I have always admired the story of Samson and how God has appointed him to fight against the Philistines even before he was born. His life could have been so much perfect, with the Lord always at his side, except for one stumbling-block that lead to one of the may tragedies in the Bible.
However much I want to discuss the entire life of Samson, these particular verses had me thinking the greatness of our God in the life of a chosen man, but in his early lifetime had acted in defiance of their law.
Judges 14:2
"(2)Then he came up and told his father and mother, 'I saw one of the daughters of the Philistine and Timnah. Now get her to me as my wife.'... (4) His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time, the Philistines ruled over Israel."
Most of us may have only heard the names 'Samson and Delilah', and never of this Philistine woman. But it's interesting to note that Samson's first love is a woman against his belief and ways. It's interesting to note that God allowed this, only because he has greater plans out of a seemingly wrong decision.
Even though God knows everything about us, he still gives us the freedom to choose, to decide for ourselves because we have our free will. We can choose the people we want to be with, or the person we want to love as a partner. For who would ever be happy of a forced love, of forced marriage without mutual understanding?
The only problem is most of the time, our plans and our ways are far from what God has planned for us. But God can make something so wrong, so beautiful and proper. This doesn't mean he will approve of your evil deeds--what's sinful remains sinful, this only means that he can straighten your crooked path and take you out from the bondage of our sinful nature.
Samson's decision appears wrong in the eyes of the many, especially it is not within their culture to marry an enemy, but God has made a way to make it possible. "God, in his infinite wisdom and in the exercise of his sovereign power, allowed Samson to utilize his own freedom of choice--foolish though it was--yet the Lord turned the occasion into a victory for Israel over the oppressors." (https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/911-study-of-samson-faith-and-folly-a)
Sadly and unconsciously though, we keep abusing the free will God gave us for our own good. We've become forgetful that 'freedom' comes with God's words and that for us to check if our plans are align with God's, we must have the heart of 'willingness to obey-- to be used by God'.
Just as Samson possessed 'Courage and Faith', we Christians must always equip ourselves to whatever and wherever God will take us. Sometimes it's the consequence of our sin that we have to be disciplined, and sometimes God just wants us to be put to test and see how long can we hold on. But remind ourselves, as the story of Samson tells us, it is not always about strength or courage or bravery; but faith, wisdom, and dependence to the Lord.
God cannot break us and enter our lives, after all, if we are not on his side. God cannot pull us out from the pit of downfall, after all, if you keep closing and resisting a light to come even through the tiniest hole. You're all that he's waiting for; and no matter how far you'll go in this life hiding from him, running away from him, you can never silence that little voice coming from your heart--saying, "come back to me, child. You may not need me now, but I need you because I love you. I always do."
However much I want to discuss the entire life of Samson, these particular verses had me thinking the greatness of our God in the life of a chosen man, but in his early lifetime had acted in defiance of their law.
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| Source: https://andywrasman.files.wordpress.com/2015/01/samson.jpg |
Judges 14:2
"(2)Then he came up and told his father and mother, 'I saw one of the daughters of the Philistine and Timnah. Now get her to me as my wife.'... (4) His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time, the Philistines ruled over Israel."
Most of us may have only heard the names 'Samson and Delilah', and never of this Philistine woman. But it's interesting to note that Samson's first love is a woman against his belief and ways. It's interesting to note that God allowed this, only because he has greater plans out of a seemingly wrong decision.
Even though God knows everything about us, he still gives us the freedom to choose, to decide for ourselves because we have our free will. We can choose the people we want to be with, or the person we want to love as a partner. For who would ever be happy of a forced love, of forced marriage without mutual understanding?
The only problem is most of the time, our plans and our ways are far from what God has planned for us. But God can make something so wrong, so beautiful and proper. This doesn't mean he will approve of your evil deeds--what's sinful remains sinful, this only means that he can straighten your crooked path and take you out from the bondage of our sinful nature.
Samson's decision appears wrong in the eyes of the many, especially it is not within their culture to marry an enemy, but God has made a way to make it possible. "God, in his infinite wisdom and in the exercise of his sovereign power, allowed Samson to utilize his own freedom of choice--foolish though it was--yet the Lord turned the occasion into a victory for Israel over the oppressors." (https://www.christiancourier.com/articles/911-study-of-samson-faith-and-folly-a)
Sadly and unconsciously though, we keep abusing the free will God gave us for our own good. We've become forgetful that 'freedom' comes with God's words and that for us to check if our plans are align with God's, we must have the heart of 'willingness to obey-- to be used by God'.
Just as Samson possessed 'Courage and Faith', we Christians must always equip ourselves to whatever and wherever God will take us. Sometimes it's the consequence of our sin that we have to be disciplined, and sometimes God just wants us to be put to test and see how long can we hold on. But remind ourselves, as the story of Samson tells us, it is not always about strength or courage or bravery; but faith, wisdom, and dependence to the Lord.
God cannot break us and enter our lives, after all, if we are not on his side. God cannot pull us out from the pit of downfall, after all, if you keep closing and resisting a light to come even through the tiniest hole. You're all that he's waiting for; and no matter how far you'll go in this life hiding from him, running away from him, you can never silence that little voice coming from your heart--saying, "come back to me, child. You may not need me now, but I need you because I love you. I always do."
