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Manoah (Part One)
CGG Weekly by Mike FordManoah, a Danite man, and his wife were childless, as recorded in Judges 13. The Angel of the LORD appeared to Manoah's wife in a field, announcing that she would conceive and bear a son who would be a Nazirite, with specific instructions for his upbringing. She reported this encounter to Manoah, describing the Man of God as having a countenance like the Angel of God, very awesome, though she did not learn His name. Manoah prayed for the Man of God to return and teach them how to raise the child, and God answered his prayer by sending the Angel again to his wife. She quickly brought Manoah to meet the Angel, who confirmed He was the one who had spoken to her. Manoah asked about the boy's rule of life and work, and the Angel reiterated the instructions given to his wife. Manoah offered to prepare a young goat for the Angel, who declined to eat but suggested a burnt offering instead. When Manoah asked His name, the Angel replied that it was wonderful. The couple then offered a young goat and a grain offering on a rock to the LORD, and as they watched, the Angel ascended in the flames toward heaven. Manoah, struck with fear, exclaimed to his wife that they would surely die for having seen God, but she reassured him that if the LORD intended to kill them, He would not have accepted their offerings or revealed such things to them.
Manoah (Part Two)
CGG Weekly by Mike FordManoah's wife, celebrated for her beauty and righteousness, was barren, as noted in Judges 13:2. The Angel of the Lord appeared to her first, declaring that she, previously unable to conceive, would bear a child, signaling a divine miracle. She immediately shared this news with Manoah, recounting the Angel's words verbatim, reflecting their open and communicative marriage. When the Angel appeared to her a second time, she hastened to inform Manoah, looking to him as the head of the family. Both instances demonstrate her respect for his role and her eagerness to involve him in the divine message. Manoah's wife is portrayed as a godly woman, worthy of the Angel's direct communication, and her actions show her recognition of Manoah's leadership. Her character and faith complement Manoah's, as they together navigate the extraordinary promise of a son who would be a Nazirite and deliver Israel from the Philistines. Their partnership, marked by mutual respect and shared purpose, underscores their joint responsibility in raising a child chosen by God.
Manoah, Father of Samson
Sermonette by Mike FordMany Biblical scholars teach that Manoah was dimwitted, lazy, jealous, and faithless. But a close reading of the Scriptures proves just the opposite.