’m discouraged today because of deep hurts and family struggles. These verses remind me to rest in God and His timing and plans.

  8. Beth says:

    The difference in a Nazarite and a Nazarene is: that a Nazarite is one who makes a vote to the Lord according to Numbers 6:1-12; whereas a Nazarene is a person from the town of Nazareth. Jesus was called a Nazarene because he grew up in Nazareth. Samson was a Nazerite because of the vow in Numbers.

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