The story of Samson begins in these chapters.  I was excited to finally get an explanation of something that had been hovering at the back of my mind — just who or what exactly is “the angel of the LORD?”

The angel of the Lord, as described in Judges 13, is a manifestation of the LORD himself…

¹⁵ Manoah said to the angel of the LORD, “We would like you to stay until we prepare a young goat for you.”

¹⁶ The angel of the LORD replied, “Even though you detain me, I will not eat any of your food. But if you prepare a burnt offering, offer it to the LORD.” (Manoah did not realize that it was the angel of the LORD.)

¹⁷ Then Manoah inquired of the angel of the LORD, “What is your name, so that we may honor you when your word comes true?”

¹⁸ He replied, “Why do you ask my name? It is beyond understanding. ^[a] ” ¹⁹ Then Manoah took a young goat, together with the grain offering, and sacrificed it on a rock to the LORD. And the LORD did an amazing thing while Manoah and his wife watched: ²⁰ As the flame blazed up from the altar toward heaven, the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame. Seeing this, Manoah and his wife fell with their faces to the ground. ²¹ When the angel of the LORD did not show himself again to Manoah and his wife, Manoah realized that it was the angel of the LORD.

²² “We are doomed to die!” he said to his wife. “We have seen God!”

Manoah and his wife understood that the angel they had seen, the one who had an incomprehensible name, was a form God took to deliver his message.

I always used to wonder if the angel of the LORD was an actual angel or if it is the form the Lord took the very few times he appeared to His people throughout the Old Testament, before Jesus.

Speaking of Jesus Christ…He IS RISEN!!

Hanging on to the idea of Resurrection Power AND the visit of my brother, his children, and my parents today have kept my spirits up.  I did get word that my husband and daughter reached Rome safely, praise be to God!  I had a rough night, unable to sleep well knowing that they were somewhere over the Atlantic…and then I received an automated phone call at 3:45 a.m. from the travel agency letting me know their flight status.  Um…it was good to know it, but not at 3:45 a.m.!

Have a blessed Easter, and please forgive these convoluted blogs over the next few days.  I am not running on all cylinders.  Half my heart is in Rome!