The Israelites rebel again and end up oppressed for 40 years by the Philistines. But God does something different this time. This time he chooses a child from the womb, and the parents are a part of the preparation process. We first learned about a Nazirite vow in Numbers 6:1-8. A person under such a vow is completely dedicated to God, and refrains from alcohol and unclean foods. Samson’s mom essentially takes the vow for him initially, and then both parents make sure that he is pure from the womb forward. Samson, Samuel and John the Baptist are the only “Nazarites for life” that we find in the Bible.
Monoah understood that something very special was happening, makes a sacrifice to God, and the Angel of the Lord ascends to heaven on the flame! Was Manoah right? Did he really see God? Was he in danger? Rather than seeing God the Father, some believe that he saw a temporary manifestation of the LORD Jesus Christ in a preincarnate form (a “Christophany”).
Thought for the day: Christians are also supposed to dedicate themselves to God every day!
Romans 12:1-2 (WEB) “Therefore I urge you, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service. Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.”
