BRAGADAYJAH 760
After the angel ascended out of view of
Manoah riding on the flame, Manoah proclaimed that it was really a revelation
from God himself; so he panicked and told his wife now they had seen God face
to face that they would die; (for no man can see God and live!) But Manoah’s wife reasoned not so, pointing
out that if it was God’s intention to kill them, he would not have accepted
their burnt offering; on the other hand his wife added, why would God bring us
this wonderful news concerning the birth of a son, since she was barren to wit.
In any event neither of them died and Manoah’s wife did indeed bare a son and
called his name Samson and he grew and the Lord blessed him. It may seem
strange that the Scripture described the personage that first appeared to
Manoah’s wife and later to both she and her husband as an angel, and that
Manoah should then proclaim they had seen God face to face. The explanation is
that there have been several such encounters in the Bible which we name a
theophany, a word used to describe a manifestation of God in human form, and
conceived by the human senses. It was used in the Old Testament to describe a
visible appearance of God. In Gen. 12: 7-9, when God appeared unto Abraham; Gen.
18: 1-33 in the form of the two angels; Gen. 32: 22-30 when it was said Jacob
wrestled with God. But such appearances are sometimes seen more as
Christophonies, ascribed rather to the pre-incarnate appearances of Christ.
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