By Katherine Kehler
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“Then one day the Angel of the Lord appeared to the wife of Manoah ..”
Judges 13:2
We have heard sermon’s about Samson. We have seen the movie about Samson and Delilah, but I don’t recall ever hearing anyone teach or speak about Samson’s mother. The Bible doesn’t even mention her name “only that she was Manoah”s wife and Samson was her first child.
Samson! The son who would be a special servant of the Lord, who would be extremely strong and be Israel’s leader for 20 years and begin to rescue them from the Philistines.
God knew her. “The Angel of the Lord appeared to the wife of Manoah . . ” two times. He didn’t appear to her husband first, but to her. He told her that although she was barren, she would conceive and give birth to a son. She told her husband later. He never doubted her story.
She received instructions from the Angel regarding abstaining from certain foods and drink and that Samson’s hair should never by cut.
The Angel wouldn’t tell them his name. After the second meeting, he ascended to heaven (in the offering fire), they never saw him again.
She wasn’t the mother people remember. She was never the celebrity in movies. But God knew her and entrusted her to give birth and raise an extraordinary leader. Her husband believed and trusted her.
She knew God. God knew her and trusted her–He wrote her story in the Bible. Her husband trusted her.
Father, thank you for the millions of mothers who are never in the limelight, but raise their children the way you instruct them too. The mothers who love You and are faithful and obedient. You know them. You will reward them. Amen
You can comment on this devotional online at:
http://thoughts-about-god.com/blog/2008/05/11/kk_samsons-mother/
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Katherine J. Kehler, an innovator, entrepreneur and writer has launched and developed many successful ministries and websites.
Together with her husband, Marvin, Katherine directs Thoughts About God