Heavenly Father commissioned and qualified Samson, the judge and champion of Israel, to deliver His people from the cruel control of the Philistines. (Judges 13:5) But the young man had played the fool, living a checkered life, following the dictates of his sinful passions, rather than wholeheartedly accepting the work that God had given him to do. So, he ended up in the enemy's camp, shorn of his strength, a prisoner of the hated and God-hating Philistines, who had "put out his eyes." Chained like a brute beast to a threshing mill, his hair had slowly grown back, but his heathen captors, blinded by their pleasure-seeking, failed to remember the lesson taught to them by God through Delilah's treachery: that Samson's strength really was in his hair, because that's where God put it. What God puts where, stays there. Unless, of course, it's cut off.

"…by faith… Samson… subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were (was) made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens…" (Hebrews 11: 32-34). AND HE WAS A JIHADIST! We are told in the Bible that "out of weakness," he was "made strong." He was willing to have himself blown up, (in his case, smashed down), so that God's people could be delivered.

Can we by searching, find out God? NO! Comes the answer clearly and resoundingly from the pages of sacred scripture. "Canst thou find out the Almighty unto perfection? It is as high as heaven; what canst thou do? Deeper than hell; what canst thou know? The measure thereof is longer than the earth and broader that the sea." Job 11: 7&8. "If you would give your whole heart and soul to God and hold back nothing; if you would admit your guilt and quit sinning and not let wickedness come back into your life; then you would be able to face your situation with courage and hope. You would forget all your troubles and recall them only as water that has passed by. Your life would be brighter than noonday, and all the darkness you've had would pass away. You would feel secure again because there would be hope. You would look around you and be unafraid because God would be there to protect you. Your soul would be at peace. At night you would lie down and no one would harm you or make you afraid. In fact, many would come to you for counsel. But it is just the opposite with the wicked who look in despair for a place to escape. Their only hope is that some day they will die." Job 11: 7 KJV, Job 11:13-20 The Clear Word, a paraphrase of the Bible by Jack Blanco.

We don't understand God, but we can follow His appointed program. We can do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with our God. Micah 6:8. We don't know how God does what He does in us, but He does do it. He did it for Sam, the jihadist. It wasn't the long hair that protected him, but rather the divine direction of God, who had ordered up that head of hair. Samson had betrayed God by violating the conditions of his sacred calling. So when the hair, the symbol of the covenant between himself and God, was cut off by the seductive wife, the strength went totally out of him, just like it does when we sin. Then, we don't have a leg to stand on. We can't witness, we can't be joyful, we can't even bear up under the stress of daily life. Our only hope is that some day we will die.

But then sometimes, some of us, like Samson, realize our condition. We again look to God, and when we look to Him, we find Him. Samson found him. As his hair grew back, his power gradually returned. But his enemies, regarding him as a fettered, fallen foe, felt no apprehension. These heathen were having a feast in honor of Dagon, the fish god. They came from all over the country for the party. There was pomp and pride and a sacrificial service, followed by music and feasting. Then, for the sport of it, they brought out the fallen champion of the despised Israelites, cheering his helpless condition, and adoring their false god.

Samson, relying only on the mercy of God, and believing only in the promise of forgiveness, as if weary, asked permission to rest against the two central pillars which supported the temple roof. Then silently he prayed: "Oh Lord God, remember me, I pray thee, and strengthen me, I pray Thee, only this once, O God, that I may be at once avenged of the Philistines for my two eyes." With these words, he encircled the pillars with his mighty arms, and died, crying, "Let me die with the Philistines!" The roof fell in, destroying all that vast godless multitude.

Oftentimes, my mind grows weary in trying to understand God. My theology and that of my friends and my enemies, confronts me, confuses me, perplexes me. But this one thing I know: once I was blind, and now I see. I see Christ: He is on a cross, dying for my sin, in order to empower me to live a life of holiness, hope and love, because He is love. 1 John 4:8. "By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if have love one to another." John 13:35.