Book Review:The Rise and Fall of The Nephilim by Scott A. Roberts

Offering us a chance to take a closer look at the Nephilim mentioned in Genesis is a great idea. The topic is interesting and timely and Mr. Roberts is a good storyteller. I wish I could say he has written an excellent book on the subject but his lack of integrity in his personal approach to scripture brings confusion to a topic he is attempting to shed light on. Starting with the Holy Bible, the Book of Enoch and Jubilees, he uses the right resources, but his interpretations of his sources are disappointing. Jumping back and forth between calling the Nephilim angels and aliens, as well as categorizing them as "lesser gods," when they were created to be God's servants, only serves to hide the truth about their origins and purpose.

It would take a book to clear up unfounded claims made by Mr. Roberts in this book so I'll limit myself to only discussing a handful or so. 

1. Serpent Seed Theory: This theory is unsupportable in Genesis or anywhere else in scripture. If Cain was truly the son of Eden's serpent (Fallen Angel or Satan), why wasn't he a giant or a mighty warrior like the sons of the other fallen angels mentioned in Genesis and the Book of Enoch? Why was Cain upset when his offering was not acceptable to God? Why would he even make an offering? Why would he care if God rejected it? And, why would God need to put a mark on Cain to protect his life if he was a mighty Nephilim?
2. The Fall Involved Adultery: Are we to believe that Adam let the serpent seduce Eve in his presence? If Eve's sin was adultery, what was Adam's sin? Contrary to Mr. Robert's assertions, Adam's sin brought death into the world because he sinned willfully; whereas, according to Paul, Eve sinned because she was deceived by the serpent. (Deceived not seduced!) The story of the fall is clearly told in Genesis. The sin was disobedience and did not involve sex. No decoder is needed to understand the passage.
3. Daughters of Men: Remarks about the "daughters of men" throughout the book were sexist! It was implied that the women were lusty and chose to have relations with the fallen angels. (You know how women are!) Their perversity defiled the earth and led its destruction in the flood. It seems there is always a reason to blame women. The Holy Bible; however, says the fallen angels saw them and "TOOK" them. If it was humanly possible to stop them, why weren't the men intervening to save them? And, why does the Bible say, "men's thoughts were continually evil"?
4. Moses:  Mr. Roberts paints Moses as a power hungry, arrogant, "Egyptianized" sociopath who sought to be a Pharoah-God to the slaves. The Holy Bible says Moses was the meekest man on earth, willing to give up all the wealth of Egypt to suffer with his brethren. Moses was saved from destruction as a baby and called by God to lead the people out of Egypt. Although he was reluctant at first, Moses took on the leadership role in obedience to God.  If the Holy Bible is true, Roberts is wrong, which devalues his book.  
5. Theophany: Mr. Roberts refers to Moses' having "face to face" encounters with God from the pillar of cloud at the door of the tabernacle as one more ploy to elevate himself in the eyes of the people. Then, if that's not bad enough, he "questions" how God could let Moses see His face on those occasions and then turnaround and deny him that same experience on Mount Sinai. The answer is that Moses wasn't asking for the same experience. Moses knew he was seeing a theophany at the tabernacle and he asked YHWH to let him see HIS FACE in HIS ETERNAL GLORY! YHWH refused but allowed him the unprecedented experience of glimpsing HIS BACKSIDE. (A theophany is an appearance of God in a physical form that a man can look upon and relate to. Seeing God as HE IS IN HIMSELF is not allowed for a mortal man.)   
6. Marriage of Jesus:  Without proof it is conjectured that Jesus was married. A rule that rabbis were required to be married is offered as proof. The fact that Jesus was set forth for ministry by His Father in heaven and not by a synagogue seems lost here. The people called Jesus Rabbi because he taught them, not because of an official religious affiliation. 
7. Misjudging the Prophet Elisha: I realize it is politically incorrect nowadays to hold people accountable for their actions but that was not the case in ancient Israel. Mr. Roberts attributes evil behavior to Elisha when his encounter with a group of mocking youths leads to their deaths. Roberts fails to see the incident from a divine perspective. Elisha had been the Prophet Elijah's servant. When God miraculously took Elijah to heaven in a whirlwind, Elisha received a double portion of God's Spirit operating in his life compared to Elijah. That means he was a powerful prophet in Israel and should have been treated with the utmost respect by all the people. However, in this incident a large gang of youths mocked Elisha as he walked past their town. They taunted him saying, "Go up, baldhead. Go up." This was blatant disrespect for him and for God's act of taking Elijah to heaven. (It is also possible they were consistent trouble makers and Elisha had prior experience with the, had heard of them, or was given spiritual insight concerning their prior deeds.) At any rate, after some time, Elisha pronounced judgement on their actions and 2 female bears came out of the woods and killed 42 of them. (42 is not a few. That's a gang!) Roberts needs to rethink his comments on this passage and on many others.   
8. For Christian Fundamentalists "nothing exists outside the bounds of written scriptural text". I disagree with this statement (and several others Mr. Roberts makes about Christians) because it is mistaken. We do believe facts that contradict scripture are wrong. However, we are not so closed minded as to believe that scripture covers everything that's out there. There are many avenues to discover various aspects of the truth. Nature itself, rightly observed, reveals much.  And, the Holy Bible mentions additional resources like the Book of Enoch, Jasher and Jubilees, which expand our knowledge of certain issues lightly covered in the scriptures. These books are available today (in the last days-- like the days of Noah-- which Mr. Roberts referenced so many times) because God has preserved them for us according to His plan. And they are worth reading. 

