Lack of spiritual perception. Like their countrymen, Samson’s parents evince a lack of spiritual perception. (1) His father Manoah is skeptical and unbelieving. He tries to manipulate God through obtaining special knowledge of God’s name in order to give him power. But Yahweh will not give Manoah that knowledge. He will not allow his name to be misused. In attempting to gain the upper hand over God, Manoah unnecessarily delays God’s work, not just in his life but in the life of the nation. (2) Samson’s nameless mother is more spiritually perceptive than his father, but only somewhat. She gives
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