“But his wife said unto him, If the Lord were pleased to kill us, he would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would he have shewed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these.”
Context:Judges 13 is the chapter that introduces the birth of Samson, a judge of Israel. The Israelites had been under the oppression of the Philistines for forty years when an angel of the Lord appeared to a barren woman and her husband, promising them a son who would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines.
God’s faithfulness:In verse 23, we see Samson’s father, Manoah, expressing his concern about their lives being at risk due to seeing the angel of the Lord. However, his wife responds with words of faith and trust in God’s faithfulness. She reassures him that if the Lord had intended to harm them, He would not have accepted their burnt offering and meat offering, nor would He have revealed these extraordinary things to them. Her response reflects a deep understanding of God’s character and His faithfulness to His promises.
God’s acceptance of worship:Manoah’s wife points out that the fact that God accepted their offerings is evidence that He is pleased with them. This emphasizes the importance of sincere worship and the significance of offerings in the Old Testament. It highlights that God desires and accepts genuine worship from His people.
God’s revelation:The wife also mentions that God had shown them great things and had told them important information. This refers to the previous encounter with the angel, where they received the promise of a special child. The fact that God chose to reveal these things to them demonstrates His favour and indicates His plan to work through their family for the deliverance of Israel.
Trusting God’s timing:The phrase “nor would as at this time have told us such things as these” suggests that the timing of God’s revelation is significant. It implies that God’s purpose in revealing these things at that particular moment is for His divine plan to unfold. It reminds us of the importance of trusting God’s timing in our lives and recognizing that He reveals things to us when it is appropriate and according to His purposes.
