It was a time when Israel had, to a very large extent, departed from the Lord. And He, in judgement, had sent the Philistines to conquer and rule over them – for the long period of 40 years.
Among those who would have felt the oppression of the Philistines – and felt it especially because of the sin which gave rise to God’s judgement – were Manoah, who belonged to the tribe of Dan, and his wife. They had no children, but the Angel of the Lord came to her one day and promised that she would yet have a son, one who would “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines” (Jdg 13:5).
Manoah was anxious that “the man of God” would return and “teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born”. And surely it was a proper desire that he expressed; likewise it is proper – indeed essential – for parents, including prospective parents, in every generation to pray that the Lord would teach them how to bring up their children, and that He would bless the whole family as they seek to follow out the principles of Scripture in this responsible area of life. Manoah’s request was granted; the Angel of the Lord did re-appear and gave further instructions about bringing up the child, whom they named Samson.
In kindness to “the man of God”, Manoah offered to provide him with a meal. This was declined, but Manoah was told that he might offer the food as a sacrifice to the Lord. Manoah did so, and the Angel caused fire to go up from the sacrifice towards heaven, which, as Matthew Henry expresses it, “signified God’s acceptance of the offering”. It was then that Manoah “knew that he was an Angel of the Lord”.
Then he went further and described the Angel as “God”. But he did so with the thought, as expressed to his wife: “We shall surely die, because we have seen God”. Matthew Henry describes it as an “opinion generally received among the ancient Jews that it was present death to see God or an angel”. Yet others had seen the Angel and had been preserved from death. For instance, though after Gideon had seen the Angel of the Lord, he at first said, “Alas, O Lord God, for because I have seen an angel of the Lord face
to face!” the Lord graciously assured him: “Peace be unto thee; fear not: thou shalt not die” (Jdg 6:22,23). And Gideon did not die. Again when Jacob had wrestled with the Angel at Peniel – which was another theophany, an appearance of the Son of God in human form before His final incarnation – he was spared for many more years. He said, “I have seen God face to face, and my life is preserved” (Gen 32:30).”
Manoah may have been despondent about the implications of seeing God, but his wife showed a much clearer understanding of the Lord’s dealings with them. She replied, “If the Lord were pleased to kill us, He would not have received a burnt offering and a meat offering at our hands, neither would He have showed us all these things, nor would as at this time have told us such things as these”.
First, she recognised that God had promised her that she would have a son; if that son was to be born, she must be spared for some time yet. She knew that she could trust God’s promises. And if she was to be spared, surely her husband would also be; his request for further instruction had been answered. Similarly all God’s promises to His people today are absolutely sure; He will never go back on any of them.
So Balaam was directed to say, “God is not a man, that He should lie . . . hath He said, and shall He not do it?” (Num 23:19). He is to be trusted as One who will always do what He has promised. He promised Israel on the verge of Jordan, as they were about to enter the land: “The Lord thy God, He it is that doth go with thee; He will not fail thee, nor forsake thee” (Deut 31:6). The promise was fulfilled; the Lord did not forsake them. In the same words, God assures His people today that He will remain with them always. He has never forsaken His people in any generation, and His people today are to trust in Him, with the same confidence, that He will bring them safely into the heavenly Canaan.
Again, Manoah’s wife could be sure that their sacrifice had been accepted. It was true that they were both sinners and, as such, they could not stand in the presence of God. That was what exercised David’s mind in a later age: “If Thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?” But his mind was led on immediately to consider the mercy of God: “But there is forgiveness with Thee, that Thou mayest be feared” (Ps 130:3,4). There is mercy in the heart of God towards sinners, although they deserve to have their iniquities marked against them and accordingly to be condemned. There is forgiveness, on the basis of a sacrifice.
Granted that Manoah’s sacrifice could not itself take away sin, it pointed to the sacrifice that the Son of God was to offer in the fullness of time, when He would take our nature so that He might die in the place of sinners.
Manoah’s wife, who had only the dimmer light of Old Testament revelation, was looking on towards the coming of the promised Messiah, through whom there was full forgiveness for those who, even then, would receive the testimony of God’s revelation concerning Him. And we, who have the brighter and clearer light of the New Testament age, are to trust in Christ as the One who has come and whom God has “exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give . . . forgiveness of sins” (Acts 5:31) – not only to make salvation possible, but also to give it freely, and to give every part of that perfect salvation, including forgiveness.
Just as God accepted Manoah’s sacrifice, so He accepted the sacrifice which Christ offered, and He showed His acceptance of it by raising Christ from the dead. We should therefore be convinced that all are safe who believe in Christ as the Saviour of sinners; such believers cannot ever be condemned. Though in themselves they cannot be accepted before God, yet as united to Christ, having all the benefits of Christ’s redemption made over to them, they are safe; they will never be cast out to a lost eternity but will be received into the full blessedness of heaven when they die. Just as God has accepted Christ’s sacrifice, so surely are the saving benefits it secures made over to all who believe, however weak their faith.
We are all called to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, so that we may be saved. Those who have been saved are called: “Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord Jehovah is everlasting strength” (Is 26:4); they are to go on, for as long as they are spared in this world, trusting in the Lord in the light of the saving provision He has revealed. He is able to put into effect everything He has promised. His power is unchanging; it can never weaken. Not even the devil himself can threaten the supreme power of the great King who rules over everything from His throne in heaven.
Matthew Henry thus applies the words of Manoah’s wife: “Let those good Christians who have had communion with God in the Word and prayer . . . take encouragement thence in a cloudy and dark day: God would not have done what He has done for my soul if He had designed to forsake me and leave me to perish at last, for His work is perfect; nor will He mock His people with His favours.”
We are pointed in Judges 13 to the example shown by Manoah’s wife: even when her husband was overwhelmed by the coming of the Angel, she continued to trust in the faithfulness of God to His revelation to them. Henry further tells God’s people to reason thus: “If God had designed me to perish under His wrath, He would not have given me such distinguishing tokens of His favour”. So Isaiah: “Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song” (Is 12:2).