Connect Judges 15:18 to other instances of God's provision in Scripture. Samson’s Thirst and God’s Response Judges 15:18: “And being very thirsty, he called to the LORD and said, ‘You have granted this great deliverance through Your servant. Must I now die of thirst and fall into the hands of the uncircumcised?’” Judges 15:19: “So God split the hollow place in Lehi, and water came out of it. When Samson drank, his strength returned and he revived.” • Samson has just slain a thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone (Judges 15:15). • His body is near collapse; thirst reminds him of his frailty. • He cries out, and the Creator instantly turns rock into a spring—undeniable, literal provision. Water from the Rock—A Repeating Pattern • Exodus 17:6: “I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink.” • Numbers 20:11: Moses, again, strikes the rock at Meribah and water gushes out. • Psalm 78:15-16 recalls both moments: “He split the rocks in the wilderness… He brought streams out of a rocky crag…” Key link: As with Samson, God literally brings water from stone—proving His power to meet urgent need in the most unlikely places. Desert Deliverance for One Desperate Family • Genesis 21:19: “Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. So she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.” • Parallel: Hagar’s panic matches Samson’s desperation; God’s sight and supply are instant. Provision Beside the Brook and in a Widow’s Kitchen • 1 Kings 17:4-6: Elijah drinks from the Kerith brook; ravens bring bread and meat twice a day. • 1 Kings 17:14-16: “The jar of flour will not be exhausted and the jug of oil will not run dry…” God stretches meager supplies for Elijah and the widow of Zarephath. Principle: Whether water, bread, meat, or oil, God’s resources flow precisely when and where obedience and faith intersect. Bread from Heaven, Meat on the Wind • Exodus 16:4-15: Manna rains down each morning; quail cover the camp at night. – The people’s every meal testifies to daily, literal provision. • Psalm 78:24-25 highlights the miracle: “He rained down manna for them to eat; He gave them grain from heaven.” Miraculous Provision in the Ministry of Jesus • John 2:7-10: Water becomes wine—abundant, excellent, timely. • Matthew 14:19-21; 15:36-38: Five loaves feed five thousand; seven loaves feed four thousand. Leftovers overflow. • John 4:13-14: “Whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst.” Physical supply points forward to spiritual satisfaction found in Christ Himself. Shared Threads in Every Story • Immediate human need meets immediate divine supply. • Each account confirms God’s intimate awareness of physical limitations. • Provision often arrives in a form or place no one would predict—rock, sky, empty jar, small lunch. • Every miracle invites renewed trust for the next crisis (Psalm 34:10; Philippians 4:19). Lessons Drawn from Judges 15:18 in Light of Scripture • Cry out—Samson’s prayer is honest, direct, faith-filled (Hebrews 4:16). • Expect God to answer—Scripture shows a consistent pattern of tangible help. • Remember and name the moment—Samson calls the spring “En-hakkore” (“Caller’s Spring”) in gratitude; remembrance fuels ongoing faith (Joshua 4:6-7). • See physical supply as a signpost to deeper provision—every drop, loaf, and crushing of olives foreshadows Christ, the Water and Bread of Life (John 6:35). The same God who split Lehi still meets needs today, proving His word faithful and His power unchanging. |
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