Who doesn’t love a strongman leader?

Every day we're reading or listening to part of the Bible together and sharing thoughts with you. Today it’s Bern Leckie:

What did I like about today’s passage?

First, I’m loving that, while Israel was going through an extended evil period, God did not wait for them to come back to him. On his own timetable, he initiated an intervention through parents who would respond and obey through their upbringing of a miracle child. So Christlike! What could go wrong?

Well, when God’s gift starts acting like they are God’s gift, that’s not ideal. There’s a lot to like about Samson – he’s empowered by God, he carries the strength, swagger and sharp wit of an action hero, and he Gets. Stuff. Done. If you’ve seen Arnold Schwarzenegger as Conan The Barbarian, that’s my image of Samson. I’m guessing that kind of grim humoured, zero-to-hero, all-conquering mass of brains-meets-brawn, only thing sharper than his sword was his tongue-type character was the kind of messiah-saviour that Israel had in mind for centuries before they met Jesus.

But who did Samson love? Anyone more than himself? Maybe his wife, at first, but she ended up “given to one of his companions” at the wedding!

I guess it’s another example of how people can have a huge amount of God-given blessing and power, but without love, would you think that following them would lead you to God?

What did it show me about Father God, Jesus or the Holy Spirit?

God uses imperfect people to do his work, and sometimes that work and the flaws of the character who executed it can be legendary. God is still determined that, by all kinds of memorable ways, we can learn that he is powerful and acts for justice.

God also can intervene on his own timetable, not needing people to approach him first. He seems to know how to find people who will respond to his calling, and whether it is by being leaders or warriors, parents or worshippers, those people can change the world.

What am I going to do differently as a result?

As much as I’m impressed, amused and appalled by Samson in roughly equal measure, not much of me really wants to change to be like him.

But noticing what Samson lacked, I’m more determined to follow Jesus and grow as a lover, not a fighter. That might mean lowering some of my ambitions to get stuff done and spending more time defending my daddy-son time against invading work distractions which have certainly felt overpowering at times this week.

Not that work is all bad. In fact, I think the best of it comes from a loving heart. So I’d like God to use me to get better work done too, his way.

Who am I going to share this with?

My family. Maybe also one of my clients, if I’m feeling brave enough…