Difference two: Relationships. ‘Then his father and mother said to him, “Is there no woman among the daughters of your brethren…that you must go and get a wife from the uncircumcised Philistines?” And Samson said to his father, “Get her for me, for she pleases me well.”’ When it came to relationships, Samson was guided by his lower impulses instead of the principles of God’s Word. And he paid dearly for it.
Three times we read in Scripture: ‘Samson went down’ (v. 1 NKJV).
He went down to Timnath and married the wrong woman.
He went down to Gaza and spent the night with a harlot.
He went down to Sorek, ended up in the lap of Delilah, and lost his strength, his freedom, his reputation, his anointing, and his life.
Samuel, on the other hand, was raised up to purify the ministry. Eli the High Priest had two sons called Hophni and Phinehas that he had ordained to the priesthood, but they were taking bribes to cover sin and brazenly consorting with prostitutes.
There’s a lesson here for every redeemed child of God:
‘Do not be yoked together with unbelievers’ (2 Corinthians 6:14 NIV 2011 Edition).
Is God being biased or unloving? No, He’s being protective!
When you’re ‘yoked together’ in a relationship with someone who doesn’t share your faith, your values, your goals, and your priorities, you end up in a tug of war with each pulling in a different direction. When problems arise, as they surely will, what you need is someone by your side who turns to the same source you do for the solution - God.
Genesis 39-40, Matthew 11
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