In my last blog we looked at the responsibility of parents. Today we will see the difference between a person who is not used to hearing the word, ‘NO.’ and the one who has learned obedience.
In Old Testament times a barren women was told she would have a child Judges 13:2-3. He was to be a ‘Nazirite to God from the womb,’ verse 5. As God said, the woman gave birth to a son who was named Samson, Judges 13:24.
It’s not too far fetched to suggest that after thinking they would never have a son, and then being given one, Manoah and his wife indulged this child and never learned to say ‘no’ to him. This is born out by Samson’s behavior. Samson grew into a man filled with wrong desires that went against his calling. A Nazirite, Samson was set apart and consecrated to God. Yet we see in Judges 14 he wants to marry a Philistine woman and orders his parents to get her for him. His parents tentatively suggest he should marry from his own people. God commanded that the Israelites not intermarry with the nations around them, Deuteronomy 7:3. Samson was adamant. He wanted this Philistine woman for she looked good to him, Judges 14:3 and Samson was used to getting what he wanted.
On the way to visit the woman he killed a lion. On the way back he saw a swarm of bees and honey in the body of the lion. He ate the honey from the dead carcass. This touching of a dead animal, an unclean thing, was also against God’s commands, Leviticus 5:2. Samson did not care. He saw something he wanted – the honey, so he took it.
Then he made a feast which was nothing more than a drinking party. When his intended bride was given to another Samson took revenge on the Philistines, Judges 15:4-5. He was used to getting what he wanted and reacted like a spoiled brat when thwarted in his desires.
Women were always a weakness of Samson. Later he saw a harlot and went into her, Judges 16:1. Then he met Delilah, who betrayed him to the Philistines, so that his strength left him and the Philistines captured him, Judges 16: 19-21. In the course of his life Samson broke all his vows as a Nazirite. To look at the restrictions placed on a Nazirite, see Numbers 6:2-8.
Surely his parents would have explained exactly what being a Nazirite entailed yet all through his life Samson disregarded those vows and disobeyed. Perhaps if his parents had learned to say ‘No’ and had disciplined him, he would not have grown willful and determined to follow his desires even when they disobeyed God’s laws.
How different is the example of Jesus. When Jesus was twelve, Mary and Joseph went to Jerusalem for the feast of the Passover and Jesus remained behind. When Mary and Joseph discovered him missing, they returned to Jerusalem and found Jesus in the temple. But after that he went home with them and the bible tells us, ‘He continued in subjection to them,’ Luke 2:51. He was not only obedient to his earthly parents, but also to His Heavenly Father. Jesus did not pursue His own desires but continually put his Heavenly Father’s will above his own, John 5:30, John 6:38.
Jesus remained obedient even when his Father’s will mean the sacrifice of his own life, Matthew 26:42. He knew this was God’s plan of salvation for all who believe in Him, John 6:40. In Gethsemane Jesus asked that the ‘cup’ be taken from him if possible Luke 22:42. God the Father said, ‘no.’ This was God’s plan of salvation, John 3.17.
Imagine what a sorry state we would all be in if Jesus had not been obedient! What a contrast between Samson who was used to being indulged and getting his own way and Jesus who chose to follow God’s way and was obedient even when it meant death, Philippians 2:8.
Proverbs 13:24 and 22:15 speak of the need for parents to train and discipline their child. This is showing love rather than by indulging them. By his behavior Samson brought shame to his mother, as Proverbs 29:15 says a willful child does. Jesus brought honor to His Father and was exalted because of His obedience, Philippians 2:9-11.
Bible verses from the New American Standard Version
Please visit these related blogs
Are you prepared for the cost in following Jesus?
Words and actions that don’t match