The beginnings of Shimshon

 

When it comes to the special Torah readings for the holidays, I always get a bit confused; So I read the whole of Nasso last week and I decided to read the Haftorah and the Brit Chadashah readings this week. What a lovely surprise to find that Judges Chapter 13 is the portion from the Prophets! It details how Samson's mom, who is never named, came to have a son called Shimson. It's so exciting and contains a reference to the Messiah!

    Verse 2 lets us know that Shimson's dad's name was Manoach, that he was from the tribe of Dan and that his wife was barren and childless.

    Verse 3 jumps right into the angel of ADONAI appearing to the woman and telling her that even though she is barren, she will bear a child. Reminiscent of Sarah.

    Verses 4-5: The angel also says to her that she must refrain from consuming anything from the grapevine because her son will be a Nazir from the womb and will begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines.

    Verses 6-7 has the woman going to her husband and telling him in great detail what just happened to her.

    Verse 8: Manoach prays for God to send the angel again.

    Verse 9: God answers his prayer and sends again His messenger to the woman while she is alone in the field.

    Verses 10-14: She again rushes back to her husband, but this time she brings him back with her. The angel waits for him. This is so amazing to me, that not only does God love Manoach enough to come a second time, but also to wait for him and then also repeat the instructions to him that He had given to his wife earlier! When God answers our prayers, do we hear? Do we listen?

    Verse 15: Manoach asks the angel to stay with them a bit longer so they can show him hospitality by cooking a young goat for him.

    Verse 16 reveals to us that up to this point neither Manoach nor his wife knew who he was, they thought he was just an ordinary man.

   Verses 17-18: [This is where it gets exciting!] Manoach now asks the angel his name. The angel answers him, saying: "Why are you asking about My name? It is wonderful."

    

    This reminds me of another time someone asked an angel of God what his name was - Jacob, when he wrestled with the angel all night. The angel in this story, however, gave no hint of his name.

    Going back to Verse 18 of Judges 13, where the Angel says His name is Wonderful: According to Isaiah 9:5, the Messiah has 8 names. This is the verse:

    Isaiah 9:5 - For a child is born to us, a son is given to us; dominion will rest on His shoulders, and He will be given the name(s) Pele (Wonderful); Yo'etz (Counselor); El (God); Gibbor (Mighty); Avi (Father) Ad (Eternal); Sar (Prince); Shalom (Peace).

    Unlike the usual English interpretation, these names are stand-alone, and each one depicts an aspect of the Messiah. Notice the first name is identical to the one the Angel reveals to Manoach! Meaning, it was Yeshua the Messiah who appeared to him and his wife! Not surprising, since He has been around since before the world was created!

    Back to Judges 13 Verse 19: Manoach offered the goat to ADONAI, as the Angel had suggested. "And then with Manoach and his wife looking on, the Angel did something wonderful - as the flame went up towards the sky from the altar, the Angel of ADONAI went up in the flame from the altar."

    The word wonderful is repeated. Leaving no doubt as to the identity of the Angel!

    It always stirs my spirit when I read this chapter. I have recently done - and am continuing to do - a study on the Book of Judges - and we are continuing with all the Prophets of Israel - with Ari & Jeremy of The Land of Israel Fellowship (registration is required, but it is free), and there is so much more to know and understand about Shimshon. He was possibly Israel's first Mossad agent!

    I hope this piece of writing from my heart stirs within yours the remembrance of the Might and Beauty of our God.

Shavu'a Tov!