Manoah was a simple man. In Judges 13, we read he was of the tribe of Dan. Unlike the other tribes that stopped fighting and dwelt among the native Canaanites, the tribe of Dan was almost held hostage by the Amorites (Judges 1:34). And that was in spite of being the second largest tribe. David came from Judah, Saul came from Benjamin. Not too many famous people came from Dan – they had a bit of an inferiority complex.
But an Angel came to Manoah’s wife!
7 But he said unto me, Behold, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and now drink no wine nor strong drink, neither eat any unclean thing: for the child shall be a Nazarite to God from the womb to the day of his death.
Judges 13:7
Manoah was scared – he was given a tremendous responsibility thru an Angel who visited his wife. So he prayed to ask for instruction.
8 Then Manoah intreated the Lord, and said, O my Lord, let the man of God which thou didst send come again unto us, and teach us what we shall do unto the child that shall be born.
Judges 13:8
God answered his prayer (Judges 13:9), the Angel came again to his wife. His wife went to get Manoah. Even though his wife said it was the same One (Judges 13:10), he asked the Angel to confirm it (Judges 13:11). Manoah asked the Angel his question again of how to raise the child (Judges 13:12), and the Angel said basically, I already told your wife (Judges 13:13).
Manoah didn’t recognize that this was the angel of the LORD (Judges 13:16), and thought he would die (Judges 13:22), but his wife had more sense than he did (Judges 13:23). In spite of how simple Manoah was, God still listened to his prayer! (Judges 13:9).
9 And God hearkened to the voice of Manoah; and the angel of God came again unto the woman as she sat in the field: but Manoah her husband was not with her.
Judges 13:9
You may not be the brightest one in the land, or the most theologically astute, or even just a little dense – but God still can hear your prayers!
