So, I thought I was pretty familiar with Christian subculture, but I have never seen this. And there are so many things about it that confuse me. When did Goliath become a lion? It’s David and Goliath…Samson and Delilah…so how did Samson and Goliath get connected? AND what the heck is going on with the perspective here…the lion is bigger than Samson? And the sphinx isn’t that far in the background, so why is it so tiny? And who is the guy running in back in somewhat modern-day clothing? So. Much. Confusion.
When I was a kid we had these VHS tapes of animated Bible stories. We watched them over and over. The one I remember most?
Samson.
And I think the reason I remember it so well is because I’m pretty sure every single time I watched it I had a crazy hope that it’d turn out differently. That Samson would be smarter. That he wouldn’t trust Delilah. And that he’d keep his hair and his strength.
‘Course, every time he didn’t. And for some reason the ending, when he asks God for one final spurt of strength and knocks over some pillars, never made me feel better.
Maybe that’s why, unlike some of my girlfriends, I’ve never had a problem with guys with long hair. Sure, I might’ve thought it was because I’m all laidback and “it’s their hair so let them do what they want” cool.
But really, maybe it’s just that deep down I’m still longing for some kind of redemption for Samson.:)
Anyway, so I re-read the chapters in Judges this week that tell Samson’s story. This time it’s not the strong guy himself who stood out to me…but his dad.
So if you haven’t read the early part of the story for awhile, here’s how it goes: An angel comes to the barren wife of a guy named Manoah, tells her she’s going to become pregnant and that her son is going to help deliver Israel from the Philistines. She tells Manoah. And this is Manoah’s response:
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.”
And that’s where I stopped…before Samson goes out and kills a lion with his bare hands and takes down the Philistines and then gets tangled up with stupid Delilah, his father does this quiet and awesome thing.
He finds out he’s about to receive an amazing gift, a son. And before doing anything else (except maybe hugging his wife—I’d like to think he did that right away) he prays that God would show him how to best receive this gift…how to bring up his son.
And my thoughts immediately bounced to the times in my life when I’ve felt like God handed me a gift. Something wonderful—a dream-come-true or a surprise life event that felt all kinds of awesome. Too, maybe a talent or ability that can only be attributed to Him. And I have to ask myself:
What’s been my first response?
Have I accepted a gift and held it close and gone on my merry way?
Or have I accepted it with a light grasp, still open hands and mind and heart to how God wants me to use it?
Have I prayed for guidance or just jumped in without a second thought to divine instruction?
They’re good questions to ask. And maybe the answers aren’t or haven’t always matched up to Manoah’s great example. But I definitely want them to now. Because I see in Manoah someone who (to go cliche for a moment) knew the Gift-Giver was an even better thing than the gift itself.
And every gift is another chance to encounter God, to better understand His purpose for my life and to step into that purpose with my focus in the right place.
Comments 20
I confess, I’ve thought about Samson’s parents a lot over the years. (That will happen when you have kids–you watch for all those Bible parents and what they did right and wrong!) But I confess I’ve never quite seen Samson’s dad’s response in this way. It really made me stop and think, as it did you. Thank you for sharing your insight!
Author
You’re welcome. Interesting thing about Samson’s parents is that later on in Samson’s life they make some really crazy decisions…like giving away his wife. But it’s funny in general looking at parents in the Bible simply because all we get are these little snippets of their lives…but I really loved this one moment in Manoah’s. Made me think. 🙂
I have never thought about Samson’s dad! But I have thought often about Samson. I’m with you–the ending to the story was never all that satisfying. In my romantic mind, happily-ever-afters include redemption and not dying under a pile of rubble. 🙂
Author
I know…it’s funny how every single time I read that story (or watched the cartoon as a kid), I held out hope it’d end differently. Sorta like Gone with the Wind. I actually like the ending of that, but there is always a piece of me that thinks just maybe [SPOILER] Rhett will stick around.
Melissa,
What great insight. I frequently pray for wisdom in raising the gifts I have in my children. As parents we control so much of our kids perception of themselves. I always loved the redemption of Samson in the end. He clearly fell far and hard and yet, God in His mercy still redeemed him.
Yes, so often this calling to write challenges me. I so want to walk worthy of the calling the apostle talks about in Ephesians. Thank you for sharing.
Blessings!
Author
Love your words, Alena. Your second sentence about parents controlling so much of their kids’ perception of themselves…made me think of my own parents…and how grateful I am for the way they constantly fueled my faith, confidence and creativity. They really are awesome (as you now know, since you’ve met them!)…
This is great, Melissa! I’ve always skimmed over that part. Loving this and how it pushes me to think about what God’s given me. Am I asking Him to show me how to use it? I love his words…”teach me how”. That’s a step I don’t want to miss.
And, BTW, that coloring book TOTALLY reminds me of the cartoon He-Man…
I thought of He-Man too!
Author
LOL He-Man…seriously, they could be twins. And yes, the “teach me how” part is what really stuck out to me too.
Wow, I must confess that I have never read about Samson’s dad and this really made me stop and think about how many times I’ve only just said a quick “thank you” to God for a gift instead of marveling at Him being better than the gift. Thanks for this post 🙂
Author
You’re welcome, Natalie. And thanks for stopping by…yeah, so easy to get focused on the stuff of life. But even the really, really good stuff, the gifts and blessings, can’t compare to how cool God is. I wish I stopped more to think about that.
First, your caption under the photo made me giggle. Thanks for the Friday laugh.
Second, wow. What awesome questions to ask. I don’t think I have ever thought to ask God what he wants me to do with a gift he’s given, not in those terms anyway. Lots of thoughts swirling right now…
Author
You are welcome for the laugh. If you laughed even half as much as I did when I first saw it, then I’m glad I included it. And glad the post got your thoughts swirling. 🙂
Now I’m gonna have nightmares of a guy in a Xena Warrior Princess outfit. Thanks a lot! 🙂
Author
Haha, sorry, Mel! You’ll have to tell me if the nightmares are better or worse than the ones you had after you watched Arsenic and Old Lace. That was you, right, who was mad at me for recommending that one?? You were freaked out by the bad guy in it??
I love that very much. I need to remember to first seek God about how best to receive the gifts he offers me.
Author
Glad it resonated with you, Lisa!
Great insight, Melissa. Thanks for sharing! Isn’t it neat how some of the people in the Bible who aren’t mentioned much seem to say or do such important things? Love it.
Have a groovy week!
Andrea
Author
Thanks, Andrea…it’s so true…there are these cool little nuggets we (or at least, I) often miss in between all the well-known Bible stories.