On Saturday I wrote about a work issue where God had come through once again when the problem was caused by my oversight. The epiphany I had was that God intervenes even when the problem arises due to our actions. However, as I was pondering the situation, it occurred to me that God also expects us to learn from each situation. I don't believe He will continue to deflect, protect, interject if I am not obedient in the areas of conviction.
The story of Samson came to mind. Samson's choices with women were a life-long struggle. A pattern becomes obvious. Samson sins, God intervenes. But Samson is either ignorant of the lessons God is trying to teach or he is arrogant enough to think those lessons don't apply to him.
In Judges 14, Samson, "saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah." and told his father "get
her for me as my wife." This marriage results in death of 30 men and
Samson's wife was given away to the best man from the wedding. Eventually as a result of Samson's actions, she and her father were burned alive by the Philistines. (Judges 15:6 ESV)
In the sixteenth chapter of Judges, Samson "saw a prostitute, and he went in to her". (Judges 16:1 ESV) As a result the Gazites surrounded the city and plotted to capture Samson. However, Sampson escapes. Samson sins, God intervenes.
Finally, we are brought to the story of Samson and Delilah, one of the most popular stories in the Old Testament. Once again, Samson has made a poor choice. He has become unequally yoked with a woman outside of the Jewish faith. Tragedy follows.
Samson repeatedly lies to Delilah about the source of his strength. The causes her to be humiliated on three occasions. Rather than just tell her that his strength is from the Lord, he toyed with her. Eventually because of the disrespect Samson has shown her, Delilah, "pressed him hard with her words day after day, and urged him, his soul was vexed to death", and he relents and shares his secret with her.
The rest, as they say, is history. Shaved head. Capture. Eyes gouged out. Hair grows back. Many Philistines slayed.
But the take-away for me is Samson's repeated sin. Each time God rescued Samson, he did not learn a lesson. He presumed on the goodness of God until the time God said, "Well, Samson, you think you know best. Then have it your way."
It is our duty to not only thank God for His intervention and rescue, but to also learn from these times. When God steps up to deflect, protect, interject, we must seek His guidance in how to avoid the same missteps in the future. We should ask God, "What are both the spiritual and practical steps we can take avoid the same situations in the future?" It is imperative we allow God to use these times to help us grow and mature as a Christian.
God loves. God protects. But God also expects. Be careful never to assume God's interventions are limitless.
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