Born for the Impossible

Born for the Impossible

- by Sheila Katusiime 

Story line Scripture:

Judges 16:1-22

Present Case and Observation

It does sound cliché to say we were born for the impossible in a world that depends on proven systems that have been running for hundreds of years. Success or failure depends on whether we follow a proven system of thinking and doing things. For many of us, we are taught to work hard in school, get good grades, get focused on what you want to do in life and you will have endless opportunities beaconing. Additionally, people skills are important because we need be connected to the right people, we are told.

However we should notice that the great men and women in the Bible possessed none of the above skills at last the way we know them and yet they accomplished seemingly impossible tasks and feats. What they possessed was a mind up to accomplish what they were born to do. They didn’t need to be the smartest men or women of their time, nor even possess much. Many were not even “connected” with the “right” or powerful  people either. 

Here’s what they understood from the onset: that they had to connect with the Lord God. They didn’t  connect with him selfishly for personal gain.  They connected with him because they knew and were convinced that he was the only “system” in place for them to become who he had called them to be. This simple act of faith is what empowered them to accomplish the seemingly impossible tasks. They didn’t start out with a “10-year plan” to become the greatest leaders, but were intentional with their plans step by step. They grew in understanding of who the Lord God was.

Application

Our specific Biblical example here is Samson. Samson knew he was different because nobody could do the physically impossible tasks that he performed. He also knew that the Lord God empowered him to do each one of those feats. He believed that he was born to defeat an eminent enemy that was threatening to overrule the very existence of Israel. 

Everywhere Samson went, he was tracked and followed because the Philistines knew this was the guy that threatened their territory.  In Judges 16:2, you can tell Samson had a clear understanding of their plans because he had a counter strategy against them. He woke up in the middle of the night and physically uprooted the doors of the city gate foiling their planned ambush. Samson was so convinced of his assignment in life that he studied his enemy enough to develop working strategies against them. We should note however that he was still in the formative stages of his calling and his enemies were not yet defeated. This is when he met Delilah the lover who would betray him.  

What was unfortunate for Samson is common with many of us today is that we think just because some of our battles are successful, we assume the enemy is defeated. But if an enemy keeps attacking you, that enemy has not been defeated therefore we need to be on guard. On guard means we must continually be aware of our enemy because satan comes up with new tricks every time.

Three times Samson missed the fact that Delilah was a set up by his enemies. This is will especially happen to us during the maturation process. We judge ourselves by our current victories rather than attempted enemy probes and attacks. If we keep being attacked, there is still much we need to know about our attackers and therefore can’t afford to let our guards down. 

We must stay humble under the mighty hand of God. Being on guard does not mean you are not susceptible to sin, it means you take your assignment seriously enough to stay in a learning posture. Just as a student in school focusses on their future goals and career avoids distractions, we have to stay very intentional spiritually. Samson’s journey ended prematurely and he never got to defeat his enemies despite his capabilities. Compare him to what Samuel or Joshua did as they matured over a 40 year period to fulfill the call God had on their lives.

Impact Prayer

Lord Jesus, we are truly humbled by Samson’s example, yet we don’t know how to stay humble. Equip us to stay in an intentional learning posture with a teachable spirit ready for your guidance in all things we plan and do in our calling. Amen.

Judges 16:1-22 (NKJV)

Samson and Delilah

16 Now Samson went to Gaza and saw a harlot there, and went in to her. 2 When the Gazites were told, “Samson has come here!” they surrounded the place and lay in wait for him all night at the gate of the city. They were quiet all night, saying, “In the morning, when it is daylight, we will kill him.” 3 And Samson lay low till midnight; then he arose at midnight, took hold of the doors of the gate of the city and the two gateposts, pulled them up, bar and all, put them on his shoulders, and carried them to the top of the hill that faces Hebron.

4 Afterward it happened that he loved a woman in the Valley of Sorek, whose name was Delilah. 5 And the lords of the Philistines came up to her and said to her, “Entice him, and find out where his great strength lies, and by what means we may overpower him, that we may bind him to afflict him; and every one of us will give you eleven hundred pieces of silver.”

6 So Delilah said to Samson, “Please tell me where your great strength lies, and with what you may be bound to afflict you.”