Intentional

The story of Samson is well-known, but a recent revisit left me feeling as though the Holy Spirit was guiding me toward a deeper understanding. It became evident that God does not waste anything; every seemingly mundane aspect of our lives serves a purpose within His ultimate plan. The Bible reminds us, "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts" (Isaiah 55:9).

Samson's tale begins with his unexpected affection for a Philistine woman, a choice that left his parents perplexed. They couldn't fathom why he would marry from a tribe that oppressed their own, especially when there were plenty of suitable women within their own people. However, in Judges 14:4, we find an intriguing revelation: "His parents did not know that this was from the Lord, who was seeking an occasion to confront the Philistines; for at the time they were ruling over Israel." This unexpected twist illustrates the kindness and mercy of God, a recurring theme throughout history. Just as the Israelites oscillated between faithfulness and idolatry, only to turn to God in their times of distress, we, too, can relate to this cycle. My prior perception of the God of the Old Testament as stern and uncompromising was challenged by this revelation. Instead, I saw His unwavering kindness and mercy woven into the fabric of time itself.

Returning to the theme of God's intentionality and lack of waste, we see that God raised Samson to deliver Israel from Philistine oppression. To achieve this, God orchestrated encounters between Samson and the Philistines. The story had to unfold gradually. As Samson and his parents journeyed to arrange his marriage, an unexpected and seemingly insignificant event occurred. A young lion suddenly confronted Samson, who, with nothing but his bare hands, managed to slay the beast (Judges 14:5-6). Initially, I perceived this incident as a mere display of Samson's physical strength. However, I now understand that the Holy Spirit provides different interpretations depending on our needs.

In Judges 14:8-9, the narrative takes another unexpected turn. Samson returned to the woman's house to continue the marriage preparations and discovered a swarm of bees and honey in the lion's carcass he had killed earlier. At this point, I couldn't help but wonder about the purpose of this peculiar detail. Was it merely taking up space in the Bible? Some interpretations suggest that it symbolized Samson's deviation from the Nazirite principles outlined in Judges 13:4-5.

But brace yourself, for God's plot twists are truly remarkable. Every seemingly insignificant detail plays a crucial role in His plan for our lives. In Judges 14:10-17, while Samson was with his prospective in-laws, he challenged them to interpret a riddle. If they succeeded, he would reward them handsomely; if not, they would owe him the same. The riddle went like this: 

"Out of the eater, something to eat; 

Out of the strong, something sweet." 

Their inability to decipher the riddle led to threats against Samson's wife and her family. They accused her of conspiring with Samson to steal from them and pressured her to extract the riddle's explanation. She pleaded and pressured Samson to reveal the riddle's meaning, and he finally did: 

"What is sweeter than honey? 

What is stronger than a lion?"

The riddle's explanation was brilliantly inspired by the events leading up to that moment: the lion he had killed and the honey he had found. It was this sequence of experiences that catalyzed his "aha" moment, prompting him to turn it into a profitable venture. However, the Philistine's response, involving threats and coercion, ultimately set off a chain of events leading to Samson's retaliation, which led to the Philistines burning Samson’s wife and father-in-law to death and then, Samson’s solemn vow to destroy the Philistines, a mission he pursued for the rest of his life, delivering Israel from their oppression for two decades.

In essence, the interconnected events in Samson's life—his love for a Philistine, the encounter with the lion, the discovery of honey, the riddle, and the subsequent provocation—formed the catalysts for his mission to defeat the Philistines and liberate his people. This intricate narrative reveals how God orchestrates even the seemingly insignificant aspects of our lives to fulfill His greater purpose. 

I encourage you to read the entire story. It's truly amazing!