 In Judges 15:7-13, we find an incident in the story of Samson that would do us all well to study. Samson has begun his conquest of the Philistines. He has killed several of Israel's enemies by himself (from 30-60 men) and has gone up to rest on the rock Etam in Judah. The Philistines pursue after him with over 1000 men. When the men of Judah see their enemies, they ask, "Why are you come up against us?" The Philistines respond, "To bind Samson are we come up, to do to him as he hath done unto us." Fearful of the Philistines, the men of Judah take 3000 men and find Samson. They say to him, "Knowest thou not that the Philistines are rulers over us? What is this that thou hast done unto us?"
These men of Judah saw what Samson did as a problem, when they should have seen it as the beginning of their freedom from 40 years of Philistine bondage and servitude! Freedom did not seem possible to them. They had become too familiar, too comfortable with their bondage and viewed God's answer to their problem with fear, selfishness and anger. Their fear and anger caused them to turn Samson over to their enemies, knowing that the Philistines intended to kill him! Obviously, this was the wrong response to the answer that God had sent them.
How do we respond to God's answer to our problems? If our problem is a financial one, do we get angry at the person that tells us to tithe and give offerings? Do we even get angry at God for sending that person to give us the answer we needed? The religious leaders of that day were ready to throw Jesus off a cliff when Jesus said he was the answer to their problems in Luke chapter 4:28-29. In I Samuel 18:10-12, King Saul became angry at young David after the shepherd boy had killed Goliath. He threw a javelin at David intending to kill him.
A big part of why we get angry at God's answer to our problems is simple insecurity, we will discuss that at a later date. Let's make sure that we react to God's solutions to our problems with a big "Thank You" instead of a spear! Blessings to you!
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