I was disappointed by the disparaging remarks about God's nature, His Word, the church and Christians scattered throughout the book. Mr. Roberts could have expressed his doubts and questions in less derogatory terms if he chose to. He speaks out of both sides of his mouth. Early on in the book he says, "I still cling to my Judeo-Christian roots," and acknowledges his belief in the Trinity. But, he follows these statements with complaints about being "someone's toy." Then he ends the book by announcing that his research has exposed him to information that has overwhelmed his faith and left him with serious doubts. I can only say that when one removes the cornerstone, the building will collapse.

The fallen angels and the Biblical giants reveal a clear pattern of spiritual warfare that impacted the early earth and continues today. Satan can transform himself into an Angel of Light to deceive his victims. Certainly his followers can transform themselves into secular aliens to deceive mankind in the last days. Evolution has laid a strong foundation to get people to fall for such a lie. If Scott Roberts had been true to the Bible and brought in more UFO information with theories as to how fallen angelic beings posing as aliens could be attempting to undermine the Christian faith with their deceptive alien disguise that would have been truly helpful to unaware Christians and sceptics alike. Many are unaware of the genetic manipulation and seeding reportedly going on. He missed a great opportunity.  

And how about giving God and the early Jews some credit for slowing the corruption of the post flood world by killing off so many wicked giants when they conquered Canaan? No one seems to go there!

Shredding foundations of faith and offering nothing substantial to replace them helps no one, not even Mr. Roberts. He needs to realize he has fallen prey to the deception inherent in his subject matter and truly return to his former faith. There is no God other than YHWH. He knows the end from the beginning and the proof is found in His Word. It is filled with prophecies that have already been fulfilled and many that are yet to come. Allowing ancient corrupted copycat religions and legal systems to undermine one's faith is foolish. The truth stands above all!

There is much to be learned but I advise readers to beware the false reasoning underlying much of Mr. Roberts "doubtful" conjectures.

"For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places." Eph 6:12 NLT

"Don’t let anyone capture you with empty philosophies and high-sounding nonsense that come from human thinking and from the spiritual powers of this world, rather than from Christ.  For in Christ lives all the fullness of God in a human body. So you also are complete through your union with Christ, who is the head over every ruler and authority." Col 2:8-10 NLT

I can't really recommend this book because it may shake your faith. If you choose to read it, I advise you to reread all scriptures referred to and to discard the dross.

Quran Has Not Replaced The Holy Bible

Islam teaches that the Quran has replaced the Bible. It also teaches that Jesus is coming again, not as KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, but as a prophet who will break crosses and destroy Christianity, even as he promotes Islam as the true religion and Allah as the true God. 

Does this Islamic teaching have any basis in reality? Is there any reason to believe it? Let's look at the facts. God inspired over 40 men, most of them prophets of Israel, to write The Holy Bible over a period of 1500 years. Without human collaboration, they wrote books which fit together to tell mankind the true story of their sinless creation, fall into sin, and Yehovah's eternal plan to save them. It contains many prophecies about the first coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ, which have been meticulously fulfilled, and there are hundreds to be fulfilled in the future. Yehovah inspired His Word and has preserved His Word. He has not allowed it to be corrupted or replaced.

"Such things were written in the Scriptures long ago to teach us.

And the Scriptures give us hope and encouragement

as we wait patiently for God's promises to be fulfilled."

