Wait for understanding – Judges 14.4

In Judges 14, we have a wild man named Samson who decides to marry a Philistine woman contrary to the commandments of God. His conception was miraculous, and his upbringing was that of a Nazarite, nothing from the vine. His parents discouraged him but the scripture says

Judges 14.4 But his father and his mother knew not that it was of the LORD, that he sought an occasion against the Philistines: for at that time the Philistines had dominion over Israel.

My tendency is to say that God authored this rebellious behavior, yet the scripture also tells us that

James 1:13 Let no man say when he is tempted, I am tempted of God: for God cannot be tempted with evil, neither tempteth he any man:

So how do we handle this seeming conflict? Prayer, I asked the Lord to show me. He asked me to journal it. As I started to type, he showed me the explanation. God did not introduce the thought into Samson’s mind; his selfish, corrupt nature lured him towards this woman. It was his decision. God looked at it and saw a man he had created for the purpose of delivering Israel from the oppression of the Philistines. God saw that he could judge the man for his sin and strike fear in the hearts of the Philistines, which would bring an end to the reign of terror on Israel. So God used the occasion of Samson’s sin to bring judgment on the Philistines. Samson suffered humiliation at the hands of his enemies and lost the woman he wanted to marry. Never doubt God; His ways are always just and righteous. When we feel stumped and unable to understand the whys and hows of God’s work and his word, wait, call on the Lord, and allow Him to bring clarity, purpose, and truth into your heart.