Voice of Reason

"Now the angel of the Lord did not appear to Manoah or his wife again. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. So Manoah said to his wife, 'We will surely die, for we have seen God.' But his wife said to him, 'If the Lord had desired to kill us, He would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering from our hands, nor would He have shown us all these things, nor would He have let us hear things like this at this time.'" -Judges 13.21-23

The wife of Manoah tells her husband what has happened, and Manoah prays that the God sent would come and again and teach them more about what they would need to know for the boy that has been promised. God answers the prayer and when the angel comes the second time the wife runs to get her husband. They speak with the angel and then are instructed to make a burnt offering to God, and the angel ascends in the flame. It is at this point that they realize they have been speaking to an angel.

Here Manoah has a freak out/panic moment. He belives that they have seen God and are about to die. Enter the voice of reason, and his wife, who is nameless in the Bible, points out that God is not going to kill them because of what He has shown them and that He accepted their offering. They have been promised a blessing from God, and death is not going to follow.

In relationships I believe that the role of the voice of reason can shift. When my wife and I first got married it was her. When I was frustrated she would be able to help we calm down. If I worried, she was able to help me trust. For a while our roles shifted as our life has changed, and I became the voice of unshakable faith and serenity. Now it's all situational. There are moments when she is the voice of reason, and there are moments when I am.

Men, God gave us wives for many reasons, one of which is to be the voice of reason at times. It shouldn't be her role all of the time, otherwise we are failing to lead. A leader has to be able to be calm, collected, and confident. But at the same time, there will be times when we don't know what to do. Enter the wife who takes up the needed role to support her husband and care for her children. God created us to be partners, each playing a vital role.

Let us be men who are willing to listen to our wives when we aren't thinking rationally. Let us focus on the voice of reason.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor

Born with Purpose

"There was a certain man of Zorah, of the family of the Danites, whose name was Manoah; and his wife was barren and had borne no children. Then the angel of the Lord appeared to the woman and said to her, 'Behold now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and give birth to a son. Now therefore, be careful not to drink wine or strong drink, nor eat any unclean thing. For behold, you shall conceive and give birth to a son, and no razor shall come upon his head, for the boy shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb; and he shall begin to deliver Israel from the hands of the Philistines.'" -Judges 13.2-5

Israel does evil in the sight of God; God allows the Philistines to oppress Israel. This time the deliverance is different. The Spirit of the Lord does not come upon an adult who is ready to take action, rather an angel appears to a barren woman and tells her that she will conceive and give birth the one who will free Israel form the Philistines.

This child will be human, not God incarnate like Jesus, but he will be set apart for God's work from birth. He is born with a purpose, and his parents are to follow certain guidelines so that he will be able to fulfill that purpose. The angel appears twice, upon request from the woman's husband, and the instructions are given a second time. Their son will be born with a purpose.

Men, you were born with a purpose. Your children are/will be born with a purpose. What are you doing to live your purpose personally? What are you doing to prepare your children to learn and fulfill their purpose?

Let us be men who strive to find the calling God has given us. Some of us have been blessed with men in our lives who have encouraged us and helped guide us. Others have not, and have found that purpose from God personally. Do you know that you are here for a reason? Your life is not an accident, you are here intentionally.

Let us be men who guide our children and encourage them to find their purpose. Manoah and his wife were given specific instructions on how to raise their son and what he would accomplish. And while today we don't get the details the Bible contains, what I personally believe to be, the most important lesson any parent can give their children.

Proverbs 3.5-8, "Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and turn away from evil. It will be healing to your body and refreshment to your bones."

Let us be men who strive to live that. Let us be men who teach those words. Let us be men who live with the purpose we were born for.

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

To God alone be the Glory!

Strength and Honor