Romans 15:4 NLT

How can anyone believe that YEHOVAH,

The Great I AM,

Who says His Word is ETERNAL,

would change His name to Allah,

discard the Holy Bible, 

and replace it with an inferior

and contradictory message in the Quran?

A message which offers no savior

and no proposed hope of salvation other than Jihad.

The Quran was written in about 23 years based on the collected memories of those who had heard Muhammad speak. It talks about a Jesus but not the Jesus of the Bible. It does not include the multitude of prophecies about the birth, ministry, death and resurrection of Jesus that were meticulously fulfilled at His first coming, or even mention those yet to be fulfilled. Unlike the Holy Bible, the Quran is not a prophetic book. The Quran does give an accurate view of history or the future because Allah is not Omniscient..

In contrast, YEHOVAH, Himself, in the Holy Bible, Book of Isaiah, said that He Knows the "end from the beginning" and He has shared things "yet to come" in His Word to prove it is true!

Jesus of Nazareth, the only begotten Son of God, warned us that many would come claiming to be Him but we should not be deceived. His Second Coming will be a worldwide event that none will mistake. He is returning as KING of Kings and LORD of Lords to rule this earth in peace for 1000 years before setting up His Eternal Kingdom of Righteousness.

Paul warned: "But even if we, or an angel from heaven,

should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you,

he is to be accursed!

As we have said before, so I say again now,

if any man is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received,

he is to be accursed!"

Gal 1:8-9

Muhammad claimed that he received a new gospel from an angel.

We were warned not to fall for that.

I encourage you to put your trust in the real Jesus. 

He can save you from your sins and He wants to.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son,

that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." John 3:16

Grace and peace to you.

Instantaneous Creation Out of Nothing!

We are living at a time in history when evolution is trumpeted far and wide. Our schools use textbooks which call it a theory but teach it as an unassailable fact. Teachers, college professors, and even scientists are censured and excoriated if they question its validity at any level. Museums are filled with preposterous exhibits purporting to display factually accurate depictions of the evolutionary development of animals and even "homo sapiens." And, the media is saturating our society with the "billions of years" lie of evolution.

These times remind me of David's lament in Psalm 11:3, " When the foundations are being destroyed, what can the righteous do?" Well, he doesn't advise us to head for the hills or to keep our mouths shut. The contextual answer is we can remember that God is in charge and He is watching. Therefore, we need to live righteous lives and trust Him to deal with the wicked in due time. And, the practical answer is, we can continue to stand on and share the truth revealed in His Word. And, in that light, I want to talk to you about God's Good Creation.

The Universe Was Spoken into Existence by Jesus

In the beginning was the Word (Jesus), and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. John 1:1-3

"...by (Jesus Christ) all things were created that are in heaven and that are on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or principalities or powers. All things were created through Him and for Him." Col 1:16

First, notice who existed prior to creation. John says, "in the beginning" (the starting point in eternity for the creation process) the Word (Jesus) existed. He existed with the Divine and as the Divine. The eternally existing Divinity dwelt in the Perfection He had in Himself. Nothing had been created so there were no angels, good or bad, as yet.

Next, John and Paul both testify that Jesus Christ created all things! All things in heaven and on earth. All things seen as well us unseen! All things inanimate as well as animate- including all powerful beings, mortal (human) and immortal (angelic).

By faith we understand that the universe was perfectly fit together by the spoken word of God, so that the things which are seen were not made of things which are visible. Heb 11:3

Notice the connection between faith and reason! "By faith we understand." It's not that we merely have a hope or a theory. Since the universe is a single, intricately designed unit, wherein every part operates in an orderly fashion as it is governed by ordained physical laws, we have evidential reason to firmly believe that it was created by a powerful, intelligent Being.

And, a Being powerful enough and intelligent enough to create and govern such a magnificent universe is surely capable of revealing Himself to us and telling us about His creative activity; which is exactly what He did. Thus, "by faith we understand" that Jesus spoke everything in the universe into existence. He said it. It's demonstrably reasonable. I believe it.  That's faith! And that's loving God with "all your mind!"

No random process could have caused the intelligent design we see throughout the universe. No random process could have created the laws governing the universe. There are no missing links. All reasonable, un-tampered-with evidence, points to the truth revealed in God's Word. There was nothing but God and then Jesus spoke and everything came into existence as He called it into existence.

