In the book of Judges we learned how, “Manoah took a kid with a meat offering, and offered it upon a rock unto the LORD: and the angel did wondrously; and Manoah and his wife looked on”, and in chapter thirteen and verse twenty of Judges, we learn how, “the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar” where we read,
For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.
The verse reads, “For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar.” The writer began with the words, “for it came to pass” which means “because, since and on account that the following happened and occurred”, “when the flame went up toward heaven” or “at the time and moment the fiery blaze ascended and proceeded toward the sky, atmosphere and abode of the stars”, “from off the altar” which means “separate and apart from the place of slaughter”, “that the angel of the LORD” or “that the spiritual envoy and messenger belonging to Jehovah who is the existing One and the proper name of the One True God” “ascended in the flame of the altar” which means “went up and proceeded forth in the fiery blaze from the sacrificial location”. The writer shared how at the time and moment the fiery blaze ascended to the sky from the location of the sacrifice, the envoy belonging to Jehovah God proceeded forth within the fiery blaze.
The verse continues, “And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground.” The writer added the words, “and Manoah” whose name means “rest” and was a Danite, father of the judge Samson and inhabitant of Zorah “and his wife” or “and his, Manoah’s, female spouse” “looked on it” which means “watched and observed the ascension of the angel in the fiery blaze”,”and fell on their faces” or “and were cast down, lying prostrate and overwhelmed with their countenances and fronts of their heads” “to the ground” which means “toward the land and earth”. The writer shared how “Manoah and his wife” observed the “angel ascending in the fiery blaze” and were cast down to the “ground” with the front of their heads toward the land beneath them.
When we think through the words in this verse, we learn about another supernatural work from Jehovah God through His spiritual envoy. As “Manoah and his wife” were tending to the sacrifice upon the flat stone, the fiery blaze arose from the sacrificial location and Jehovah God’s spiritual envoy rose to the sky within the fire. God demonstrated His supernatural power through His “messenger”, and we shall see how this fiery demonstration becomes an effective motivator for “Manoah and his wife”. God wants us to know He is at work even when we cannot see Him, and because He loves us, He sent His Son Jesus into the world to die on the cross for the sins of all mankind and to be raised from the dead after three days. When we yield to Him as our “Savior and Lord”, He will forgive our sins, grant us everlasting life and put His Holy Spirit within us to guide us into all truth and give us the ability to see and know when He performs supernatural acts within our lives. (See Ephesians 6:10-18)
Next time we learn how, “the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.
Until tomorrow…there is more…
See more devotionals on the website "thewordfortodaywithray.com" or look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance.”
