The Birth of - Judges 13:1-25

Topics: Advice, Angels, Children, Drinking, Evidence, Good News, Guidance, Life-style, Miracles, Parents, Promises, Responsibility Open It * 1. What three words would you use to describe your family? 2. What do you think is the biggest challenge of parenting? 3. What would you say are the greatest rewards of being a parent? Explore It 4. Why did the Philistines have power over Israel? (13:1) * 5. What instructions and promise did the angel of the Lord give to Manoah’s wife? (13:2-5) 6. What did the woman do when the angel of the Lord appeared to her? (13:6) 7. How did Manoah react to the news his wife received from the Lord? (13:8) 8. How did the Lord answer Manoah’s prayer? (13:9) 9. Under what circumstances did the angel appear to the woman a second time? (13:9) 10. What did Manoah want to find out from the angel of the Lord? (13:12) 11. Why did the angel advise Manoah to prepare a burnt offering rather than a meal? (13:16) * 12. What amazed Manoah and his wife? (13:19-20) 13. How did Manoah and his wife react when they saw the angel ascend in the flame of their offering? (13:20) 14. When did Manoah realize that he had seen an angel of the Lord? (13:21) 15. Why did Manoah think he and his wife would die? (13:22) 16. How did Manoah’s wife respond to her husband’s fearful prediction? (13:23) * 17. How was the angel of the Lord’s promise fulfilled? (13:24-25) Get It 18. How would you describe Manoah’s wife? 19. What kind of people were Manoah and his wife? 20. In what ways was Manoah’s wife prepared to be the mother of Samson? 21. What can we learn about parenting from this story? 22. Keeping in mind that she was childless, how do you imagine Manoah’s wife felt when the angel told her she would have a child? * 23. From what disappointing experience or situation has the Lord delivered you? 24. How has the Lord used painful experiences in your past to make you a better person today? * 25. How have you experienced the compassion and forgiveness of the Lord? Apply It 26. What is one way you can remind yourself or a friend of God’s goodness in giving children? * 27. What new perspective could you have this week on a difficult situation in your life? 28. In what way could you encourage a friend or family member who is dealing with disappointment or loss?