In the last entry, we saw that the angel of the Lord appeared to Samson's mother and announced that her son was to be set apart for God's service from birth. The woman told her husband named Manoah, and then we read how the man responded:
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.” God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her. The woman hurried to tell her husband, “He’s here! The man who appeared to me the other day!” Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, “Are you the man who talked to my wife?” “I am,” he said. So Manoah asked him, “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule that governs the boy’s life and work?” (Judges 13:8-12).
On two occasions, the angel appeared to the woman and not her husband, but then she went to her husband for advice and clarification (this is what Eve should have done in the Garden). Her husband didn't dismiss what she said, but took it to heart and asked God for clarification concerning their son and how they were to raise him.
While Samson's life was both unique and bizarre, his parents were models of how to raise a child according to Ephesians 6:4 (NKJV): "And you, fathers, do not provoke your children to wrath, but bring them up in the training and admonition of the Lord." Samson's parents wanted to know "the rule that governs the boy's life and work." That should be the question of every parent so they can identify their children's purpose and then cooperate with the plan God reveals.
Do you have children in your family, including nieces and nephews? Do you work with children at your job or church? Are you seeking God for their purpose, or are you choosing a career for them according to your culture's custom? Once you get understanding on their purpose, are you seeking God for your role in how to raise them?
God made God's will for Samson crystal clear for his parents and wants to do the same thing for you and the young people in your life. Ask God good questions about their future and He is certain to provide good answers.
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