The story of Samson’s miraculous conception is one that will forever be known in Christian history. It is a story that reminds us of how a barren old woman with a withering womb gave birth to one of the most powerful Jewish leaders in history.

However, there is more to the story of Samson’s conception than many realize – this more is what I intend to reveal through this lesson.

Firstly, let us study the background of the text. Israel is in a state of turmoil, confusion and oppression. She has abandoned her Creator and has gone back to her evil ways. The nation is void of light as well as life, and there is no one to deliver them.

Israel is left to the wishes of her enemies – the Philistines. They oppress and torment them until they begin to cry to God for help once again.

Somehow, I find a connection between the state of Israel in the text and the state of Nigeria presently.

We are in a state of turmoil and confusion. We are in a season of weeping and Groaning. Oppression has become the norm. Banditry has become the order of the day. The destiny of the nation has been hijacked by the men in power. There is no light – both physically and in the context of development and wealth.

We are in dire need of a saviour, just like Israel was in need of a saviour.
Israel was in need of someone who would stand up for their rights and ensure a better future for them.

Who would this person be?

In Judges 13, the narrator takes a detour from describing the general state of Israel to telling us about a family – a family that consisted of the old, frail voice of the father and the loving voice of the wife but no cries and excited screams of children. It wasn’t because their children were asleep, it was because they had no children.

The narrator says they were barren. Manoah’s wife was barren and was incapable of having a child. That was what everyone called her – barren.

However, a twist occurs in the plot. An angel appears to her and tells her that her barren womb will soon become an incubator for Israel’s future judge.

The significance of the woman’s encounter with the angel is that though she was called barren, her ‘barren’ womb became the incubator of what would save Israel.

Dear Nigerian, American, Ghanaian, whatever your country may be, you are the incubator of the seed that will deliver your nation.

It doesn’t matter the label men might have placed on you – poor, broke, wretched, useless etc. The Bible tells us that we are born of an incorruptible seed, this seed of Christ in you if allowed to nurture can blossom into a light for the world.

Have they called you foolish? The Bible says God uses the foolish things of this world to confound the wise.

Have they called you ‘nothing’ – the Bible tells us God creates big things from nothing.

It does not matter the label they’ve given to you, God has chosen you to be the source of hope and light to this generation.

As Manoah’s wife’s womb seemed incapable of producing something valuable, you might have been described as incapable of being the light your nation needs. Do not despair! Barren women still give birth and good things still come from Nazareth!

How can I be so sure of this?
God’s Word says so. In the days of Manoah, there was no Bible, so God had to use angels. But God has made his word available to us to make us realize that we are useful.

But what puzzles me further about our text is not that Manoah’s wife gets a revelation of the potential seed in her womb, but that she also gets specific instructions on how to nurture her seed and ensure it thrives {Judges 13:3-5}

Proverbs 4:4

“Take my words to heart. Follow my instructions and you will live.”

Proverbs 4:13

“Carry out my instructions; don’t forsake them. Guard them, for they will lead you to a fulfilled life.”

Be aware that we are in the midst of a society that is against Christianity and all it has to offer. We are under a government that is similar to that of Herod who sought to kill the light of the world.

In times like this, we must be careful to hear what God is saying, because it’s only in the instruction of God that can be protected.

Joseph was able to save and nurture his baby into maturity by the instruction of the angel.

In order for the dream that you’re pregnant with to become a reality, you must be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Him alone can lead you to the place of safety.

It is in the instructions of God to us that we discover the uniqueness of our calling. Even as the Manoahs were banned from feeding Samson with ‘forbidden food’, there are things the peculiarity of our calling prohibits.

Thus, like Manoah, we must continually ask God ‘for instructions about this’ dream that He has given to us.

Conclusively, there is no nation so dark that God cannot light up. There’s no race so low that God cannot lift. But He works with men. And that’s why He had chosen to use you for your nation.

You carry in you the seed for national exploits. Discover it and harness it.