Of the Lord

"Then Samson went down to Timnah and saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines. So he came back and told his father and mother, 'I saw a woman in Timnah, one of the daughters of the Philistines; now therefore, get her for me as a wife.' Then his father and his mother said to him, 'Is there no woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?' But Samson said to his father, 'Get her for me, for she looks good to me.' However, his father and mother did not know that it was of the Lord, for He was seeking an occasion against the Philistines. Now at that time the Philistines were ruling over Israel." -Judges 14.1-5

Samson was born and grew in the blessing of the Lord. The Spirit of God was moving upon Him and the time had come for Samson to begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. He travels to Timnah and a young woman catches his eye. He is smitten with her and requests that his parents get her for him as a wife.

Initially they are less than thrilled with his choice. After all she is a Philistine. Her people are oppressing Israel, and they are outside of the covenant. But they do not realize that all of this is the work of God. God is working to deliver Israel from the Philistines through Samson, and all of this is part of His plan.

Men, sometimes God's will is going to seem opposite of our desires. Sometimes it is going to seem flat out crazy. Do you dismiss it without a second thought? Or do you take the time and seek God's direction? If your child came to you with something that you thought wasn't the best decision, what would you do? Would you take the time and pray through the decision with them, or immediately shut it down?

I am not saying that there are things you should not immediately put a stop to. There are decisions that are nothing but harmful that we will need to intervene with, but we cannot immediately rule out everything without seeking God's guidance. The example that keeps coming to mind is an example Francis Chan gives in Forgotten God. He shares a story about a teenage girl who works year round and three jobs in the summer to sponsor 14 children. At about $30 each a month that comes out to $420 a month and $5,040 a year. That's a lot for a high school student.

If your child came to you with a suggestion of something like that, what would you do?

Let us be men who seek the will of God in all situations. Let us discern what is of the Lord.

"Iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another."

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor