The period of the judges in Israel was characterized by repeated cycles of Israel departing from the Lord, the Lord chastening them by delivering them into the hand of their enemies, and the Lord in His longsuffering delivering them from their enemies. Within that history are stories of men and women of faith who did faithfully follow God, people who stand out as examples to us. Manoah and his wife, the parents of Samson, are just that. Read Judges 13.
The “Angel of the Lord” appeared to Manoah’s wife, who was barren, to announce that she would conceive and bear a son who would begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines. Her response as well as her husband’s demonstrate in several ways the kind of faith and the attitudes that Christians ought to have.
Upon receiving the revelation, Manoah’s wife, in belief, shared the news with her husband and demonstrated faith in the promise of God.
But Manoah’s response to the news as well as his interaction with the angel of God are a demonstration of faith and a godly attitude.
First, Manoah believed. He accepted the news as true, and he prayed to God, “O my Lord, please let the Man of God whom You sent come to us again and teach us what we shall do for the child who will be born” (v.8).
Second, Manoah demonstrates humility. He recognizes that he and his wife need to be taught in order to know what to do for the child. This is the humble attitude that recognizes that the way of truth and right is not inherent in ourselves, that God has the answers to teach us, and that we don’t know the answers unless we let God teach us. This is the right starting point for anyone to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. It is the right attitude for the Christian to continue to have in order to grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Manoah illustrates what a disciple is. “Teach us what we shall do,” he asks. By definition, a disciple is a learner. The great commission Jesus gave was to “make disciples” (Matthew 28:19). Christians are leaners of Christ and His doctrine.
Third, Manoah wants to be taught of God about what to do for the child who will be born. This is new territory for them; they are not currently parents. Is this not the attitude that Christians should have when they are expecting a child and when they are raising children? The Scriptures are sufficient to provide all we need to raise children to love God. Christians want to be taught by God, receiving direction rooted in the Scriptures, not pop-psychology, about how to raise their children.
Fourth, Manoah illustrates the attitude of submission to God in saying, “now let your words come to pass” (v.12). Our attitude like his should be that the Lord’s will be done. Faith that pleases God has this attitude.
Fifth, although Manoah asked what the boy’s rule of life and his work would be, he did not receive an answer to that question. Yet the text continues to show that Manoah believed. Just like Manoah believed without all his questions answered, so we can too. We may not have all our questions answered from the Scriptures, but what we do have in the Scriptures is enough for us to believe and to obey.
Finally, we see what is expected of those who believe God: obey God. The angel of God said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. She may not eat anything that comes from the vine, nor may she drink wine or similar drink, nor eat anything unclean. All that I commanded her let her observe” (vv.13-14). This is what pleasing faith to God does; faith that pleases God is careful to observe all that is commanded. That’s not legalism; that’s faith that pleases God. That’s not earning a child; that’s humble submission to a gracious God.
Truly from the very beginning of time, faith that responds in obedience has always been the kind of faith that pleases God.
-Larry Jones