DAY 1 – November 2
TITLE: “NOW SEE TO IT"
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean,” Judges 13:4
Through the angel of the Lord, God gave Manoah and his wife a promise of great hope. This couple was going to have a child. Manoah’s wife was sterile and childless, but the promise came that they were going to conceive and have a son. In the culture of the time, this was a significant and life-changing promise that would fill this couple with great hope. This wonderful promise came with clear instructions.
The wife of Manoah was to see to it that she did not drink wine and that she did not eat anything unclean. In addition, no razor was to be used on her son’s head because he was to be a Nazarite. The word, Nazirite is from the Hebrew root, which is an alternative form of the word for vow. The word, Nazirite means “one separated or consecrated”. The boy was to be a Nazirite, which according to Numbers 6:3-21, was someone who made a special vow to the Lord. The mother was responsible to see to it that she and her son met the requirements that God had set out for her.
Some years ago, when I had just began my ministry as pastor in Los Osos, California, I asked one of volunteers to make sure a particular item was taken care of. I really did not know the person well yet, but I was very hopeful that he would come through. He did and I quickly came to realize this was a person who was faithful and could always be depended upon. Whenever he was asked to take care of something, he always came through.
Just as God had a responsibility and assignment for Manoah and his wife, God has given us responsibilities and tasks to complete for Him. The Lord has given us clear instructions and directions for our lives. It is our responsibility to see to it that we do what He has called us to do.
Many of us have come to rely upon the faithfulness of God. We have come to understand that God is always dependable. He never fails to do what He says He will do. We know we can depend upon Him. A question worthy of our consideration is, “can God depend upon me?” When God gives us a responsibility to take care of, can He rest assured that we will do what He has asked us to do? When God says to you, “now see to this,” can He rest assured that you will be faithful to do it? We can count upon God. Through His power, let us live so that God can count upon us.
DAY 2 – November 3
TITLE: “THEN MANOAH PRAYED"
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “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
Can you think of a time recently when something happened in your life that caused you to immediately go to God in earnest prayer? Perhaps a crisis of some type occurred that caused you to cry out to God in prayer. I can think of many times when a tragedy, event or crisis of some type took place that caused me to immediately fall on my knees before the Lord and call out to Him.
Manoah was in crisis. It had not been just another ordinary day. His wife had just had a divine visit from the man of God. This had not been just a friendly visit by a neighbor or ordinary person. She had described this divine visitor by saying, “He looked like an angel of God, very awesome.” Judges 13:6. This man of God had come to inform them that their lives were about to change drastically.
This couple who could not give birth had been told they were about to give birth to a son. This news would change their lives. It was definitely a time of change and transition. She was to abstain from wine and fermented drink. In addition, the divine visitor had told her she was not to eat anything unclean. This son was not going to be just an ordinary boy. He would be a Nazirite of God, from birth until the day of his death.
Manoah responded to this crisis with prayer. There are a variety of ways that Manoah could have responded. He could have responded with worry, fear, anger, doubt, denial, complacency, and numerous other emotions. However, the scripture says, “Manoah prayed.” From the scriptural account, Manoah’s first response was prayer. He laid his request before the Lord, seeking help and guidance. The psalmist said, “In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” Psalms 5:3. Prayer enables us to come to the Lord in crisis, with our requests waiting upon the Lord with expectation.
How do you respond to the crisis, transitions, unusual events or circumstances in your life? The apostle Paul instructs, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” Philippians 4:6. This words of instruction for us comes with a blessed promise. Paul went on to say, “And the peace of God which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:7. May it be said of each of us, “then he prayed” or “then she prayed.” Every crisis in our life can be faced with confidence, divine direction, and God’s peace through prayer.
DAY 3 – November 4
TITLE: “TEACH US"
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “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
Yesterday, we focused on Manoah’s response to the divine visitor. We discovered that he had responded with prayer. Today, we will focus on what he prayed. It is obvious from the passage that Manoah had a teachable heart. He was open to divine instruction. Manoah prayed, “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.”
I have often been intrigued by the things skilled craftsman can make with wood. When I was a young father, I bought a book on how to make toys with wood. With great ambition and excitement, I dreamed of all the wonderful toys I would make for our little daughter. It did not take me long to discover that making toys out of wood was not really my calling. I made a purple hippopotamus pencil holder and that was about all that came out of my dreams. Among the wooden toys I have seen is a small wooden bird called the "Floogie Bird." Around the Floogie Bird's neck is a label reading, "I fly backwards, I don't care where I'm going. I just want to see where I've been."
Unlike the “Floogie bird”, Manoah asked the Lord for
guidance for the future. They were embarking on a new journey into territory
they had never been before. Not only had they never been parents, but they had
never raised a Nazirite son consecrated to God.
