When the flame went up toward heaven from the altar, the angel of the Lord acscended in the flame of the altar while Manoah and his wife looked on; and they fell on their faces to the ground. The angel of the Lord did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. The Manoah realized that it was the angel of the Lord. And Manoah said to his wife, "We shall surely die, for we have seen God." But his wife said to him, "If the Lord had meant to kill us, he would not have accepted a burnt offering and a grain offering at our hands or shown us all these things, or now announced to us such things as these." Judges 13: 20-23 NRSV
That woman is pretty smart, isn't she? Her husband thinks that now they have seen the angel of the Lord they will die. But she says that their offering, their conversation and the promises made meant that they would not die. Certainly they have seen something supernatural but that just reinforces the life of the son to be born.
Makes me wonder about when I think the very worst of a situation. I have a real pessimistic streak and have a really hard time overcoming my own negativity. Sometimes it takes someone else (who remains nameless!) to jolt me out of my bleak outlook and help me to see the wonderful possibilities that God has presented in the midst of all the challenges of life.
God, you are always entering into our lives in supernatural, illogical ways. Help us to see your actions in a positive light. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Question of the day: Even if you say the glass is half full, do you really believe it?
Copyright 2009 Amelia G. Sims
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