In a matter of six days God created a mature, fully functioning universe including the angelic beings and the earth and all its life forms with Adam and Eve to rule over it. God's revelation to us in this verse alone completely voids any claim concerning evolutionary progressionism wherein the things that we see are supposed to have evolved from primitive matter to a more complex state over a lengthy period of time.

 This verse says the things which we see came into existence instantaneously out of nothing according to the spoken command of Jesus.

For in six days the LORD made the heavens and the earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested the seventh day. Exodus 20:11a

The Angels Were Spoken into Existence by Jesus.

Praise Him, all His angels...all His hosts...sun and moon...all stars of light...heavens of heavens... waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the LORD, for He commanded and they were created. Psa 148:1-5

Christians often speak as if they believe Satan has been around a lot longer than mankind. They imagine that he and myriads of angels were faithfully serving God for eons before God created man. They even suppose he must have fallen before Adam and Eve were created. I say, according to the clear teaching of scripture, they need to think again. These misconceptions demote man from his unique position as God's original image-bearer and heir- the very purpose of creation. The universe was created as man's habitat. The earth was created to be his home. Angels were created to minister to "the heirs of salvation."

Are not all angels ministering spirits sent to serve those who will inherit? Heb 1:14


Unlike the special, personal, creation of Adam and Eve as individuals by Jesus, Himself; notice that all these celestial creations of God were created on command. Their creation was instantaneous and impersonal. He spoke. They came into existence.

Also notice when the heavens and angels were created. In His discourse with Job, God asked him, "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? Tell Me, if you have understanding. Who determined its measurements? Surely you know! Or who stretched the line upon it? To what were its foundations fastened? Or who laid its cornerstone, when the morning stars sang together, and all the sons of God shouted for joy?"  Job 38:4-7

In the beginning God created the heavens (atmosphere, outer space, God's place) and the earth. ...So the evening and the morning were the first day. Gen 1:1,5

Since the angels 'shouted for joy' when God 'fastened' the foundations of the earth and 'laid its cornerstone', they must have been called into existence by God early on the first day of creation.

God's Creation Was Completed and Very Good on the 6^th Day.


Then God saw everything that He had made, and indeed it was very good. So the evening and the morning were the sixth day. Gen 1:31

Thus the heavens and the earth, and all the host of them, were finished. And on the seventh day God ended His work which He had done, and He rested on the seventh day from all His work which He had done. Then God blessed the seventh day and sanctified it, because in it He rested from all His work which God had created and made. Gen 2:1-3

Note: God says everything was finished in six days. He didn't just get things started and then let things evolve, they were perfectly formed and functional. He even placed mating barriers between species to maintain their physical integrity. (Barriers- not links!) And since God said that everything- including the heavenly host- 'was very good', it clearly means Lucifer and his followers could not have fallen yet.

This is the history of the heavens and the earth when they were created, in the day that the LORD God made the earth and the heavens... Gen 2:4


The Word of God tells us His Story about His Good Creation! And, no matter what other voices declare otherwise, we can rely on His veracity. This is our true foundation.

 

Why Do YOU Ask My Name?

<sup>We've all heard the stories of little children attempting to baptize their dolls or animals. Having seen and heard the ceremony performed by adults, they feel like they know what needs to be done. They just need some water, something or someone to dunk and the right words to say. It seems so simple to them. So they get their doll or a pet or even another child and a little water and seem to be performing the ritual quite well until they say, "In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and in the hole you go." The children, not knowing about the Holy Ghost, aren't even aware of the problem, but an adult overhearing those words immediately realizes they lack understanding. Because it's done by children, in innocence, it's funny. But, on the serious side, it  reveals just how important it is to know names and their meanings.

As human beings, apart from special revelation, we just don't know God. We don't know who He really is, what He can do, or what He wants from us. So, throughout history, He has chosen to reveal Himself to us through supernatural activities linked to Divine Names. In the Old Testament, God primarily revealed Himself as Yahweh, The Existing One, The Great I AM! However, He also revealed Himself as I AM Who Sees, I AM Who Heals, I AM Who Provides, I AM your Peace, I AM your Banner, I AM your Righteousness, etc. And finally, in New Testament times God sent His Son, Jesus Christ, Who is just like Him, to give us the clearest revelation of God that it is possible. He Is the ultimate fulfillment of all the names of God.


