The story of Sampson's life includes three common themes found throughout the Bible: a childless woman, the appearance of an angel from God., and the fiery consumption of an offering to God. So the story of Sampson begins with a nameless woman, married to a man from the tribe of Dan named Manoah, which means 'rest or quiet'. There was no rest or quiet in the land of Israel This time it was the Philistines who had been beleaguering Israel for the past forty years. They need a savior, and what better place to get one than from a quiet man and a barren woman.
When his wife told Manoah that an angel said she would bear a child, his main concern was bringing the child up the way God wanted. 'Then Manoah prayed to the LORD : "O LORD, I beg you, let the man of God you sent to us come again to teach us how to bring up the boy who is to be born." - Judges 13:8 NIV
The angel does come back, and when Manoah asks him what his name is, he receives no answer except for the sacrificial goat being consumed by fire. Ah, this has a familiar ring. It has happened before in the history of the Israelites. Not frequently, but at low points in their history when they found themselves in need of a savior.
So Sampson is born. He is dedicated as a Nazarite according to the dictates found in Numbers 6, and raised to be zealous for God. He abstains from wine and cutting his hair and as a result, grows stronger than any of his peers. But he has no inward strength and a weak spot where women are concerned. His external appearance can not mask the weakness inside. Instead of being quiet and peaceful like his father or nameless like his mother, Sampson is brash and reckless. Can he be what God intends to use to confront Israel's enemies?
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