They had never raised a child who would begin the deliverance of
When Moses was called to lead the people, he prayed, “…teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you…” Exodus 33:13. The Psalmist wrote, “I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you and watch over you.” Psalm 32:8. Manoah went to the Lord for help and guidance. He knew there was a divine teacher that could instruct them and show them what to do.
We have a divine guide who can teach us what to do in the circumstances and challenges of our life. Through His Word and the Spirit, God will teach those with teachable hearts who seek His help and guidance. I would like to invite you to take some time to pray, “Teach me your ways, O Lord.” God’s way is always the best way. Go to the Divine Teacher today in prayer, with a teachable heart. Sit in His classroom today and allow Him to show you what He would have you to do in the circumstances, opportunities and challenges you are facing.
DAY 4 – November 5
TITLE: “GOD HEARD"
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “God heard Manoah, and the angel of God came again to the woman while she was out in the field; but her husband Manoah was not with her.” Judges 13:9
My wife, Sharon’s surgery for the removal of the tumor in the ear and the subsequent total hearing loss in that ear have resulted in the need to make several adjustments. When she goes to a restaurant, she is much more concerned about where she sits so that she can hear the conversation. In communicating with others, she seeks to position herself so that she can hear what is being said. In listening to something, the volume may be turned up a little higher so she can hear. With her hearing loss came several limitations of things she could once hear easily but now cannot hear with her deaf ear.
Though it seems simplistic, God does not have hearing or listening problems. God is a God who hears the cries and prayers of His people. The psalmist said, “He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.” Psalm 91:15. God heard the prayers of Manoah and answered his request by sending the angel of God back to his wife.
Writer, Charles Swindoll once found himself with too many commitments in too few days. He got nervous and tense about it. "I was snapping at my wife and our children, choking down my food at mealtimes, and feeling irritated at those unexpected interruptions through the day," he recalled in his book, Stress Fractures. "Before long, things around our home started reflecting the patter of my hurry-up style. It was becoming unbearable.”
"I distinctly remember after supper one evening, the words of our younger daughter, Colleen. She wanted to tell me something important that had happened to her at school that day. She began hurriedly, 'Daddy, I wanna tell you somethin' and I'll tell you really fast.' Suddenly realizing her frustration, I answered, 'Honey, you can tell me -- and you don't have to tell me really fast. Say it slowly.’ I'll never forget her answer: 'Then listen slowly.'"
God is a God that listens slowly and carefully to His people. He is never in a hurry, but always has time to listen. You need not race through your prayers or concerns with God. You can sit down in His presence, relax and open up your heart to Him. God is a God that loves to listen to the prayers of His people. God heard the prayers of Manoah and He will hear your prayers today, when you open up your heart to Him.
DAY 5 – November 6
TITLE: “WHAT DOES OBEDIENCE REQUIRE OF YOU?"
WEEKLY SCRIPTURE
DAILY SCRIPTURE
KEY VERSE: “…She must do everything I have commanded her.” Judges 13:14
The angel of the Lord called Manoah and his wife to obedience. The angel of the Lord made it clear that obedience to the commands given were not optional. Judges 13:13 says, “The angel of the Lord answered, “Your wife must do all that I have told her.” God did not call them to selective obedience, but total obedience. God did not call them to partial obedience, but complete obedience.
What does it mean to you to obey everything the Lord has commanded you? Obedience often requires sacrifice. Obedience takes intentional commitment and surrender to the Lord. What does obedience to God require of you today? For Manoah and his wife, it meant that she must fulfill all the Lord had told her concerning the preparation for and raising up of the child God was going to give them. What does obedience to God require of you today? James records, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” James 1:22. John wrote, “If you love me, you will obey what I command.” John 14:15. What does obedience to God require of you today?
The gospel of Mark records that one of the teachers of the law asked Jesus which of the commandments is the most important. Jesus responded, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these.” Mark 12:30-31. Again, what does obedience to God require of you today?
Last weekend, I was doing some work in the kitchen while our daughter, Amanda was watching a dog show. She loves animals and enjoyed watching the dogs as they obeyed their masters. Author, Archibald Rutledge wrote that one day he met a man whose dog had just been killed in a forest fire. Heartbroken, the man explained to Rutledge how it happened. Because he worked out-of-doors, he often took his dog with him. That morning, he left the animal in a clearing and gave him a command to stay and watch his lunch bucket while he went into the forest. His faithful friend understood, for that's exactly what he did. Then, a fire started in the woods, and soon the blaze spread to the spot where the dog had been left. But he didn't move. He stayed right where he was, in perfect obedience to his master's word. With tearful eyes, the dog's owner said, "I always had to be careful what I told him to do, because I knew he would do it."
God will never ask you to do anything that does not fulfill His plan for your life. God cares about you and truly has your best interest in mind. The commandments of His Word are for our good. What does obedience to God require of you today?