What does it mean that Samson's wife was given to his best
man? We see the same thing with Michal,
David's wife, the daughter of Saul. She was
given over because Saul was displeased with David. Here, his father-in-law offers the younger as
a substitute because she is more beautiful, unlike Laban with Jacob. The man was trying to save face among the
Philistines because of Samson's act of vengeance in killing thirty of them to
satisfy his gambling debt. Samson's response
is odd to say the least, capturing 300 foxes and tying their tails together
with torches to destroy the crops of his in-laws' countrymen. The Philistines blame the girl and her father
and burn them which only incites Samson further against them and they against
him. The cycle of violent retribution
becomes problematic for Israel as the Philistines come against the nation and
yet, once again, Samson is used as
deliverer. The man had an insatiable
thirst for violence, putting even Lamech (Genesis 4 - descendant of Cain) to
shame. God used and uses the most
imperfect people sometimes to do His work.
Samson ruled for twenty years as judge even though his judgment was
certainly suspect.
Jesus continues to Galilee after the feast and the interlude
in Samaria. Upon arrival, an
"official" whose son is ill approaches to ask for healing and Jesus
disputes with the man, saying unless you see miracles you won't believe. The man already believes or he wouldn't have
asked Jesus to come. He will not be
dissuaded and, as always in John, Jesus uses the faith the man had that if
Jesus came to the boy he would be healed to call him further in faith, that the
boy will be healed without Jesus coming but simply at His word. The reward for faith is not only is the boy
healed, he is healed at the very hour Jesus spoke the healing. Where is Jesus calling you to greater
faith? He takes us further all the time
that we might trust Him more and walk by faith.
Stephen's witness continues with the story of Moses from the
book of Exodus. His history is
straight-forward and taken directly from the book. In the story though we can see that God used
Pharaoh's cruelty as a goad for His people to pray to Him and seek deliverance. In Joseph's day and so long as the memory
lasted among the rulers the Israelites were content to dwell there in Egypt,
out in Goshen. As soon as a ruler who
didn't know Joseph arose (probably a change in Egyptian dynasties from the time
of Joseph to the time of Moses), things changed. The people were now seen as a threat to Egypt
and their lives were made difficult. In spite
of that, the sister of the Pharaoh saved Moses from certain death, the family that
was making life miserable also was the deliverer. Moses stepped out to deliver his people who
didn't understand what he was doing. Had
Moses been sent by God at that time or had he stepped out in his own
power? Even Moses had to learn to act in
faith and his lesson took a long time to learn, forty years a shepherd for his
father-in-law. We have to learn to act
when and how God calls us to act, not in our own passions and power.
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