FROM STRENGTH TO WEAKNESS 
 
         I think the story of Samson is one of the most fascinating accounts in the entire Bible; however, I just want to broad stroke the story and show you a little bit about God and ourselves.
 
Samson's father received a word from God before Samson was even born that his son would be the leader of the Israelites and save them from the Philistines. This was a very broad prophecy. Nobody could have predicted the sequence of events on how this was going to be fulfilled. When we look at prophecy we should pursue what we do know but also ask what we don't know.Then and only then can our approach be balanced.
  Samson saw all of the injustices done to his people and was tricked and deceived by the Philistines. He had an anger about him that almost seemed to get him by in life, and of course by not cutting his hair he was extra strong and  free to express his rage. In the most basic sense the first part of his life was he could see and was strong. The second part of his life he had his hair cut off, was captured and became blind and weak. Sight to blindness and strength to weakness. What we are looking at is an antithesis or an opposite because he went from freedom to slavery. It was in the blind-weakness part of his life that God started molding him. I look at my own life and other Christian brothers and sisters and this is in essence what God is doing. It is very interesting that after 20 years (the number of redemption) God allowed Samson's hair to grow back.
 
Through Samson's weakness, God gave him his strength back.  Strength without any weakness is usually arrogance. During Samson's weakness he still understood his strength when his hair grew back.  He was now strong. This is a pivotal point.  Do we understand our strength in our weakness?  We have at least one strength.  As God works His strength through our weakness I pray that we will not only realize our talents but use that strength for God's glory. Samson did and as a result according to Heb:11 he made the hall of faith.
 
Bob D.