Samson is part of the fabric of God’s tapestry. He was an important example of unfulfilled potential. Although Samson did great things for God, we can only wonder what he might have done or been for God. But despite his sin God still moved behind the scenes and used Samson for good. Though God can make even the evil of man to serve His purposes, it never justifies the evil that man does.
Earlier in Ezekiel 36:17-19, we learn that God had scattered and dispersed the Israelites among the nations because of their evil conduct and actions. He poured out His wrath on them because they had ‘shed blood in the land… and defiled it with their idols’.
God appointed Ezekiel to tell these scattered people of Israel that He will cleanse them from their sins, resettle them in their towns and rebuild the ruins; He will bless them again! He resolved to do all these despite the evil hearts of His people, because the surrounding nations were mocking God on account of the sorry state of the Israelites.
Israel had been oppressed by the Midianites for seven years because they did evil in the eyes of God. Despite their disobedience to God, He loved them, saw their suffering and set about His plan to rescue them.
Along came Gideon, a man who was the least in his family, from a clan which was the weakest in Manasseh. He was the lowest of the low and yet God chose to use him to in His plans to save the people of Israel.
We read in Exodus that the Israelites had been rescued from slavery and oppression in Egypt by the mighty works of God through Moses. They went through the 10 plagues and then later the miraculous crossing of the Red Sea. But the generation after Joshua has forgotten all these miraculous encounters, or they were not told what the Lord has done for their forefathers.
Moses had sent the twelve spies, one from each tribe of Israel, into the land God had promised. He asked them to recce the place and to bring some of the fruit of the land. This would help them assess the situation of the people of the land they were to conquer, and to know how fertile was the land.
At the end of the forty days, the spies returned to report their findings and brought back the fruit of the land. The visible evidence of the fruit of the land showed that the land was a land that flowing with milk and honey. This was the land promised by Yahweh when the people were led out from Egypt.
In the 40-year journey towards the Promised Land, God made Israel into a nation by the giving of the Law of Moses, urging them to be careful and to heed His commandments. However, the Israelites were a grumbling lot who would craft their own idols and indulge in the pleasure of lives that were displeasing to God. Repeatedly, they forgot about God’s provision and protection over their lives.
Joseph, was an extraordinary young man. He had a lot of things going for him. Gifted, A good education, loving parents who favoured him. Much to the chagrin of his older brothers, they were jealous of him, that they did what they did to him. He would’ve been no older than 20 years old when he was sold off to slavery and experienced another pitfall in his life and ending up in a pit.
With much time to himself, we can presume that he could reflect and ponder on his “fate”. But he never forgot all that he was taught.
Jacob’s journey takes him to the East where he finds Laban, his mother’s brother. He then begins working for Laban. After Laban asks Jacob what his wages should be, we read that “Jacob was in love with Rachel and said, ‘I’ll work for you seven years in return for your younger daughter Rachel.’” He had noticed Laban’s younger daughter Rachel and had fallen in love with her.
After being arrested, Jesus was held and brought before several parties for questioning. First, to the religious assembly, then to Pilate the Roman governor, then to Herod and the religious authorities in Galilee, before going back to Pilate for the final verdict. In these trials, Jesus was subjected to strong accusations and mockery.
Psalm 46 provides a dramatic picture of swirling trouble and chaos, as though the whole foundations of the earth would break apart and as though the seas would destroy the mountains. In the midst of this, the Psalmist calls the people of God to go to God for refuge and strength, acknowledging that He is their only dependable source. With the promise that God would inhabit His people, the people of God can stand strong, God being their helper.
