1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.”
4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the Lord, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel.Judges 14:1-4 ESV
When Samson arrives on the scene, Israel is under the rule of the Philistines. In the thirteenth chapter of Judges we learn that once again the Jewish people had been disobedient and as a result were subjugated by another people. So along comes Samson. Nazirite. Judge. Deliverer. Pawn.
Pawn?! Yes, a pawn in God's end game to deliver the nation of Israel from the Philistines. God set Samson up. He used Samson's natural urges to bring about disobedience so that a greater good could be accomplished.
Young and powerful. Heralded by an angel. Most likely doted on by his parents. It appears Samson grew into a youth who was used to getting his way. He saw a woman he desired. He wanted that woman. Against the advice of his father and mother he persisted. "Get her for me," Samson ordered his parents. (Now, there is a whole lesson here about parenting, honoring mom and dad, and family dynamics, but that is an entry for another day.)
It appears from verse that God knew Samson would fail this test and allowed it to proceed anyway. "It was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines." God needed an excuse for Samson to go on a rampage. He manipulated players so that Samson would take a Philistine bride and set in motion Samson's downfall and eventual restoration.
I know God's ways are not our ways, and His thoughts are higher than our thoughts.* He works all things together for good**, but I cannot help but wonder if Samson really had free will here. In theory Samson could have followed his parents advice and found a Jewish bride. But this forbidden marriage to "daughter of the Philistines" was preordained by God. It was the linch pin to the rest of His plan. If not this marriage, perhaps there would have been no Delilah, no hair cut, no pillars of death.***
Today I have no concluding paragraph. No final thought to ponder. No final witticism. I am just left wondering, "Did Samson ever have a chance?"
*Isaiah 55:8
**Romans 8:28
***Judges 16
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