In this lesson, Manoah asks God, "What is your name?" And God responds with a question, "Why do you ask my name?" It's a very personal question that applies to all of us. Are we just curious and eager for more head knowledge or do we truly want a closer relationship with our Heavenly Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit? Let's look at the story.</sup>

Again the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD’S sight, so Yahweh handed them over to the Philistines, who kept them in subjection for forty years. In those days, a man named Manoah from the tribe of Dan lived in the town of Zorah. His wife was unable to become pregnant, and they had no children. The angel of Yahweh appeared to Manoah’s wife and said, "Even though you have been unable to have children, you will soon become pregnant and give birth to a son. You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink or eat any forbidden food. You will become pregnant and give birth to a son, and his hair must never be cut. For he will be dedicated to God as a Nazarite from birth. He will (begin to) rescue Israel from the Philistines."

In this passage, we find Israel in need of a deliverer. God will provide for them so the wife of Manoah is visited by the Angel of Yahweh. She is given instructions for Samson's care and prophetic insight into his required lifestyle and accomplishments.

The woman ran and told her husband, "A man of God appeared to me! He was like one of God's angels, terrifying to look at. I didn't ask where he was from, and he didn't tell me his name. But he told me, "You will become pregnant and give birth to a son.  You must not drink wine or any other alcoholic drink or eat any forbidden food. For your son will be dedicated to God as a Nazarite from the moment of his birth until the day of his death."

Then Manoah prayed to Yahweh. He said, "Yahweh, please let the man of God come back to us again and give us more instructions about this son who is to be born."

Manoah displayed no lack of faith in his wife’s word or God’s promise so he responded more appropriately then the priest, Zechariah, who was personally visited by the angel Gabriel concerning the coming birth of his son, John the Baptist! The difference is, Elizabeth didn't ask for more instructions when Zechariah gave her Gabriel's report but Manoah wanted to hear it first hand, possibly because he thought it was the man's place to hear from God, not the woman's.  

God answered his prayer, and the angel of God appeared once again to his wife as she was sitting in the field. But her husband, Manoah, was not with her.
So she quickly ran and told her husband, "The man who appeared to me the other day is here again!"
Manoah ran back with his wife and asked, "Are you the man who talked to my wife the other day?"
 "Yes," he replied, "I am."
So Manoah asked him, "When your words come true, what kind of rules should govern the boy’s life and work?"

This is a rather humorous passage seeing that God answered Manoah's request for another visit but met with his wife again when he wasn't there. (It was apparently the only way He could speak directly with her.) Was God trying to show Manoah He knew what He was doing the first time? Perhaps. At any rate, his wife knew how anxious he was about the situation so she ran to get him. And, when he arrived, he took control and asked all the questions. He expressed a simple, surface kind of faith, and then he asked for more rules. But he received nothing new, just a repeat of what his wife had already told him.

A desire for rules always indicates a lack of desire for relationship. Rules seem safe but they aren’t dynamic and vital. The letter of the law deprives of spiritual life and the Holy Spirit makes alive. But the Lord worked with him as he was.
[See 2 Cor 3:6]

The angel of Yahweh replied, "Be sure your wife follows the instructions I gave her. She must not eat grapes or raisins, drink wine or any other alcoholic drink, or eat any forbidden food."
Then Manoah said... "Please stay here until we can prepare a young goat for you to eat."
"I will stay...but I will not eat anything. However, you may prepare a burnt offering as a sacrifice to Yahweh."

Sadly, Manoah didn’t realize he was talking with God– the Pre-incarnate Jesus. Even when he was told he could make a sacrifice for God, he still didn’t get it.

Then Manoah asked ... "What is your name? For when all this comes true, we want to honor you."

His spiritual dullness is appalling. He doesn't exhibit a reverential fear of the angel of Yahweh. He doesn't fall down before Him and try to worship Him as others in scriptural accounts did. He just asks, in a casual way, "What’s your name?" Which, of course, revealed that he had no idea with whom he was speaking.

"Why do you ask my name?" the angel of Yahweh replied. "You wouldn’t understand if I told you." NLT
King James says ‘Why do you ask My name, seeing it is secret?’
New King James says, "Why do you ask My name, seeing it is wonderful?"

The New Living Translation actually tells you what the angel of Yahweh meant, not what he said. Whereas, the King James and New King James tell you what he said. The angel of Yahweh actually said His name was secret or wonderful because God, in Himself, is impossible to understand. He is Incomprehensible! He has no limits or bounds. He works Wonders. Everything about Him is Extraordinary and thus beyond the comprehension of mortals. And, more particularly, mortals who are spiritually dull-- not in close relationship with Him.

