Angel Revisited Manoah and his Wife

Judges 13:6-10
Then the woman came and told her husband, saying, A man of God came unto me, and his countenance was like the countenance of an angel of God, very terrible: but I asked him not whence he was, neither told he me his name: But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death. Then Manoah intreated the LORD, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born. And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her. And the woman made haste, and ran, and shewed her husband, and said unto him, Behold, the man hath appeared unto me, that came unto me the other day.

Here we see another virtuous woman who promptly informed her husband on a divine visitation. There should be communication between a husband and a wife on spiritual matters and experiences. Manoah’s wife recognized the man of God as an angel of God for he looked awesome (NIV). When we dwell with God, our face shines and we look awesome and so was the angel’s look I assume. The looks I am referring to are very different from the world’s standards; these looks are heavenly for the peace of God and glory of God shines on us. Exodus 34:29 says, “And it came to pass, when Moses came down from mount Sinai with the two tables of testimony in Moses' hand, when he came down from the mount, that Moses wist not that the skin of his face shone while he talked with him”. How wonderfully Moses’ face got radiant when he communed and talked with God for forty days and forty nights without food or drink (Exodus 34:28). This man of God that visited Manoah’s wife also had an awesome look that made Manoah’s wife recognize him as an angel of God. Let us also be in the presence of the Lord day in and day out and then the Lord will cause our face to shine like Moses’ and we will look awesome in God’s eyes and in the eyes of the people around us.

Manoah’s wife did not ask the angel of God for his name or where he came from and the angel did not reveal it either. She had no need to ask his whereabouts for she recognized who he was by his countenance. Does your countenance reflect God and His peace or does it reflect the world and its yearnings? Does it carry the grace of God or does it carry the pain and agony of the world? The angel of God brought in the good news that she would conceive and give birth to a son. Manoah’s wife explained to her husband the instructions given unto her by the angel as to how she was to stay away from wine or strong drink and unclean things for the child to be born shall be a Nazarite, separated unto God. Yes, if we long to dedicate our lives unto the Lord, we should abstain from such things as mentioned here so that we keep our vessels holy and acceptable to God. When we lead Spirit-filled lives, the Spirit of God in us speaks unto us what delights God versus what dishonors Him. Let us ask God to make us sensitive to the voice of God and let us with humble reverence follow the leading of the Spirit of God in our lives.

Now Manoah had not heard from the angel of Lord on how the child to be born should be raised and desired to know so they may follow the instructions. Manoah therefore intreated God and God heard his voice for Manoahs’ request was an earnest one. The angel of the Lord came unto the woman while she sat in the field but Manoah was not with her. So she made haste and ran to her husband and informed him the news of the angel’s arrival yet again. What a delight to know that the Lord heard Manoah’s fervent prayer? Let us humbly present our requests to God and in His will He will answer our requests. May we not ask amiss but according to His will!

This discussion between a wife and a husband and the angel’s visit per Manoah’s entreaty suggest how a family that minds the things of Spirit is well favored by God. In this present day and age when families are shattered by various problems, we need a spiritual revival to seek God in our every area and every walk of life so that enemy is stopped in its tracks. The enemy takes great delight in breaking families while God takes great delight in binding the families with His cords of love and peace. When we give the first place to God, the enemy is out of place. Let us all give God the first place; not our spouses, not our children, not our jobs but God should get the first place for He alone completely deserves it. Nobody else but He deserves this place! If there is an idol taking the place of God in your life, now is the time to give God His place and the rest will be taken care of by Him according to His will. Also, there should be spiritual communication in families between husband and a wife and between children and parents. When such a communication happens on a regular basis, there is spiritual encouragement and accountability. My heart is heavy on broken families and I earnestly pray for the couples and children involved in such families. The only answer to the broken families is JESUS! Call upon Him and He will answer you! If you need a prayer for your family, please do not hesitate to contact me at esthervasa(at)yahoo.com.

Next: Manoah and His Wife Receive Instructions Again