1. God promises a son to a sterile woman (1-7)

Manoah lived during the 40 years of terrible Philistine oppression of Israel. He was a humble, prayerful man. He had no hope of having children, but God chose his family to bear a son who would begin delivering Israel from the Philistines. (5) The angel of the Lord instructed Manoah's wife about how to prepare for and how to raise their son.

2. Manoah's prayer (8-25)

Manoah had no doubt about God's power to give his sterile wife a son. He only prayed for wisdom to know how to raise his son in those corrupt and godless times (8). Manoah did not know that his visitor was an angel. He invited him to stay for dinner. The angel told him to prepare a sacrifice for the Lord. When fire from the Lord consumed the sacrifice, Manoah was filled with a holy fear of the Lord. God entrusted a man who feared the Lord to raise a special child whom God would use.

Application: Lord, help us to raise your children to be godly people, though we live in a godless world.
One Word: Ask God for wisdom