Lessons from Judges Chapter 13

A few lessons for the soon-coming times of increased supernatural activity from Judges 13. We can deduce that the number 13 is not always a bad number.

Again the people of Israel did what the Lord said was wrong. So he handed them over to the Philistines for forty years. (Judges 13:1)

We can not expect God to overlook our overt sin, yet He will never forsake us. He is will test us so we might learn, repent and turn back to him.

There was a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan, who lived in the city of Zorah. He had a wife, but she could not have children. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah's wife and said, "You have not been able to have children… (Judges 13:2-3a)

God is watching. We can expect unexpected supernatural intervention. God himself will show up when things are naturally hopeless. The miraculous intervention will be shown to the nameless and unknown.

…but you will become pregnant and give birth to a son. (Judges 13:3b)

God has great expectations and will grant revelation to those who will listen. He has been and will continue to be a giver of gifts.

Be careful not to drink wine or beer or eat anything that is unclean, because you will become pregnant and have a son. You must never cut his hair, because he will be a Nazirite, given to God from birth. (Judges 13:4-5a)
Expect to receive clear and direct instruction

He will begin to save Israel from the power of the Philistines. (Judges 13:5b)

God sends help, often in stages. Deliverance is historically part of his plan.

Then Manoah's wife went to him and told him what had happened. She said, "A man from God came to me. He looked like an angel from God; his appearance was frightening. I didn't ask him where he was from, and he didn't tell me his name. But he said to me, 'You will become pregnant and will have a son. Don't drink wine or beer or eat anything that is unclean, because the boy will be a Nazirite to God from his birth until the day of his death.'" (Judges 13:6-7)
We can share revelation and not get puffed up with false self-importance.

Then Manoah prayed to the Lord: "Lord, I beg you to let the man of God come to us again. Let him teach us what we should do for the boy who will be born to us." God heard Manoah's prayer, and the angel of God came to Manoah's wife again while she was sitting in the field. But her husband Manoah was not with her. So she ran to tell him, "He is here! The man who appeared to me the other day is here!" (Judges 13:8-10)

A very important point: We should not be so overwhelmed and impressed by “what will come”. We need to ask for direction and wisdom in how to accomplish what God says. It can be wise to include others to help hear what is being said.

So she ran to tell him, "He is here! The man who appeared to me the other day is here!" (Judges 13: 10).

Share good news with others. Don’t keep it for yourself.

Manoah got up and followed his wife. When he came to the man, he said, "Are you the man who spoke to my wife?" The man said, "I am." So Manoah asked, "When what you say happens, what kind of life should the boy live? What should he do?" The angel of the Lord said, "Your wife must be careful to do everything I told her to do. She must not eat anything that grows on a grapevine, or drink any wine or beer, or eat anything that is unclean. She must do everything I have commanded her." (Judges 13:11-13)

We may need to follow another person to God. God answers prayers. He knows when our hearts are pure, wanting true direction and when we are just seeking him for the experience.

Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, "We would like you to stay awhile so we can cook a young goat for you." The angel of the Lord answered, "Even if I stay awhile, I would not eat your food. But if you want to prepare something, offer a burnt offering to the Lord." (Manoah did not understand that the man was really the angel of the Lord.)

In the supernatural times, we don’t and won’t always recognize God.

Then Manoah asked the angel of the Lord, "What is your name? Then we will honor you when what you have said really happens." The angel of the Lord said, "Why do you ask my name? It is too amazing for you to understand." (Judges 13:15-16)
Remember when Jacob wrestled with “the angel” all night. At the end, Jacob wished to learn the angel’s name. Consider Adam, in naming the animals; that which we name, we think we “know”. We rely on that name as the definition or a label, but God has many names which reflect his character.

So Manoah sacrificed a young goat on a rock and offered some grain as a gift to the Lord. Then an amazing thing happened as Manoah and his wife watched. The flames went up to the sky from the altar. As the fire burned, the angel of the Lord went up to heaven in the flame. When Manoah and his wife saw that, they bowed facedown on the ground. (Judges 13:19-20)
We too should worship God and offer sacrifices.

The angel of the Lord did not appear to them again. Then Manoah understood that the man was really the angel of the Lord. (Judges 13:21)
Once God accomplishes his plan of direction, do not assume he will return. We can get too caught-up in the experience.

Manoah said, "We have seen God, so we will surely die." But his wife said to him, "If the Lord wanted to kill us, he would not have accepted our burnt offering or grain offering. He would not have shown us all these things or told us all this." (Judges 13:22-23)
Accept the counsel of others close to us. They can speak sense into what we’ve experienced.

So the woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew, and the Lord blessed him. The Spirit of the Lord began to work in Samson while he was in the city of Mahaneh Dan, between the cities of Zorah and Eshtaol. (Judges 13:24-25)

God doesn’t fail. He delivers the plans he speaks, if we are willing and cooperative.