Mountain Movers

"And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson.." (Hebrews 11:32)

It would be an understatement to say that Samson had an event-filled life. We first learn about him in Judges 13 when the angel of the Lord appeared to his mother-to-be and told her that she was about to give birth to a boy to be set apart to God from birth. The Spirit of God began to stir in Samson at a very young age and he was destined for greatness. However, he also had his share of shortcomings.

Samson experienced love the first time he left home for Timnah. He shocked his parents by his demanding to marry a Philistine instead of an Israelite. After all, any time an Israelite intermarried, it only spelled trouble. Little did they know that this was from God, who was planning for the Philistines to be confronted and would allow this situation to make that happen.

Both Samson and his wife got involved with some pretty bad characters. Samson made a bet with 30 of his 'companions' involving a riddle. They were not able to solve it, so they threatened to burn Samson's wife and her father's household to death. Out of fear, she told the answer of the riddle to the Philistines and Samson had to pay up.

Out of vengeance, Samson decided to do some damage to the Philistine land. When the Philistines found out about this, they killed his wife and her family. Naturally, this made Samson extremely furious and he killed 1000 of their men with the jawbone of a donkey through the power of the Spirit of God. That opened the door for Samson to lead the Israelites. For 20 years he became their leader.

Samson continued to make questionable choices with the women in his life. He met a woman named Delilah who was a master of manipulation. The Philistine rulers, bent on getting revenge on Samson, did whatever they could to bribe Delilah into handing Samson over to their control. She made several unsuccessful attempts to deliver him to the Philistines. She persevered in trying to subdue Samson. In Judges 16:16, it says that "with such nagging she prodded him day after day until he was tired to death."

Samson told Delilah where the source of his strength came from. In the middle of the night, some Philistines came in, cut his hair,and rendered him powerless, and it was during this incident that the Lord left him. As he awoke, he was unable to shake himself free. They seized him, gouged out his eyes and took him away.

It seemed all was doomed for Samson and the Israelites. The Philistines offered Samson as a sacrifice to Dagon, their god. They must have been feeling on top of the world: Enemy #1 was captured and they could do to him whatever they liked. The Philistines did not have a reputation of giving others a fair trial.

When the people saw him, they praised their god, saying, "our god has delivered Samson, our enemy, into our hands, the one who laid waste our land and multiplied our slain."

While they were in high spirits, they shouted, "Bring out Samson to entertain us." So they called Samson out of prison, and he performed for them. (Judges 16:24-25)

What humiliation Samson must have been feeling at this point. Thousands of Philistines were crowding around the Temple mocking him and reveling in his disgrace. The strength of the Israelite nation was now a laughingstock amongst their enemies.

Samson could have easily given up hope and lived his last days in shame. However, he knew about the One from whom his strength came. And he had a final request to ask from God.

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, "Sovereign Lord, remember me. O God, please strengthen me just once more, and let me with one blow get revenge on the Philistines for my two eyes." Then Samson reached toward the two central pillars on which the temple stood. Bracing himself against them, his right hand on the one and his left hand on the other, Samson said, "Let me die with the Philistines!" Then he pushed with all his might, and down came the temple on the rulers and all the people in it. Thus he killed many more when he died than while he lived. (Judges 16:28-30)

Just when it seemed all hope was lost and the enemy had total control, Samson looked toward God for help. The people who were consumed with evil and hatred toward God's people had gone from a state of euphoria to being silenced in death all within a matter of minutes. Samson's family went up to the Philistine region to gather him and give him a proper burial.

Even when everything had appeared hopeless, Samson still believed God could do amazing things through him. In a way, it went against logic. After all, Samson had just experienced a string of defeats. He had reached the lowest point of his life both physically and emotionally and his friends were nowhere to be found. He was surrounded by his enemies. It was obvious to him that his downfall was because he relied on his strength. His self-reliance failed him. Yet he remembered the victories God gave him and called upon God one more time for victory.

Samson's strength came from calling on God. The same thing goes for us. Even when things appear hopeless all around us, God is waiting nearby ready at a nano-second's notice to give us the strength we need to have victory.

In the next chapter, we will look at the example of Jephthah, who came to the rescue of the Israelites at their moment of desperation and led them to an incredible victory over a foe that seemed unconquerable.