Finding Your Purpose
"Finding your purpose" is a buzz phrase in Christianity. We like to know what our "purpose" in life is so that we can fulfill it and "live the dream" God gave us. Sometimes we fall into purpose idolatry. That is, we only serve God as long as the purpose we are assigned fits our liking. This is not Christianity. It is self-interested spirituality. You can find that anywhere. But it doesn't come from God. Satan wanted a very spiritual place in heaven. He wanted God's place. He was cast down forever because of it. Religious pretension may be the most horrible of all.
Judges 13 introduces us to Samson's father Manoah. The deeper you read about his weird interaction with the Angel you get the idea that some of Samson's failings may have stemmed from his father's attitude about God and purpose.
Judges 13:2 (ESV) There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.
The text simply mentions, "there was a certain man". There is nothing particular about him. From that moment forward, the action surrounds his wife as he seems more like an appendage to what God is up to.
Manoah's wife is barren. Barrenness was a sign of God's displeasure with someone in the Old Testament. Remember, at this time Israel has forsaken God and born the requisite consequences promised in the Sinai Covenant.
We also learn Manoah's wife is told by the angel to "eat nothing unclean." This stipulation is not particular to a Nazarite vow but rather standard practice for all Israel. This could mean Manoah had led his family into compromise with the pagan worship feasts of his day.
In sum Manoah is a man who represents the spiritual state of Israel. Absorbed into the culture around him, displeasing to God and far removed from the sacred nature of his identity as a member of Israel. Despite this, Manoah is very interested in finding a "great purpose" in God.
When Manoah hears the angelic announcement through his wife, he prays to God for a revisit from the messenger. Interestingly, the angel reappears but not to Manoah. His wife is visited a second time and she has to bring Manoah to the Angel. More of Manoah's character is revealed in the short conversation:
Judges 13:11–12 (ESV) And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission?”
Judges 13:16 (ESV) And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.)
Manoah's offer of food could be interpreted as a pagan practice to appease the gods. When the Angel of the Lord not only refuses but tells Manoah to offer the typical food offering as prescribed in the law, He is declaring Himself distinct from pagan deities. The God of Israel is not coerced by human offerings but operates out of His own goodness.
Judges 13:18 (ESV) And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”
Judges 13 introduces us to Samson's father Manoah. The deeper you read about his weird interaction with the Angel you get the idea that some of Samson's failings may have stemmed from his father's attitude about God and purpose.
Judges 13:2 (ESV) There was a certain man of Zorah, of the tribe of the Danites, whose name was Manoah. And his wife was barren and had no children.
The text simply mentions, "there was a certain man". There is nothing particular about him. From that moment forward, the action surrounds his wife as he seems more like an appendage to what God is up to.
Manoah's wife is barren. Barrenness was a sign of God's displeasure with someone in the Old Testament. Remember, at this time Israel has forsaken God and born the requisite consequences promised in the Sinai Covenant.
We also learn Manoah's wife is told by the angel to "eat nothing unclean." This stipulation is not particular to a Nazarite vow but rather standard practice for all Israel. This could mean Manoah had led his family into compromise with the pagan worship feasts of his day.
In sum Manoah is a man who represents the spiritual state of Israel. Absorbed into the culture around him, displeasing to God and far removed from the sacred nature of his identity as a member of Israel. Despite this, Manoah is very interested in finding a "great purpose" in God.
When Manoah hears the angelic announcement through his wife, he prays to God for a revisit from the messenger. Interestingly, the angel reappears but not to Manoah. His wife is visited a second time and she has to bring Manoah to the Angel. More of Manoah's character is revealed in the short conversation:
Judges 13:11–12 (ESV) And Manoah arose and went after his wife and came to the man and said to him, “Are you the man who spoke to this woman?” And he said, “I am.” 12 And Manoah said, “Now when your words come true, what is to be the child’s manner of life, and what is his mission?”
Notice that Manoah is more concerned with the destiny and mission of the child than he is with the words God gave him concerning his parental duties. Manoah wants to know if this work will be "worth it." I wonder if Manoah was sizing up the potential importance this son of promise could bring him.
The angel does not play Manoah's game. He simply reminds them how they are to engage as parents concerning Samson. In the next moment, Manoah offers food to the heavenly messenger and is refused:
Judges 13:16 (ESV) And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.)
Manoah's offer of food could be interpreted as a pagan practice to appease the gods. When the Angel of the Lord not only refuses but tells Manoah to offer the typical food offering as prescribed in the law, He is declaring Himself distinct from pagan deities. The God of Israel is not coerced by human offerings but operates out of His own goodness.
After this Manoah asks the name of the Angel and is again rebuffed:
Judges 13:18 (ESV) And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”
In pagan practice, knowing the name of a certain "god" would better inform you of what to expect from them and how to leverage their abilities. The angel of the Lord doesn't respond. Again, the God of Israel is not coerced. Instead the Angel declares "it is wonderful." This word will be picked up again in the story upon the offering of Manoah:
Judges 13:19 (ESV) So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the LORD, to the one who works wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching.
It is no coincidence that "wonderful" and "wonders" are so near each other in this pericope. God is the God of "wonders" and not particular acts intended to satiate our desires or dreams. Manoah may look spiritual here but his selfish intentions are all over this narrative. In many ways, these same manipulating methods will be expressed in Samson's life. Could they have come from Manoah's example? Perhaps. But it teaches us an invaluable lesson about finding our "purpose."
I'm all for having a purpose for your life, but submit your whole life to God no matter what happens. He gave it to you in the first place. It could be you are not destined for the lights and camera but rather faithful service to people specifically assigned to receive your Christian witness WHERE YOU ARE. I know a message like this won't sell many Christian books, but it will resonate in the catalogue of heaven where every work is written down and ultimately rewarded.
I'm all for having a purpose for your life, but submit your whole life to God no matter what happens. He gave it to you in the first place. It could be you are not destined for the lights and camera but rather faithful service to people specifically assigned to receive your Christian witness WHERE YOU ARE. I know a message like this won't sell many Christian books, but it will resonate in the catalogue of heaven where every work is written down and ultimately rewarded.
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