19: When sin became the norm, Samson was born (Judges 13:1 – 25)

When we persist in sin and live without the Lord, a life of oppression and lack of peace becomes the norm. We gradually adjust to it, no longer praying or striving to escape. Living in the repeated cycle of sin, as seen in Judges, led them into a state of "spiritual anesthesia."


Read Judges 13:1 - 25


Q1. There is no mention that the Israelites prayed to God for help, even after forty years of oppression. The Lord prepared a savior to be born when they had given up getting out of the oppression. What was the message of the angel to Manoah’s wife? (four points) 

You will have a son.

Be ritually clean.

Don’t cut his hair

He will begin to deliver Israel

Why would the Lord choose to bring a baby into the world, taking time to grow, rather than immediately raising up a leader to save Israel? The Lord chose to save them through a person wholly dedicated to Him—a lifelong Nazirite—demonstrating that salvation comes solely from the Lord. In fact, they didn’t pray for salvation, which means the Lord didn’t need to rush to bring a temporary salvation without transforming their hearts. In that sense, the Lord says, “He will begin to deliver,” rather than “He will deliver.” The full deliverance would be consummated on the cross.


Q2. The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife, not to Manoah. Upon hearing this from his wife, he wanted to meet the angel directly. Verses 8–23 reveal Manoah’s spiritual blindness and lack of faith. Which sentences describe Manoah’s mindset as seen in each section? Connect them appropriately.





V 8 – 10: “I cannot believe that a man of God came to you” That’s why he wanted the angel to come again

V 11 – 14: “I need to verify the message by myself.” Manoah's wife had already conveyed the angel's message to him. Therefore, when the angel appeared again, he did not repeat the instructions about raising the boy. Instead, he emphasized that she should maintain ritual cleanliness, preparing herself for the birth of the chosen child.

V 15 – 16: Spiritual blindness. He didn’t recognize he was an angel of the Lord. The Bible mentions this, especially in v16 and v21.

V 17 – 18: Vain curiosity. Manoah asked for the angel’s name, but it was withheld because he could not comprehend it. Although he had already received the message through his wife, he still wanted to meet the angel directly—not to follow the instructions more closely, but to satisfy his curiosity.

V 22 – 23: “God wants to punish us.” This tells Manoah’s ignorance about God. He didn’t know God’s true heart and intention.

Manoah’s response reflects the spiritual status of Israel



Q3. Manoah feared he would die because he had seen the angel of God. However, his wife did not share this fear. What was her reasoning?

“If the Lord wanted to kill us, He would not have accepted offerings nor shown us all these things.”



If the Lord has revealed His ways and Christ to us, it is out of His loving and good intentions. When you struggle to understand God's guidance and providence, confirm His goodness by meditating on how He sent and sacrificed His Son on the cross.

When oppression by the Romans became the norm, their Savior came. When living without the Lord became commonplace, He came to us as Immanuel.


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