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Previous Challenge Entry (Level 4 – Masters)
Topic: Illustrate the meaning of “All that Glitters is Not Gold” (without using the actual phrase or literal example). (01/24/08)
It was a blessing straight from God. The answer to my prayers. My dream come true. What I'd been hoping for since I was a little girl.

Or so I thought.

Then again, who would blame me for expecting the best? When the angel of the Lord shows up on your doorstep not once, but twice, who wouldn't think life was about to get rosier? Yet, that's not exactly how it ended up for me.

But I'm getting ahead of myself. Maybe I should just start from the beginning.

When Manoah and I got married, we planned to have a houseful of children. We were soon reminded, however, that we could prepare all we wanted, but it was only the Lord's plan that was guaranteed to come about.

As the years went by, we (actually, I) began to wonder if I'd done something to fall outside of God's favor. Children are, after all, a blessing from Him, and we just weren't getting any.

I have to admit I was close to losing hope when the angel showed up. That all changed the minute I looked into his face. How could a woman be pessimistic when an honest-to-goodness angel announced that her prayers would be answered beyond her wildest imagination?

Not only was I going to be blessed with a child, it would be a boy. To top that off, he would be a Nazirite from birth, dedicated to our Lord, and he would grow up to deliver us from 40 years of Philistine rule. What could be better than that?

Apparently, several things. But I'm getting ahead of myself again.

I told my husband what the angel said, but it seemed he needed confirmation from a higher source, so to speak. He asked God to send the angel again, and before I knew it, that awesome figure was before me. He informed Manoah that our son was to avoid anything from the vine and all things unclean, and all the other Nazirite restrictions (Exactly what his loving wife had told him earlier, by the way). So, it was settled.

Manoah and I assumed our job as parents would be easy. After all, God had hand-picked our son for the job. Our sovereign Father would raise him up to follow Him devoutly, right? We were certain our boy would graciously and wholeheartedly live up to his Nazirite vows. After all, why would God have us devote him in the womb if our son wasn't going to follow through?

I hate to say I may never know the answer to that question.

Now, don't get me wrong. I love my son. He is God's gift to Manoah and me. It's just that he seems to have this tendency to go against our, and the Lord's, commands. Trouble seems to be his middle name, and, besides his physical strength, defying authority appears to be his defining characteristic, if you know what I mean. We tried to bring him in the training and admonition of the Lord, but there's only so much a parent can do.

Like that Philistine woman. I tried to warn him that she was trouble, that he should marry one of his own kind. But did he listen to me? Not for a moment. He dragged us off to Timnah to arrange the marriage with that pagan anyway. Imagine our shame. Our son, a Nazirite, marrying outside the faith.

Fortunately - thank the Lord - their marriage didn't last very long. His exploits didn't stop, however. It seemed all he wanted to do was incite the Philistines to anger. I thought the angel said my son would deliver us from our oppressors - not rile them up at every opportunity. He doesn't seem to be making much progress, either. Makes me wonder if that really was an angel.

I do have a bit of hope. He's found himself a nice girl, it seems. She's certainly pretty, but seems sweet too, and our son clearly adores her. Perhaps my dream come true is still possible. Maybe all he needs is the right girl to help him get straight with God, to help him live up to the promises the angel made all those years ago.

Maybe, just maybe, Delilah is that girl.

**
Judges 13-16
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This article has been read 1949 times
Member Comments
Member
Date
LauraLee Shaw
01/31/08
This is very good. I like the way the MC kept "getting ahead" of herself. And the ending was just right.
Lynda Schultz 
01/31/08
What truth is revealed when the honeymoon is over! Great story.
Sherry Hoffcastel 
02/02/08
I love stories like this- the bible comes alive and speaks words not heard before. I'm chuckling about Delilah. Great story.
Ann Renae Hair
02/02/08
Oh, dear. Poor mother has yet to know that it will get worse. Great job bringing this Bible story to life in a way we can connect with a woman who's name we don't even know! We're really not so different today, are we?
william price
02/03/08
Interesting and entertaining. A very creative point of view. Way to keep our minds churning throughout trying to figure out the Bible reference. Very good reader involvement. A very solid entry. God bless.
Karen Wilber
02/03/08
I also like stories from scripture that make me think. Nice job with Samson's mother's POV. She had her hands full and she doesn't know what's coming next.
Peter Stone
02/05/08
Engaging read on Samson's background. Great ending - parent's hope he's finally found someone better than the foreign woman, but alas...
Joy Faire Stewart
02/05/08
Telling the story, first person, is very effective and brings the story to life. Love the humor and the last line was perfect!
Linda Watson Owen
02/05/08
Oh, great idea for this theme! And you wove the story skillfully and delightfully! The stinger on the end was perfect! Great job making this familiar Bible story come to life!
Beth LaBuff 
02/05/08
You are so good at bringing Bible characters (and situations/struggles) to life! I totally enjoyed how you wrote this one. Sometimes there is no answer for a parent (as to why the kids end up like they do) and we just have to let God be soverign. Wonderful writing!
Sharlyn Guthrie
02/05/08
The mother's POV works well for this story. You do a wonderful job of stringing the reader along, and then -the perfect ending. Nice job!
Catrina Bradley
02/05/08
Really love this Samson back-story. The mother's voice sounds very natural; it was like I was listening to her tell her story. The ending is a winner. :) Great writing!
K. J. Cash
02/05/08
Brilliant to rely on our knowledge of the backstory to make a point. How it saves on word count. We know that Delilah is not what she appears--great way to spark a devilish image!
Jan Ackerson
02/05/08
Great voice, creative POV, and delicious irony at the end!
Rita Garcia
02/06/08
A creative spin that brought this story to life! WONDERFUL, SIMPLY WONDERFUL!
Paula Titus 
02/06/08
I love bible stories-especially ones like this that really let you see inside the mind of the characters. And the ending was perfect!
Holly Westefeld
02/06/08
I had forgotten about the first Philistine woman, until I looked up Samsan's story for my poem. So sad he didn't learn the lesson the first time.
Hanne Moon 
02/06/08
Superb Joanne! Wonderful take on a well-know biblical story. Kudos on this one!
Sara Harricharan
02/06/08
This is a new look on this story. I can't say that I've ever really thought about Samson's mother. You bring her to light here and make her more real. I liked that. Great writing! ^_^
Dee Yoder
02/06/08
How sad! For me, your story makes me more aware that these Bible characters were real people with moms who loved them and they didn't have hindsight available to them either. They were just like us-waiting to see how it would all turn out, hoping for the best, and because we know the end, it makes for some sad reading.
Loren T. Lowery
02/06/08
There simply is not any one better than you in breathing life into Biblical stories and characters. This should be a vocation for you, because your work is certainly gifted by God to help deliver his ageless teachings.
Beckie Stewart
02/06/08
Enjoyed the modern version of Samson.

Red ink....believe it should be house full not houseful.

Knowing the story, we know Delilah was definitely all glitter and not gold!!
Debbie Wistrom
02/06/08
Can't say anything new. Loved the bible story told in short but concise style, loved the mothers tribulations. More More!
Helen Dowd
03/07/08
You really had me intrigued, right from the start, but even though you gave enough hints, I didn't clue in who your son was until about half-way through. Very good! You certainly know how to capture an audience. Very imaginative; although we all know how heart-breaking it must have been for the real mother of your story. Yes, how heart-breaking it must be for mothers whose children disappoint them. But in this case God won out. He used this son in his dying minutes to win the battle over the enemy.Loved the story. ...Helen