Sunday, April 2, 2017

Discovering What God Already Knew

Today’s Bible Reading:  Judges 13-16; 2 Corinthians 2
Topic: Wisdom



SCRIPTURE:  Genesis 1:27-28

2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was sterile and remained childless. 3 The angel of the Lord appeared to her and said, "You are sterile and childless, but you are going to conceive and have a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean, 5 because you will conceive and give birth to a son… (Judg 13:2-5 NIV)


OBSERVATION:

In 1973 medical science discovered the often serious effects of alcohol on unborn babies. Since that time women began to be warned not to drink while pregnant. Yet here we see, thousands of years earlier, the wisdom of God’s Word. This incident in Judges records a remarkable theophany—an appearance of the Lord, to personally deliver important instruction. The child that was to be born (Samson) was to be set apart unto God. The Lord made it known that what the mother consumes directly affects the unborn child from conception: “do not drink fermented drink… you are going to conceive…”


APPLICATION:

I am grateful for the advances of mankind that inform healthier and more fruitful lifestyles. I am encouraged by how our discoveries often corroborate teachings found in the Bible. It certainly can be argued whether or not the Lord’s specific instruction to Samson’s mother-to-be was to safeguard the health of the life to be conceived and grow in her womb, or if it was just because he was destined to become a Nazarite—one consecrated and separated unto the Lord. Whatever the case, this passage inspires me to be all the more resolved to trust in and follow the precepts of God’s Word.


PRAYER:

Lord, in seeing, my faith in You is bolstered; in not seeing, may my faith be realized. 
In Christ. Amen.  -AP

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