Then You’ll Know
Judges 13:20-21 KJV For it came to pass, when the flame went up toward heaven from off the altar, that the angel of the LORD ascended in the flame of the altar. And Manoah and his wife looked on it, and fell on their faces to the ground. (21) But the angel of the LORD did no more appear to Manoah and to his wife. Then Manoah knew that he was an angel of the LORD.
There was a time a few months ago when a man or woman showing up on the porch was not a welcome sight for the owner of most homes. A severe storm had passed through and following that storm had been a barrage of repair salesmen, intent on profiting from the storm’s damage. Unless this person was expected as the result of a request made on the phone, there wasn’t a willingness to accept another sales pitch from someone who would not take ‘no’ for an answer. No matter how flashy the flyer and how flowery the promise, there was just an expression of suspicion rather than acceptance on the face of the would-be customer. If, however, enough conversation could be made and a foot could get through the front door, an opportunity would be made for the owner to find out if their needs could really be met. The longer the stay with the owner actually offering water or some food, the greater the reception and more sure was the probability of a sale. Until the door was opened, though, and an invitation made, it wouldn’t really matter how great the company or their offer of restoration, their representative would just be taking a walk to the next house on the street.
Something really quite incredible had been presented to Manoah’s wife. She would bear a child that would be a Nazarite, someone who God would use to deliver Israel from their enemies. Though this person that showed up on the porch appeared to be a man of God, the couple was unsure of who he really was until they invited him into their home, asked to prepare a meal for him, and then offered a burnt sacrifice to the Lord. It was then that something happened that would displace their doubt. The man ascended up into the sky with the smoke from the sacrifice. Where there had been doubt and skepticism, there now was fear and consternation about their own position and the seriousness and severity of their messenger’s charge.
It is understandable how an expression of suspicion may cloud the face of one being presented with the promise of restoration, abundance, and unimaginable upgrades from yet another person showing up on the porch. While there may have been disappointments and discouragements in the past, however, with the true messenger of God there will be an opportunity to discover legitimacy and validity if there will just be an opening of the door and an offering of sacrifice made before God in the presence of the messenger. Where words of truth have been spoken and there is need to follow the direction given, the image of the messenger himself will be lost in the offering of the sacrifice as God Himself receives the focus and it is His glory that remains when the messenger has departed. God will ensure that He is well represented with validating demonstration of His power if there will just be a heart opened and a sacrifice of worship given up to Him in an honorable reception.