April 8

Judges 14:1-4

Samson gets his way

When Samson had grown up, he went to a place called Timnah, where he met a Philistine woman he liked. He went back home and said to his father and mother, “I have met a woman in Timnah, and I want you to get her for me.”

His parents asked him, “Why do you go to those heathen Philistines to look for a wife? Can’t you find a girl from your own people?”

“She is the one I want,” Samson said. “Get her for me!”

Why do parents ‘always’ say no?

At times, it may seem as though the only answer you get from your parents when you ask for something is ‘NO!’ Has the thought ever struck you that you may be asking for the wrong things?

Samson wanted to marry a girl from the Philistine people, who did not believe in God. His parents knew this was not a good idea and tried to reason with him. “Surely there are many pretty girls here among God’s people,” they said.

But Samson was stubborn and insisted on having his own way. What he didn’t know was that before long, he would find out that the Philistines were not friendly people and that he couldn’t even trust this Philistine girl.

In spite of how it may seem at times, your parents want you to have what is best (Luke 11:13). Not only that, they want to keep you from things that are not good. They want to keep you safe and unharmed in every way. So whenever your parents say no, remember that they are protecting you or helping you manage your many wishes.

Verse for today

Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. Ephesians 6:1