“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.”—Judges 13:8 NIV
I started reading Judges 13 last night---I was brought to this passage when I read vs. 19 the Lord did “an amazing thing” while Manoah and his wife offered sacrifice to God---what was so amazing that God did?? He literally showed up in the flame (this is another topic on worship and God showing Himself during worship). But as I read the whole chapter God brought this lesson to my heart.
There are promises and prophetic words spoken to us either in the Bible or through a person or preaching. We take in these words and believe God for them. We don’t know when and how they will happen but we accept them. Maybe some of us forget these words and never pray them into existence but Manoah does something that tells us he really has believed the prophetic news. Keep in mind his wife was barren—no sign or possibility of them getting pregnant. Manoah asks God—bring back the angel who brought the message not so I can believe or see if its true but basically so you can tell us how to raise our future child. Wow!! What great faith!! What a statement of faith and humility. Why humility?? Because Manoah was recognizing he didn’t have any experience or knowledge on how to raise a child. In my Christian walk and background I run into believers of all kind---I most commonly run into believers who when they have finally achieved a success of the Lord whether through a promotion, marriage, financial blessing, or answer to a petition the last thing they do is ask God “ok now how do YOU want me to handle this?” “What should I do with it?” these are rare questions. The believer assumes hey it was promised to me so it’s mine for the taking and enjoying…but God might have indications of what and how you are to handle that promise that has now been fulfilled….I know we don’t like asking for instructions especially us older adults. We know what we’re doing we have knowledge and experience---yeah well how old were Manoah and his wife?? I’m pretty sure they had babysat and cared for other kids in the community and family members. But that wasn’t preparation enough for what God had in mind. They knew if God was giving them this special promise then He must have a specific way He wants us to raise the child. And boy were they right!! From the moment Manoah’s wife receives the prophetic words she understands this aint no common baby---this is going to be a special child. God hands her some lists of things she is to do while pregnant....and she’s wasn't pregnant yet!! God’s promises aren’t about when we actually receive them they are about preparing to receive a promise. Preparing years, months, days in advance. Our preparing tells God many things—tells Him we believed Him, tells Him we realize we are not ready yet for it, tells Him we are depending on Him for it, tells Him we are in expectation of it etc.
We want the best of God and we want petitions answered but it takes more than just asking God for them---it takes a heart preparing to receive our promises. This couple was to prepare starting from the moment they receive the promise. They believe God so they start living as if its already there (the promise). They don’t wait until they are pregnant—they offer a sacrifice to God immediately following the promise. This sayss they were ready---this told God they were ready. I wonder how many times God has tested our readiness to receive a promise?? And we haven’t passed the test. We’ve failed and haven’t even realized it. Only God knows. How many times has God wanted to give us that one thing we are asking for but He sees we still haven’t even bothered to prepare our spirits for it. Maybe God has seen we’re not in the right mindset yet or our pride level is too high or maybe He knows this answer will separate us from Him and He loves us way too much. Some promises and blessings from God can kill us. I’ve learned this and boy is it true. I’ve seen things God has for me and others and why they don’t come---many times I’m able to see why some in the church don’t have a specific promise yet but I keep quiet because this is a sensitive topic and better God to reveal this. All I can do is pray Eph 1:17 over unanswered prayers. But I see and learn from Manoah one thing the Lord loves is humility before a promise. Asking Him, inquiring of Him. God’s promises aren’t just to make us happy they are to bless others and achieve His plans. But if we don’t ask or inquire of Him we’ll never know.
Next time your breakthrough comes instead of enjoying it on your own involve God in it---after all He brought it about. Sacrifice something to God; give Him your attention. He might have specific instructions for you. That breakthrough isn’t meant to draw you away from prayer and service to God if it does---then don’t call it a breakthrough from God. I’ve heard of believers who finally receive the promise from God and they forget about God. Or others who receive a blessing from God only to allow that answer to be their idol. They cut back time given to serving God and use the excuse of the actual blessing from GOD!! I don’t think that’s what God’s breakthroughs should look like--Just the promise not even the actual fulfillment of the promise caused Manoah and his wife to offer sacrifice. How much more when the baby was actually born?? Let’s not devote ourselves to God for selfish reasons only to when we finally achieve a breakthrough start cutting back from our devotion. Let’s be people who can ask God what do you want me to do with "X" blessing? How should I handle it?? It might be God’s breakthrough has more demands from Him—and hey He can demand anything after all its His blessing and His answer!! We who have ears to listen---let’s hear what God wants from us. God wants our worship and anything that He knows will rob us of our worship He will not tolerate. He is jealous of me. Loves me too much to let me focus on someone or something else. Now imagine if I haven’t yet developed my worship of Him and something else comes to distract me---Yikes God must get nervous so He does what He knows best—works in His will!! And His will always prevail!! God is good!! Too Good to loose me!
Vs. 9 starts with “God heard Manoah..” God hears any humble heart needing instructions and directions from Him.
I know this is long but whomever read it...God bless you...and you'll probably hear this from me in person.
Adelante!!
Bea
Iglesia Cristiana Adonai
Generation Glory
Youth/Young Adults Leader
