The Philistines have been in control for 40 years! For an Israeli border town like Zorah, the pressure from the Philistine occupation is both militarily and culturally extreme. Crops, possessions, or even children could be claimed by a foreign lord on his whim. The people of God, mostly from the tribe of Dan, who live in this town would have had weapons and tools of copper, but the Philistines would have had iron. To top it off, the Philistines worship local gods of fertility and sex, and have no interest in supporting or encouraging the worship of YHWY.

As is true now, there is tremendous pressure to join the predominant, sinful culture—in this case, the Philistine culture. And it has been going on for 40 years! That’s probably longer than Manoah and his wife have been alive.

AN UNUSUAL MESSAGE
Eleven centuries before an angel appears to Mary to announce Christ’s birth, an angel appears to a woman whose name is not given. The Scripture does not supply any background or tell us any prayer or reason why this woman is selected, but we can logically assume she is living faithfully in the midst of this occupation.

What the angel says to her is very exciting for two reasons. The woman, previously sterile, is going to have a son and—though her people are in the midst of local and national trouble, even personal struggle—the Lord will start the process of deliverance for the Jewish people through this son she is going to deliver!

There are additional intriguing details. She is not to drink wine or strong drink during her pregnancy, and she is to avoid food that is unclean. (Today’s medical community echoes such advice for pregnant woman.) Beyond that, her son will be a Nazarite, and not just for a season.

Nazirites, as described in Numbers 6, are to avoid wine, strong drink, and vinegar. They are to have nothing to do with grapes or grape products. No razor is to be used on their hair as long as their vow is in effect, and they are to have nothing to do with anything that is dead, even family members. Most are under a Nazirite vow for just a short period of time, but the angel says this child of promise is to be a Nazirite all his life.

The questions must flood her mind: What kind of person will her son be? What will his mission be? What will be her role in raising him?

A FATHER’S PRAYER
Again, Scripture doesn’t describe her attitude toward what she has been told, but she goes to her husband and tells him the story. It is revealing that Manoah prays almost immediately. He appeals to the Lord, asking for two things: one, that he might see the angel himself, and two, for instruction on how to raise the child.

Does Manoah ask for such verification because he doesn’t believe his wife? Or does he just want to see for himself, like Thomas when he asks to see the risen Lord after his resurrection? (see John 20). Whatever the case, Manoah is driven to his knees and prays with hope and expectation.

God hears Manoah and sends the angel again, but to his wife rather than him. She runs to Manoah, who is in the field, and informs him of the angel’s second appearance. In a great understatement, Scripture says he “got up” and followed his wife to the angel!

Manoah asks the angel if he is the same one who came previously, and then he asks questions about the boy’s life and work. These are questions most any dad would want to know, and are especially appropriate considering the circumstances.

FAITH LIVED OUT
The occupation has lasted 40 years. Work, school, church, and family have all been tested for a long time. In the midst of this, one family is prepared for God’s blessing. Because of their willingness to live by faith, God blesses this couple with a son, and the son will provide deliverance for the people. And it begins with just these two, in this small town.

It seems Satan has always been part of culture. Sometimes it is difficult to live out faith in such circumstances. Ordinary people can begin to wonder and waver. How prepared is the average Christian, through prayer and faithfulness, to receive the blessing of God and become partakers in providing deliverance for others? Samson was the short-term solution for Manoah’s time. Jesus is the answer for ours.

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* All Scripture quotations are from the New International Version, unless otherwise indicated.