Samson is one of those characters in the Bible you don't easily forget. He was strong, handsome, successful, and blind. He is what in literature is called an anti-type. He is a type of Christ in all the wrong ways. Samson was consecrated from an early age yet disobeyed his covenant promises and dishonored his parents. When tempted, he gave in rather than resisting. Before Samson was physically blinded, he was blind to his weakness and to the source of his strength. Samson should have turned the nation's eyes from themselves and pointed them to God; instead, he lived for his own appetite by doing what is right in his own eyes. God used him despite his flaws and failures. The sad reality of Samson's life was that it wasn't until he was captured by his enemies who gouged out his physical eyes that he truly started to “see.”
Unlike Samson, Jesus came into the world not "to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many" (Matt. 20:28). Jesus not only obeyed His Father but obeyed in such a way that we have a model for what obedience to God looks like.
Jesus is more than a model; He is also our substitute who lived a perfect life and died in our place for our disobedience. He, like Samson, placed His hand on the twin pillars of sin and death and destroyed them. But unlike Samson, Jesus didn't stay dead. He lives, and He opens the eyes of those who are blind to see the beauty of God in the face of Christ.
This week, pray that God will open our eyes and the eyes of our kids so that we would see Jesus as more beautiful than anything else. Pray that rather than running from Him and doing what is right in our own eyes, we will run to Jesus and find mercy in time of need. (Heb. 4:16)
Go to The Gospel Project At Home: God Used Samson for more resources designed to help you lead your family toward Jesus.
FAMILY TALKING POINTS
CHRIST CONNECTION
This is the big idea of how this week’s Bible story points to Jesus.
● Toddlers: Jesus died and rose again to rescue God’s people from sin and give them life with God forever.
● Preschool: God sent Samson to help His people. God sent Jesus to die and rise again to rescue God’s people from sin and give them life with God forever.
● Kids: Samson’s sin led to his own death, but God used his death to save the Israelites from their enemies. Samson’s story reminds us of Jesus. Jesus never sinned, but God sent Him to die on the cross and rise again to rescue people from sin and give them eternal life.
BIG PICTURE QUESTION & ANSWER
This is an important biblical truth that your child will encounter each week of this unit.
● Toddlers: What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for sin is separation from God.
● Preschool: What is the punishment for sin? The punishment for sin is death.
● Kids: What is the fair payment for sin? The fair payment for sin is death.
KEY PASSAGE
This is a Bible verse that relates to what your child will encounter each week of this unit.
● Babies & Toddlers: God gives life forever. Romans 6:23
● Preschool: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
● Kids: For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 6:23
** Next week (11/5): God Provided for Ruth (Ruth)
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