Feeling Threatened

Feeling Threatened

Samson’s Bride

Read: Judges 14:1-17

We all stood around smiling as my friends’ little boy stroked the Labrador puppies and squealed with delight. He was having the time of his life! Suddenly, the mother of the puppies came into the room and started barking, which made all of us jump. At the sight of the big dog, the toddler ran behind his dad. As he clasped his father’s legs with both hands, he peeked around at the dog. With the security of having his daddy between him and danger, the little boy looked more curious than scared.

When Samson’s bride was threatened, she didn’t turn to the one person who could have protected her. Samson posed a riddle to the wedding guests, along with a wager. When the guests couldn’t solve the puzzle after a few days, they demanded that the new bride get the answer or they would kill her and her family. The threat terrified the young Philistine woman, who knew that her fellow countrymen would do what they said. A silly wager had suddenly thrust her family’s fate into her hands. Sadly, the woman failed to share the problem with her new husband. If only she had understood the strength that would have been at her disposal.

God wants us to run straight to him when we feel threatened, whether we’re endangered by physical or emotional harm or attacked in the spiritual realm. His responsibilities as our Father include defending us. When someone threatens us, they are threatening him. Our responsibilities include being honest with God, taking our burdens to him, and trusting him to handle them in the best way possible. We can make a terrible mess of things when we try to solve serious problems on our own, without God’s help. If only we understood the strength and power that is at our disposal.

Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

1 Peter 5:7