FLAMING WORD – P10
JUDGES 14:18b
“And he said unto them, If ye had not plowed with my heifer, ye had not found out my riddle.” (KJV)
A heifer is a young female cow. Samson had presented a riddle to his enemies, the Philistines, confident that they wouldn’t be able to solve it, giving him a sense of superiority or victory. His enemies, however, used his wife to manipulate him into revealing the answer. After seven days of persistent nagging and weeping, Samson’s wife finally convinced him to share the answer with her. Predictably, she passed it on to her people—Samson’s enemies. When they returned to Samson with the correct answer, he immediately realized that the very person he loved—his wife, his heifer—had betrayed him.
Beloved, our enemy, Satan, will often use those closest to us to undermine our faith and weaken us. Just as he did with Samson, the devil knows that using the people we love is one of the most effective ways to get us to compromise. In the Garden of Eden, the devil used Eve to reach Adam, knowing that Adam’s love for her could lead to his downfall.
Husbands, don’t let the devil “plough with your heifer.
Ephesians 5:25-26 says, Husbands, love your wives, even as Christ also loved the church, and gave Himself for it; that He might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word.
Every wife is a helper, and husbands are commanded to love their wives as Christ loves the church. This love involves clearly sharing the vision God has given them for their lives. The husband’s vision is like the word of God that guides and sets direction in the family. When a husband shares his vision, his revealed word, with his wife, he is sanctifying and cleansing her, preparing her to align with his divine assignment. In this way, she is able to fulfill her purpose effectively alongside him.
When a wife is washed by the water of the word, she cannot be used by Satan as a tool for destruction. A woman of understanding, filled with the word of God, will not be manipulated by the enemy to frustrate her husband’s divine calling. Samson’s wife, however, was not a true helper. She had not been set apart by her husband’s vision and allowed herself to be used by his enemies against him.
Wives, don’t allow the devil to plough with you. Allow yourselves to be sanctified by the word of God so that you can be fully devoted to your husband’s vision.
Bachelors, pray that God gives you a woman who will not allow herself to be used by Satan.
Spinsters, ask God for the grace that when you marry, you will not be like Samson’s wife or Eve. Refuse to be used or ploughed by the enemy.
Shalom.