THE STORY OF SAMSON begins with a theophanic angelic visitation to Manoah’s wife, who had been barren. “The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, ‘You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son.” (Judg. 13:3) Her story is similar to Elizabeth’s in the NT. Both have in common the inability to conceive, a message from an angel that they will, that they will bear a son, and that the son will fulfill a mission from God. And, both sons will be dedicated as Nazirite from their birth—in Manoah’s wife’s case (she remains unnamed)—from conception. The angel specifically says of Samson, “The boy is to be a Nazirite, set apart to God from birth, and he will begin the deliverance of Israel from the hands of the Philistines.” (Judg. 13:5)
A similar statement is made to Zechariah about the son that will be born: “He will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.” (Luke 1:16-17)
In both cases, the angel invokes the stipulations of the Nazirite vow. “He must abstain from wine and other fermented drink. He must not drink grape juice or eat grapes or raisins. He must not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, not even the seeds or skins. He must let the hair of his head grow long, and must not go near a dead body.” (Num. 6:2-6) There are instances of taking these vows mentioned in the bible, but in these two cases they are life-long Nazirites, constrained in vow by angels.
An uncommon thing, perhaps even never heard of by him, has happened in Manoah’s life. He surely desired children, and no doubt a son, and when his wife announces the angelic visitation and promise of a son, he feels blessed. “Manoah prayed to the Lord: ‘O Lord, I beg you, 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.’” (Judg. 13:8) In his heart he wishes to humbly honor both the one who promises and the destiny of the son who will come. “When your words are fulfilled, what is to be the rule for the boy’s life and work?” (Judg. 13:12).
The angel says, “Your wife must do all that I have told her” (Judg. 13:13), and recites the Nazirite vow conditions for her during her pregnancy, and for her son as a way of life. The work of Samson’s life is left for us to discover as his story is later told. Grateful, Manoah offers not only the hospitality of the culture in which he lives, and also the honor due someone highly esteemed, but in this case someone he begins to sense must be a heavenly visitor. Scripture records that at this point, “Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the Lord.” (Judg. 13:16c), The angel demurs: “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the Lord.” (Judg. 13:16a, b).
Manoah is more than curious about all of this. These are events not only out of the ordinary, but from a different realm, a parallel universe in which everything works differently, where time gets bent and the laws of physics no longer apply. Manoah would not have thought in concepts such as these that come from the perspective of our modern age, but his mind was being stretched beyond everything he thought he knew. He asks a simple question: “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?” (Judg. 13:17) The angel responds, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding.” (Judg. 13:18) An alternative translation is, “It is wonderful.” In any event, the sense of mystery surrounding him only deepens.
Manoah prepares the goat now as a burnt offering—an offering not just for food, but for thanksgiving. This is no longer simply hospitality; this is an act of worship and gratitude. And then a sign was given, a ‘marker’ for Manoah and his wife, that they would look to all the days of their life as they see Samson’s destiny unfold. “And the Lord did an amazing thing. As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the Lord ascended in the flame. When the angel of the Lord did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord.” (Judg. 13:20). Afterwards, “The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the Lord blessed him, and the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him.” (Judg. 13:24-25)
There are many angelic appearances in the bible in both OT and NT. Angels are a creation of God that exist in a different realm than you and me. It can be described as the heavenly realm, or a higher plane of existence. In what we have called physics, they have abilities that transcend ours. They can fly, or levitate—move unbounded by gravity; they can appear and disappear. We need not be jealous of their abilities; indeed, we know that of the prophecies belonging to humans, the prophets have told us, “Even angels long to look into these things.” (1 Pet. 1:12) And, in describing salvation, Isaiah speaks of the reason why God created us: “Everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.” (Isa. 43:7)
Angels may worship God, and indeed they do, as scripture shows especially in the Book of Revelation, but we were created to glorify God. We know that angels serve not only God, but his protective desire for those who love him. “If you make the Most High your dwelling—even the Lord, who is my refuge—then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways . ” (Psa. 91:9-11) In Hebrews, this thought is more succinct: “Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit salvation?” (Heb. 1:14) And, they act often as messengers of God to specific people at specific times for specific purposes. When these events occur, the angels are acting in the context of a theophany, which by definition, is God revealing himself.
When God reveals himself, things change. Sometimes he reveals himself in a way that changes the history and destiny of the world. When he reveals himself to you and me, he changes our past, present, and future, and for this we shall be grateful. The last line of the last Psalm is also the last line of this devotion: “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord.” (Psa. 150:6)
Q. Have I ever, unaware at the time, been visited by an angel?
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