His Name is Wonderful

After the annunciation of Samson's birth, Manoah offers the Angel of the Lord a meal.

The Angel of the Lord calls on Manoah to worship God and not him: 'But if you offer a burnt offering, you must offer it to the LORD' (v. 16).

When Manoah asks the Angel's name he replies, 'Why do you ask My name seeing it is wonderful?' (v. 18). In this Angel we see a foreshadowing of Incarnation. God desires to reach out to humanity but He is above and beyond us. We approach God with 'cautious humility.'

At the sacrfice, the Angel ascends in the flame of the altar (vv. 19-20). This scene prefigures the Incarnation, cross, resurrection, and ascencion of Jesus.