As a mom, one of the biggest prayers we pray for our children is about what their future will be like. What or who will they grow up to be? We pray for their lives to be successful. We might have preferences of what their future profession might be. We might even pray that they’ll be good people. One thing I know is that the trajectory of a child’s life is heavily influenced by their parents.
When you hear about Samson, you immediately recall Delilah. Rarely does your mind jump to think about Samson’s parents. In Judges chapter 13 we see that Samson’s parents received very specific instructions regarding their son’s life. The Bible says the Angel of the Lord appeared to Samson’s mother and prophesied that she would have a son. Upon hearing this promise, the woman ran to share the good news with her husband Manoah. Manoah then in turn pleaded with God, “My Lord, please let the man of God whom You have sent come to us again and teach us what we will do for the boy to be born.” When the Angel of the Lord appeared again, Manoah asked “What will be the child’s rule and his mission?” In other words, how should the child live his life and what is his purpose?
Now the Angel of the Lord had already told Samson’s mom that he would be a Nazirite. The Angel had also told her that she herself should not drink wine, or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. And this is the mandate that the Angel reiterated to Manoah when he inquired. Judges 13:13-14 The angel of Adonai said to Manoah, “Let the woman abstain from all that I mentioned to her. She should not eat anything that comes from the grapevine, or drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. She must observe all that I commanded her.”
This command was meant to be an example for how Samson should live his life under the Nazirite vow. That was the rule for his life. You see, Samson carried a from the womb dedication. He was anointed to be a deliverer when Israel needed him. He would begin to deliver Israel from the Philistines. That was his purpose. Yet, many years later we see the Philistines still coming up against the Israelites. David fought Goliath hundreds of years later. What went wrong?
Samson didn’t live his life the way he was supposed to. He was a womanizer and a carouser despite being called to live his life very specifically. His mother was also called to show a specific example for him. If she didn’t follow the command of the Angel, then Samson wouldn’t have either. You see, your child’s mission is affected by your actions. You are responsible for doing the right thing with what God gives you. It’s the responsibility of stewardship. Samson’s mother had once been barren, yet God gave her this amazing gift. She had a responsibility to live her life by a certain standard so that her son could follow her example. Your rule of life is the standard you live by.
Today PG, examine your standards. We are daughters of God, stewards of His Word. Our rule of life and our mission is what God has called to be. And once God has called you, no one can uncall you.