Judges 12-13
Talk to God and be 100% truthful
The beginning of chapter 12 is similar to the beginning of chapter 8 of Judges, both Gideon (Ch.8) and Jephthah (Ch.12) encounter Ephraim. While Gideon was able to deal peacefully with them, in the situation of Jephthah this encountered turned into a raging war. As we see here this is the first internal war between the tribes of Israel. After that Jephthah was an Israel judge for six years and then died.
Then the 10th judge was Ibzan, then 11th judge- Elon, and 12th judge - Abdon.
In the beginning of chapter 13 we see the Israel continued doing evil,
"And the people of Israel again did what was evil on the sight of the Lord." (verse 1)
So God stopped protecting them and Philistines started ruling over them and were in power over Israel for forty years.
It doesn't say that people called out to God but we see that God is coming to rescue his people from the hand of gentiles again.
He speaks to Moab's wife from the tribe of Daintes, through an angle saying,
"You shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean... No razor shall come upon his head." (verse 3,4,5) He would be a Nazirite from his birth.
Since Moab wasn't on the scene when this happened he prayer to God and God heard him and the angel came again and spoke and Moab is convinced now that his wife will bear a son that will start to save Israelites from the hand of Philistines. They didn't know that it was an angel and they wanted to prepare food for him and for him to stay and eat with them but he said,
"I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord" (verse 16)
And Moab did just that,
"And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar." (verse 20)
To be a Nazirite three rules were to be obeyed
1. Could not drink wine or any strong drink
2. No cutting of the hair
3. No contact with the dead
Moab's wife got pregnant and bore a son and they named him Samson.
"And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him." (verse 13)
Today...
I want to notice how Moab's communication with God was easy and natural for him, he wanted something so he prayed to God and God answered, which makes me think that Moab and his wife were one of the Israelites that did not abandon God, and it's the reason why God spoke to them and not anyone else.
Sometimes my relationship with God is just like Moab's, I want to know something, or I want to get out of a situation that I'm in and God answers my prayers and I can see His hand at work in my life. But sometimes I'm like Jephthah, I know that God is right there and He can hear me but I make foolish decisions without praying about them.
Sometimes we don't stay in close contact with God and it comes as a surprise for us when God doesn't talk to us, or we don't feel Him near us. When we start feeling that feeling of 'nothing' it should alarm us. We need to get back in contact with God, because without Him we will be lost and we will do things and sow things that later we would need to reap with great tears.
Samson knew his calling--Many of Christians today can't seem to find their calling, or purpose. I've heard many men and women say that, yes they know that they need to share the good news and they say that they do, but they feel like they're supposed to do something else too. They just can't seem to find their calling.
I know that God will tell them (if they ask) what's their calling is or what they can do for the Lord, but often we don't want to do what we're meant to do, we want to do great things for all the people to see.
God's callings are different for every person and God says if you'll be loyal and faithful to me in little things I will put you in change of great things. If we really want to hear God then we should talk to Him.
Let's start by opening our hearts to Jesus, opening them all the way, telling Him about everything-- If you're confused about something, ask Him! If you're thankful for something, thank Him! If you want something, tell Him! If you're mad at Him or don't understand Him, then talk to Him about it!
God is real and he hears just like we hear, except he hears our hearts too! He wants us to be truthful all the way, not just a little bit. Don't be surprised to have an hour or two hours long of prayer, you need those prayers and you will see how your life will turn around.
The beginning of chapter 12 is similar to the beginning of chapter 8 of Judges, both Gideon (Ch.8) and Jephthah (Ch.12) encounter Ephraim. While Gideon was able to deal peacefully with them, in the situation of Jephthah this encountered turned into a raging war. As we see here this is the first internal war between the tribes of Israel. After that Jephthah was an Israel judge for six years and then died.
Then the 10th judge was Ibzan, then 11th judge- Elon, and 12th judge - Abdon.
In the beginning of chapter 13 we see the Israel continued doing evil,
"And the people of Israel again did what was evil on the sight of the Lord." (verse 1)
So God stopped protecting them and Philistines started ruling over them and were in power over Israel for forty years.
It doesn't say that people called out to God but we see that God is coming to rescue his people from the hand of gentiles again.
He speaks to Moab's wife from the tribe of Daintes, through an angle saying,
"You shall conceive and bear a son. Therefore be careful and drink no wine or strong drink, and eat nothing unclean... No razor shall come upon his head." (verse 3,4,5) He would be a Nazirite from his birth.
Since Moab wasn't on the scene when this happened he prayer to God and God heard him and the angel came again and spoke and Moab is convinced now that his wife will bear a son that will start to save Israelites from the hand of Philistines. They didn't know that it was an angel and they wanted to prepare food for him and for him to stay and eat with them but he said,
"I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord" (verse 16)
And Moab did just that,
"And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar." (verse 20)
To be a Nazirite three rules were to be obeyed
1. Could not drink wine or any strong drink
2. No cutting of the hair
3. No contact with the dead
Moab's wife got pregnant and bore a son and they named him Samson.
"And the young man grew, and the Lord blessed him. And the Spirit of the Lord began to stir him." (verse 13)
Today...
I want to notice how Moab's communication with God was easy and natural for him, he wanted something so he prayed to God and God answered, which makes me think that Moab and his wife were one of the Israelites that did not abandon God, and it's the reason why God spoke to them and not anyone else.
Sometimes my relationship with God is just like Moab's, I want to know something, or I want to get out of a situation that I'm in and God answers my prayers and I can see His hand at work in my life. But sometimes I'm like Jephthah, I know that God is right there and He can hear me but I make foolish decisions without praying about them.
Sometimes we don't stay in close contact with God and it comes as a surprise for us when God doesn't talk to us, or we don't feel Him near us. When we start feeling that feeling of 'nothing' it should alarm us. We need to get back in contact with God, because without Him we will be lost and we will do things and sow things that later we would need to reap with great tears.
Samson knew his calling--Many of Christians today can't seem to find their calling, or purpose. I've heard many men and women say that, yes they know that they need to share the good news and they say that they do, but they feel like they're supposed to do something else too. They just can't seem to find their calling.
I know that God will tell them (if they ask) what's their calling is or what they can do for the Lord, but often we don't want to do what we're meant to do, we want to do great things for all the people to see.
God's callings are different for every person and God says if you'll be loyal and faithful to me in little things I will put you in change of great things. If we really want to hear God then we should talk to Him.
Let's start by opening our hearts to Jesus, opening them all the way, telling Him about everything-- If you're confused about something, ask Him! If you're thankful for something, thank Him! If you want something, tell Him! If you're mad at Him or don't understand Him, then talk to Him about it!
God is real and he hears just like we hear, except he hears our hearts too! He wants us to be truthful all the way, not just a little bit. Don't be surprised to have an hour or two hours long of prayer, you need those prayers and you will see how your life will turn around.
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