Obstacles – Part 2

Author:Michele Murr

 Obstacle courses are fun.

Things are put in front of you to challenge you physically and mentally, and yet it can be enjoyable. Someone may look at the same course and feel afraid or defeated. It’s perspective. Obstacles can challenge us, derail us, or strengthen us and grow our faith. I previously wrote I considered Nehemiah to be a hero of faith. He desired to rebuild Jerusalem and didn’t let opposition deter him from completing the task. My next hero of faith is Samson. He was born for a purpose. Judges 13:5 states “for behold, you shall conceive and bear a son. No razor shall come upon his head, for the child shall be a Nazirite to God from the womb, and he shall begin to save Israel from the hand of the Philistines.” Samson grew up and faced obstacles. In Judges 14 he marries one of the daughters of the Philistines. The men of the city wanted to know the answer to Samson’s riddle and asked his wife to entice him. She whined for 7 days until he told her.

 He knew they conspired with his wife, so he struck them down. Judges 15 tells us his wife was given away to his good companion and in anger destroyed the crops of the Philistines, which began a battle between them. By Judges 16, Samson falls in love with Delilah. Philistines use her to seduce him to find out where his strength comes from so they can subdue him. She asked him 3 times where his strength lies and how he could be bound. He made things up and when the Philistines would come to bind him, they couldn’t. After her persistence, he tells her the truth and they captured him once his strength was gone. They gouged out his eyes; imprisoned him; and used him for entertainment.

Through all of this, his purpose remained until the end and God remembered him and gave him the strength one last time. Strapped to the pillars, he brought down the building and verse 30 tells that “The dead whom he killed at his death were more than those whom he had killed during his life.” No matter what obstacle you face now, it can be a steppingstone to something greater and for the purpose God has for your life.

 He has not forgotten you. He will strengthen you.