Does this sound like a conversation between two people who are struggling to communicate with one another? The relationship is so shallow that a real depth of understanding is unlikely, so the angel of Yahweh simply stated the truth.

Manoah lacked the ability to understand His name. Why? There are at least two reasons.

1. God’s name is Wonderfully Incomprehensible– even for those Who have a personal relationship with Him.

Therefore, if you died with Christ from the basic principles of the world, why, as though living in the world, do you subject yourselves to regulations–- "Do not touch, do not taste, do not handle," which all concern things which perish with the using — according to the commandments and doctrines of men? These things indeed have an appearance of wisdom in self-©imposed religion, false humility, and neglect of the body, but are of no value against the indulgence of the flesh. Col 2:20-23(NKJV)　

2. Manoah had a shallow relationship with God which was based on ritual behavior (rules). In other words, he lacked the intimacy with God that only comes from mutual personal revelations and shared experiences. How can we tell that?

Then Manoah took a young goat and a grain offering and offered it on a rock as a sacrifice to Yahweh.

Notice Manoah’s response. Instead of pleading with the Angel, "Help Me! I really want to know you." He just offered a ritual sacrifice. He fulfilled the letter of the law but lacked the Spirit of it. He is no Moses, no Abraham, no Job, no Jacob. We see no change wrought in him by this encounter. He just believed. He didn't expect much from His God. He certainly didn’t expect great things.

What a tragedy! What a missed opportunity! If Manoah had known God better, Samson's life might have turned out differently. You remember Samson grew up as a Nazarite. He was not to cut his hair or partake of the vine or come in contact with the dead. He started out trying to live by those rules but he failed because rules have no power to restrain the fleshly nature. Samuel and John the Baptist each fulfilled their lifetime Nazarite vow, but we are clearly told they had devout parents whose personal relationship with God mentored them. Because Samson failed to maintain a personal relationship with Yahweh, he lived an immoral life and eventually broke all the Nazarite rules and literally brought destruction on his own head and he only partially delivered Israel from the Philistines.

Note: God’s people often live in a state of partial deliverance because they don’t really know God. They have a ritual relationship which leads to a ‘whited sepulchre’ existence and an avoidance of wholeheartedly pursuing God. They wither on the vine and their children often perish.

"My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being a priest for Me; because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children." Hosea 4:6

"If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me (with all your heart). I will be found by you, says Yahweh. I will end your captivity and restore your fortunes." Jeremiah 29:13 -14a NLT

And as Manoah and his wife watched, Yahweh did an amazing thing. As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of Yahweh ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground. The angel did not appear again to Manoah and his wife. 

Rather than tell them His name, He gave them a small exhibition of His power. It was only a little sample of the wonders He can perform; but, it left an impact on them.

Manoah finally realized it was the angel of Yahweh, and he said to his wife, "We will die, for we have seen God!"

Maybe this response was why Jesus didn’t clearly reveal Himself – lest Manoah die of fright!

But his wife said, "If Yahweh were going to kill us, he wouldn’t have accepted our burnt offering and grain offering. He wouldn’t have appeared to us and told us this wonderful thing and done these miracles."

Here’s another passage of encouragement for women! Hers was the voice of faith and reason.

When her son was born, they named him Samson. And Yahweh blessed him as he grew up. And in Mahaneh-dan, which is located between the towns of Zorah and Eshtaol, the Spirit of Yahweh began to take hold of him. Judges 13:1 - 25(NLT)

Let’s Review What We’ve Learned from this Story.

 1. God truly reveals Himself (Who and How He Is) only to His intimates.

He made known His ways (character) to Moses, His acts (deeds) to the children of Israel. Psalms 103:7 NKJ/NLT

2. God can only be even partially understood in the context of a personal relationship with Him because He's incomprehensible, but revealed in Jesus.

"All things have been delivered to Me by My Father, and no one knows who the Son is except the Father, and who the Father is except the Son, and the one to whom the Son wills to reveal Him." Then He turned to His disciples and said privately, "Blessed are the eyes which see the things you see; for I tell you that many prophets and kings have desired to see what you see, and have not seen it, and to hear what you hear, and have not heard it. Luke 10:22-24     

3. God wants a heart relationship with His people.

And so the Lord says, "These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far away. And their worship of me amounts to nothing more than human laws learned by rote." Isa 29:13

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.  Matt 22:37 KJV

                            "Why Do YOU Ask My Name?"