The statistics concern me. An epidemic of youth raised in Christian homes leave the faith. I see my teenagers growing up, breathing in a culture awash in idols and distractions. Computer screens and iPhones beckon. My children still aren’t saved even after years of teaching and example. Through unsung Manoah, Samson’s father, though, Jesus shed fresh light to assure me that He is at work to win them.
Israel had sunk so low that even forty years of Philistine oppression couldn’t rouse any to call on the Lord. But Manoah found favor with God. “Manoah” means “rest.” Manoah does picture rest, but not at first. The Angel of the Lord’s shocking news of a miracle son destined for Israel’s deliverance triggered a restlessness within.
Then Manoah prayed to the Lord and said, “O Lord, please let the man of God whom you sent come again to us and teach us what we are to do with the child who will be born.” And God listened to the voice of Manoah, and the angel of God came again…
Judges 13:8-9 ESV
“What are we to do with the child?” is so relevant to us today. The Angel could have responded by quoting Bible verses on parenting. But He didn’t. In fact, He didn’t use words at all.
So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord…
Judges 13:19
Although not a Levite, Manoah functions as a priest. Among many joint burnt and grain offering passages, this summarizes their significance well: “So the priest will make atonement for him, and he will be clean” (Lev 14:20). Jesus fulfilled this picture when He offered Himself up on the cross to cleanse us from our sins. Manoah’s wife affirmed shortly thereafter that the Lord had accepted these offerings from their hands. The first thing I’m to do with my child is trust that God has accepted me because of Jesus’ offering on my behalf. Every parental sin and failure has been forgiven.
And as Manoah and his wife watched, the Lord did an amazing thing. As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground.
Judges 13:19-20 NLT
The “amazing thing” is unforgettable jaw-dropping amazement. I’d always envisioned an out-of-hand barbeque grill fire going up ten feet. Not so! “Shot up toward the sky” is spot on. The Septuagint translation conveys into the heavens. This was a pillar of fire reaching up into the sky!
What’s this Angel ascending in fire about? Fire coming down from heaven is synonymous with God’s judgment. Elijah called fire down from heaven that consumed a captain and his fifty men—twice. Fire from heaven upon David’s, Solomon’s, and Elijah’s burnt offerings communicated God’s fury on sin. Fire ascending is exactly opposite: blessing instead of cursing. Fire from the burnt offering wafting its way upwards signified God’s pleasure, a “sweet smelling aroma” (e.g., Gen 8:21).
Out of the young goat’s ashes arose the living Man of God in skyrocketing flame to heaven. Manoah beheld prophecy in picture form. This vignette pictures Jesus’ death, resurrection, and ascension! “Lifting up his hands [Jesus] blessed them. While he blessed them, he parted from them and was carried up into heaven” (Lk 24:50-51). Jesus’ outstretched hands is a priestly posture symbolizing everlasting blessing.
When Manoah and his wife watched the Angel ascending, He didn’t immediately vanish. They stared at Him for awhile, as the imperfect verb indicates. Manoah had asked how to raise his son. God answers in essence, “Keep your eyes on Me going up into heaven on your behalf. It’s not what you do for your son down here but what I will do for him up there.” “For Christ has entered…into heaven itself, now to appear in the presence of God on our behalf” (Heb 9:24). As Manoah kept his eyes on the Lord, He blessed his son and sent His Spirit to stir him.
Then the Spirit of the Lord rushed upon [Samson], and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat.
Judges 14:6 ESV
I can’t relate to tearing a young goat (neither can you!) This makes no sense until we realize this comparison originates from Samson’s life experience. Nobody else was there. Tearing the lion reminded Samson of tearing a young goat.
Years prior Samson’s dad had asked the Angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” (Jdg 13:17) Manoah’s confident faith—when your words come true—culminated with desire to honor this Messenger, whom he’d learned was God Himself. Catch the trajectory of Manoah’s heart. It was set upon glorifying God.
But how could Manoah honor God? The Angel’s Nazirite commands to his wife didn’t include him. Offering up the young goat was his unique contribution. Somehow Samson experienced tearing a young goat that he connected with tearing the lion. Young Samson presumably assisted his father in honoring God by offering up young goats. Apparently a young goat was easy enough to tear with just the bare hands unlike other sacrificial animals needing a knife. As fire from the altar ascended, Manoah remembered that amazing scene of God ascending to heaven in a column of flames. He remembered again that the Lord above would fulfill Samson’s divine mission.
So like Manoah, I rest. I still point my kids to Christ, entrusting their future to God. I remember my acceptance in Christ because of His sacrifice. As I’m mindful that Jesus ascended into heaven, He will bless my daughter and sons and at strategic times send His Spirit to convict and stir them. So I keep setting my heart to glorify God, and over the course of time the Lord will do amazing things with each child!
Glory Unveiled: Discovering Jesus 