A couple of years ago, I received an unexpected invitation to participate in a Christian Writers’ Retreat. It was a three-day, all-expenses-paid getaway at a gorgeous location, designed to encourage a group of writers to think, create, and hone their craft together. It was a writer’s dream.
As a stay-at-home mama who had never had an opportunity like this before, I was stunned by the invitation. Throughout the retreat, I sorta had to pinch myself to make sure the whole experience was real. Two years later, I’m still gushing over the experience because I felt so undeserving of it.
Maybe that’s how two somewhat nondescript people who we typically don’t talk about much felt when they were invited into the story God was writing for Israel.
In Judges 13, we meet Samson’s parents. If you’ve grown up in Sunday School, you know the story of the big and burly Samson who could have been a model in a shampoo commercial. Like me, however, you know less—or maybe nothing—about his parents.
His dad, Manoah, was from the Tribe of Dan. His mom is only known as Manoah’s wife. Additionally, she is described as “childless, unable to give birth.” (Judges 13:2)
But this couple, whose story mostly plays offstage, has something extraordinary unfold in their lives.
An Angel of the Lord tells Manoah’s wife that she will conceive and give birth to a son who will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. She rushes off to convey this stunning news to her husband.
I love his instinctual response. The text reads:
Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: “Pardon your servant, Lord. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born.” (Judges 13:8)
Manoah’s humility and dependence on God are striking.
There is no entitlement.
There is no pride in being “picked” by God.
There’s only a humble plea to be taught how to bring up the boy.
Later, the angel of God meets with Manoah’s wife again. She hurries off and calls her husband into the conversation.
This time, Manoah asks: “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?” (Judges 13:12).
Manoah’s blessing didn’t make him less dependent on God. It drove him to inquire of the Lord and honor God through obedience. What a powerful lesson for us.
Often, as soon as we receive the blessing we’ve been praying for, we forget God. We don’t bother asking God how to do things His way rather than our own way.
After the angel spoke to them, Manoah offered a sacrifice to God. Scripture records that “as the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground.”
These two “background actors” pleased God so much in their humility and obedience that God gave them supernatural confirmation of His presence.
Yet, this was not a story about an obedient couple or even their son, Samson. This was a story that God was writing that ultimately pointed to Jesus.
Some Bible commentaries say that Manoah’s questions show that he was doubtful. They state that Manoah was a deeply fearful man, especially when the angel of God ascended in the flame. And while those statements may contain truth, they only reiterate that God uses the unlikeliest and the most flawed of people to carry out His purposes.
The angel of God told Manoah’s wife that their son would “begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines” (Judges 13:5).
While the “salvation” Samson offered was imperfect and temporary, it was a shadow of the One who would come to offer a perfect and permanent sacrifice for all humanity. What Samson could only begin in a broken way, Christ would complete in an eternal way.
This humble, dependent, God-honoring couple may be considered background actors in Samson’s story. Nonetheless, they are included in the greater redemption story that God was writing.
Today, we too are called to be part of a greater and grander narrative that God authors. How do we respond to that invitation?
Do we try to make it about ourselves? Or, like Manoah and his wife, do we fall facedown before a gracious God?
When we hear God’s invitation today, may we too be moved to worship. May we ask Him to teach us to obey. May we offer ourselves as a living sacrifice pleasing and acceptable to Him.
