The Light Breaks

Chapter 13 starts in a familiar place for the people of Israel. “And the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” The Lord has given the people of Israel over to the hands of the Philistines because of their rebellion, and we are about to meet the final judge that God raises up for his people. Even with the weight of sin ever-present throughout the book of Judges, we see glimpses of God’s sovereign hand working to advance his plans when an angel appears to a family from the tribe of the Danites. Throughout the book of Judges we see twelve men and women fill the role of Judge and here in chapter thirteen we are introduced to the last one, Samson. Samson is one of the better known of the judges, often remembered for his incredible physical strength and his infamous downward fall into sinfulness. Chapter 13 is the story of Samson’s parents and their encounter with a messenger from God. Samson’s father, a man named Manoah, and his wife were visited by an angel and told they would have a child. The angel delivers very specific instructions to Manoah’s family and to the future of Samson’s life. The God “who works wonders” is still working even in a dark season of Israel’s rebellion.