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THE VALUE OF THE LORD’S INSTRUCTIONS


Judges 13:1-25

Wednesday, 30 November 2022



So the Angel of the Lord said to Manoah, “Of all that I said to the woman let her be careful. …….All that I commanded her let her observe.” -Judges 13:13 -14


Manoah and his wife like many others, received instruction from the LORD in connection with a special commission entrusted to them in bringing up a child who would be born to them. There is a vast difference in HEARING the word of God and UPHOLDING the instructions of the Master. Sometimes God’s instructions come in common packages to humanity but when it is upheld with the greatest respect, value and seriousness, there is always a great reward. The wife of Manoah like Sarah, Hannah, Rachael was without a child. She may have been fervently praying and earnestly expecting. This is why when the Angel of the Lord appeared to her; He has this to say; "“Indeed now, you are barren and have borne no children, but you shall conceive and bear a son.” (Vs.3)


The Master’s message is very clear here. It doesn’t matter how much we may have been seeking to see the Lord’s hand in our lives and in our situations, one thing is certain— when we steadfastly continue to hold unto the Lord’s instructions in our commitment towards fellowship, worship and service in His vineyard, the Lord is bound by His Word to show the strength of His response by fulfilling the desires of our heart as expressed in Psalm 145:18,19: “The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth. He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him; He also will hear their cry and save them.”


When the fulfilment of Manoah’s wife having a son came, it came not just with instructions, but an instruction with a mandate: “For, lo, thou shalt conceive, and bear a son; and no razor shall come on his head: for the child shall be a Nazarite unto God from the womb: and he shall begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistine.” The is the mandate of the God-given child. The Lord also responded to Manoah’s request when he prayed for further clarity on the upbringing of the child. The Lord’s instructions were reaffirmed to Manoah by His angel (V.13).


Whenever the Lord gives an instruction, He makes available His invincible presence, power and authority, waiting to accomplish the purpose. In Exodus 7:14-22 the Lord instructed Moses to go with his rod to Pharaoh and we saw what happen to that simple obedience of the Lord’s instruction. In Joshua 6:1-20 the Lord gave an instruction to Joshua which was obeyed and carried out to the fullest and the Lord showed His mighty hand. We need to be assured of God’s presence and provision when He entrusts us with a task to accomplish!


It is not out of force or duty that we obey the Lord’s instructions, but it is to be with a willing heart. We are not doing our Pastor a favor by obeying the Lord’s instructions; whenever we obey- either through His servant or direct to us- it is always for our own good and the Lord is always there to accomplish and bring to fulfilment the authority of His voice.


Quote for the Day: "There's some task which the God of all the universe, the great Creator, your redeemer in Jesus Christ has for you to do, and which will remain undone and incomplete until by faith and obedience you step into the will of God." - Alan Redpath

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