Judges 13:15-20 – God wants our total trust

Manoah was still not aware that he was talking to the angel of the LORD. Even up to this point, he thought he was dealing with a prophet. This suggests to us that the angel took on a human form. No wonder the author of the book of Hebrews bits of advice to the early believers was for them to practice hospitality. For in so doing, they could unknowingly be entertaining angels. That also accounts for why Manoah could remain so calm. Had he known that he was dealing with an angel, his approach would be entirely different. Thinking that the angel was a prophet, Manoah wanted to show hospitality. So, he invited the angel to a meal. Verse 16 was how the angel responded: “Though you detain me, I will not eat your food, but if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” He was gently pointing Manoah to Jehovah instead. That was a clue to him that he was not dealing with a man.

At this point, Manoah should have an inkling that he was dealing with more than a prophet. Since what he wanted was for Manoah to make an offering to Jehovah. But that hint totally missed him. So, he proceeded to ask for the name of the angel, who did not answer his question. The reason Manoah wanted to know the name of the angel was an indication that he still entertained some doubt in what he was told. Under the pretext that he wanted to honour the angel should what he had been foretold come to pass, he asked for his name. The angel’s reply was a gentle rebuke to him for his doubt. So, Manoah took the goat and some grain and sacrificed a burnt offering to the LORD on a rock as a makeshift altar. When the flame of the offering ascended, the angel of Jehovah ascended in the flame and disappeared before the eyes of Manoah and his wife. Immediately, they fell on their face in reverential awe and fear and were fully convinced.

The way the angel responded to the quiz of Manoah suggests to us that there are mysteries of God that we need time to understand. Even if we were told there and then it would be hard to comprehend. It pays to be careful but we must not let our cautiousness prevent us from exercising faith in following the revelation of God. He will often show us some initial steps, and only as we obey and take action on what had been instructed than more revelation will follow. In divine guidance, we have to exercise faith. We can afford to err in making a sincere attempt to obey God rather than remain faithless and err not acting at God’s initiation. God doesn’t reveal everything all at once. He takes us through life step by step. When we have obeyed than the next step we need to take will be revealed. Trust in God must be explicit!