Parents often see the trouble. Then what?
1 Samson went down to Timnah, and at Timnah he saw one of the daughters of the Philistines. 2 Then he came up and told his father and mother, “I saw one of the daughters of the Philistines at Timnah. Now get her for me as my wife.” 3 But his father and mother said to him, “Is there not a woman among the daughters of your relatives, or among all our people, that you must go to take a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” But Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she is right in my eyes.” 4 His father and mother did not know that it was from the LORD, for he was seeking an opportunity against the Philistines. At that time the Philistines ruled over Israel. 5 Then Samson went down with his father and mother to Timnah, and they came to the vineyards of Timnah. And behold, a young lion came toward him roaring. 6 Then the Spirit of the LORD rushed upon him, and although he had nothing in his hand, he tore the lion in pieces as one tears a young goat. But he did not tell his father or his mother what he had done. 7 Then he went down and talked with the woman, and she was right in Samson’s eyes. (Judges 14:1-7–ESV)
Parents see the trouble
After Samson tells his father what to do the parents do push back. They know the scriptures. This child is literally their miracle child. This child was given them after the angel came. They are older and value things differently than Samson does and so in unity challenge his request.
They tackle the problem incorrectly. They go racial not religious. Their argument is ill founded. They do not seem to draw God’s law into the discussion.
By the time that Samson makes this request he is likely beyond their control. Much of their influence has surely passed. Even so they would have done better to bring the proper argument to the debate. Perhaps their own God understanding had dwindled too much. Perhaps their own God understanding was of so little value to their family that now when these arguments were most needful they could not be called upon to strengthen any resolve.
How do we structure our families?
- Structure your family with God first. The parent’s view of God is crucial.
- Godliness must be more than tradition.
- Do not expect arguments of religion or spirituality to carry the day if they are not part of your day.
In our churches there is much lament of the children abandoning the churches. How much of this is because the parents have long ago abandoned their own godliness? In Samson’s family the Godly influence seemed to have ebbed so far as to be of little use. Children see what the parents do. When the parents are dishonest with each other and the children the kids see it. When the parents then suggest honesty in the dealings of life the kids discard it as unnecessary. How many parents read their Bibles, pray and then carry out that lifestyle at the restaurant, the ball game, the gym, the neighborhood, the store? Do the parents make efforts at getting ahead at the fringes of honesty?
“Little” lies build big bad foundations.
- Do we tell our children that the meat is chicken when it is tuna?
- Do we tell the cashier that our child is 12 when they are 13 to get the discount?
- Are we hypocritical with our music or television shows?
- What would you put in this category?