Samson

We’re skipping ahead to Israel’s final formal judge; his story is one that you might be familiar with. In fact, his story is one of the best examples of a “flawed hero” because even though he messes up over and over again, God still empowers and uses him.

Of course, Israel is in trouble again—

Judges 13:1 | Again the Israelites did evil in the Lord’s sight, so the Lord handed them over to the Philistines, who oppressed them for forty years.

God needs to raise a judge and to do this, the Angel of the Lord (Jesus) is back. He visits the wife of Manoah and tells her—

Judges 13:3 & 5 | The angel of the Lord appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, “Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son… You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazarite from birth. He will begin to rescue Israel from the Philistines.”

Watch to see how this story ends!