We Need Divine Guidance
Then the woman went to her husband and told him, "A man of God came to me. He looked like an angel of God, very awesome. I didn't ask him where he came from, and he didn't tell me his name. But he said to me, 'You will become pregnant and have a son. . .'" Then Manoah prayed to the LORD: "Pardon your servant, LORD. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born."
God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field . . . The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He's here! The man who appeared to me the other day!" Judges 13:6-10
God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field . . . The woman hurried to tell her husband, "He's here! The man who appeared to me the other day!" Judges 13:6-10
After many years of barrenness, God appeared to Manoah's wife and promised her a son who would lead Israel to defeat her enemies. Manoah was not with her when she received that promise so Manoah prayed to God for the opportunity to encounter the man of God himself.
The focus of Manoah's prayer is very insightful: "Pardon your servant, LORD. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born." God was gracious and He gave Manoah the opportunity he was asking for. The angel of the LORD visited them again with clear instructions about how to raise the boy.
Manoah recognized that the son to be born was a gift from God. He knew that the success of the boy's future and his ability to fulfill his destiny was dependent upon their obedience to the divine instructions concerning his upbringing. They were not going to take the blessing of the child and do their own thing with that blessing. They wanted the child to be anchored in godliness.
Many times, when God blesses us with a gift, we fail to ask Him how to use that gift to further His agenda. Sampson was given not just so that Manoah and his wife would be blessed, but also to further God's Kingdom agenda. Manoah recognized that and asked God for guidance.
We should not ask God for a blessing and leave Him out when the blessing comes.
We should ask Him for guidance about how to serve Him with that blessing. Whether it is the blessing of a spouse, a job, a business, finances, marriage -- ask God for guidance so that you can use that blessing to serve Him in accordance with His purposes.
Ask God for guidance because we need divine guidance.
The focus of Manoah's prayer is very insightful: "Pardon your servant, LORD. I beg you to let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born." God was gracious and He gave Manoah the opportunity he was asking for. The angel of the LORD visited them again with clear instructions about how to raise the boy.
Manoah recognized that the son to be born was a gift from God. He knew that the success of the boy's future and his ability to fulfill his destiny was dependent upon their obedience to the divine instructions concerning his upbringing. They were not going to take the blessing of the child and do their own thing with that blessing. They wanted the child to be anchored in godliness.
Many times, when God blesses us with a gift, we fail to ask Him how to use that gift to further His agenda. Sampson was given not just so that Manoah and his wife would be blessed, but also to further God's Kingdom agenda. Manoah recognized that and asked God for guidance.
We should not ask God for a blessing and leave Him out when the blessing comes.
We should ask Him for guidance about how to serve Him with that blessing. Whether it is the blessing of a spouse, a job, a business, finances, marriage -- ask God for guidance so that you can use that blessing to serve Him in accordance with His purposes.
Ask God for guidance because we need divine guidance.
Prayer: Father, I thank you for all the blessings you have bestowed on my life and all that you are yet to give. Please help me to use every blessing to serve your purposes. Amen