He shall begin to deliver Israel
The pronouncement of Samson’s birth to Manoah’s wife included important information about the work of Samson.
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Not only was he to be a Nazarite, but he was to “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” (Judg 13:5).
His work, while critically important, was not to end the oppression of the Philistines, or to see the finality of their grip. He was to be a beginning. God had set the bounds of Samson’s work and prepared the way for him to have a dramatic impact in Israel.
We are humbled when we see the foreknowledge of God. He knows us and how we fit into His plan. He has prepared work for us to do. The Apostle Paul speaks of this in Ephesians 2:10, where he says, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God hath prepared in advance for us to do.” (NIV). This is an awesome look at our lives in the truth. God’s Master Plan includes work that He has prepared in advance for us to do. He knows the scope of the work planned and the limits.
We should view our trials as preparations for the work ahead. Endured hardship may put us in a far better position to help another who is in desperate need of assistance.Our challenge is to be open to accept the work He has planned and to have sufficient faith to execute the work. Our contribution may not always be to finalize a work, but rather to get it started, or to nurture its progress. Sometimes we plant, other times we water, and only occasionally are we the harvesters. It is all the Lord’s work. We will not likely be called on to fight against oppressive nations, however our Divinely appointed work is important and will make a difference in our lives and the lives of others. The very study of Scripture, Paul says, is “profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction and instruction in righteousness.” To what end? “That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.” (2 Tim 3:16-17).
This may alter our perspective of the challenges along life’s way. We should view our trials as preparations for the work ahead. Endured hardship may put us in a far better position to help another who is in desperate need of assistance. In the end, Samson’s greatest victory was when he placed his hands on the pillars in Gaza and called on the LORD God to remember him and strengthen him to do this last work. May we too acknowledge our need and have the courage to do His work.
Dave Jennings