WHEN

Today's reading: Judges 12-16

"So Manoah asked him, When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy's life and work?" Judges 13:15 NLT

 Allow me to set the stage...

Aged Manoah and his wife have just been visited by an angel and told they will soon have a son.

A son that will rescue the Israelites from the hard fist of the Philistines.

For most of us, the response to such news would be ignored, laughed at or disregarded.

But as Manoah looked past the number of birthdays he and his wife had been given and the ruthless military records of the Philistines, he believed.

He believed the angel.

He believed God could.

He believed God would.

So he uses, in his response to the angel, one of the most powerful words in the English language...When.

When it happens...

When we hold this boy in our arms...

When we are parenting him...

When we watch as he begins a campaign against the enemy...

When Your promise comes true...

Manoah didn't say, but. Or well. Or provide a long list of excuses. I don't think Manoah even rolled his eyes.

He responded with, When.

I pray that's our response today when God places a promise of His before us.

When, Lord...when.