Scripture Focus (Judges 13:13-23) – And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. 14 She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing. All that I commanded her let her observe.”15 Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the LORD said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the LORD.” (For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the LORD.) 17 And Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?” 18 And the angel of the LORD said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?” 19 So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the LORD, to the one who works wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching. 20 And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the LORD went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground. 21 The angel of the LORD appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the LORD. 22 And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.” 23 But his wife said to him, “If the LORD had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.”
I. God’s Message Communicates Authority & Accountability (Judges 13:13-14)
A. We are bound to obey God’s commands (Judges 13:13) – “And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful.”
B. We are responsible to remember what God has revealed (Judges 13:14a) – “She may not eat of anything that comes from the vine, neither let her drink wine or strong drink, or eat any unclean thing.”
C. We are honor God’s will in the lives of others (Judges 13:14b) – “All that I commanded her let her observe.”
II. God’s Interactions Release Reverence & Mystery (Judges 13:15-18)
A. We can miss Heaven’s activity (Judges 13:15-16) – “Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “Please let us detain you and prepare a young goat for you.” 16 And the angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “If you detain me, I will not eat of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, then offer it to the Lord.” For Manoah did not know that he was the angel of the Lord.”
This was the most significant encounter with Heaven that Manoah had ever experienced, and he initially operated in total unawareness that something supernatural was happening. He interpreted what was happening in his life as important, but not supernatural.
B. We should acknowledge elements of Kingdom mystery (Judges 13:17) – “And Manoah said to the angel of the Lord, “What is your name, so that, when your words come true, we may honor you?”
In ancient days, to ask and learn someone’s name was seen as an advantage or a step towards putting a relationship on equal ground. It would seem that Manoah was seeking to establish some level of familiarity with his visitor.
C. Judges 13:18 – And the angel of the Lord said to him, “Why do you ask my name, seeing it is wonderful?”
The reply of the visitor preserves the relationship as it is, with Manoah being the dependent recipient and the visitor holding the place of superiority in the encounter.
III. God’s Presence Produces Fire & Awe (Judges 13:19-23)
A. Manoah displayed consecration with his visitor (Judges 13:19) – “So Manoah took the young goat with the grain offering, and offered it on the rock to the Lord, to the One who works wonders, and Manoah and his wife were watching.”
B. Manoah received revelation from God (Judges 13:20-22) – “And when the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord went up in the flame of the altar. Now Manoah and his wife were watching, and they fell on their faces to the ground. The angel of the Lord appeared no more to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was the angel of the Lord. And Manoah said to his wife, “We shall surely die, for we have seen God.”
C. Manoah received clarification from his wife (Judges 13:23) – “But his wife said to him, “If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands, or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these.”
Manoah was faithful to honor the Lord for the prophetic word about the coming birth of a son. Manoah received revelation that the visitor with the message was none other than God himself. He was stricken with fear, knowing he had not perceived God in his midst. His wife, however, rested in the goodness of God and reassured Manoah that all was well.