Self: The Enemy of God’s Plan

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All of us want to do work in life, that aligns to God’s plan. Many of us often say, “I want to do God’s will.” But this desire usually breaks into two groups. Some people never take time to understand what God’s will truly is. Others clearly know God’s plan—because God reveals it, blesses them, and even anoints them—but self slowly takes control and ends up ruining what God intended.

When we look through the Bible, especially the book of Judges, we see the life of Samson—a judge from whom we can learn an important lesson about how self can ruin God’s plan. God has given us a self to use for His glory, but many times that same self turns into an enemy of what God wants to do.

Samson, a judge from the tribe of Dan, appears in Judges chapters 13–16. Because Israel repeatedly did evil in the sight of the Lord, God allowed the Philistines to oppress them for forty years (Judges 13:1). During this long period, Israel lived under Philistine rule.

Samson judged Israel for twenty years, and during his leadership the people experienced a measure of relief. Altogether, the Philistine dominance connected to Samson’s era spanned sixty years, though rest came only in the later part of that time.

God’s Will Revealed by the Angel

Samson’s Parents

Samson’s father was Manoah, and the Bible does not record the name of his wife. Even while Israel was living under oppression, God was already preparing a way of deliverance.

God showed special grace to Manoah and his wife—a faithful and God-fearing couple who were unable to have children. Like Abraham and Sarah, they waited many years, and it is likely they prayed earnestly for a child.

God heard their earnest prayers and, in His time, sent an angel to Manoah’s wife with a prophetic promise, as recorded in Judges 13:2–5.

God’s Will Revealed

The Angel of the Lord revealed God’s will through a clear prophecy, recorded in Judges 13:2–5.

 [Judges 13:2-5 NIV] 2 A certain man of Zorah, named Manoah, from the clan of the Danites, had a wife who was childless, unable to give birth. 3 The angel of the LORD appeared to her and said, "You are barren and childless, but you are going to become pregnant and give birth to a son. 4 Now see to it that you drink no wine or other fermented drink and that you do not eat anything unclean

The message was simple and specific: (Judges 13:2)

• Manoah’s wife would become pregnant

• She would give birth to a son

Along with the promise came important instructions: (Judges 13:4)

• She was not to drink wine or any fermented drink

• She was not to eat anything unclean

• The child’s hair was never to be cut, because the boy would be a Nazirite

A Nazirite was a man or woman who took a special vow of dedication to God (Numbers 6:1–21). This vow included:

• Avoiding wine or anything from the grapevine

• Not cutting one’s hair, symbolizing complete consecration to God

• Avoiding contact with the dead to remain ceremonially clean

• Nazirites from birth in Bible are: Samson, Samuel, John the Baptist

[Judges 13:5 NIV] 5 You will become pregnant and have a son whose head is never to be touched by a razor because the boy is to be a Nazirite, dedicated to God from the womb. He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines."

This child Samson was to be dedicated to God from the womb. The angel also declared God’s purpose for his life / God’s will for Samson:

Judges 13:5b - “He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

From the very beginning, Samson’s life was marked by divine purpose and calling.

Samson’s Early Years and Recorded Victories

[Judges 13:24-25 NIV] 24 The woman gave birth to a boy and named him Samson. He grew and the LORD blessed him, 25 and the Spirit of the LORD began to stir him while he was in Mahaneh Dan, between Zorah and Eshtaol.

The secret behind Samson’s extraordinary strength was not physical power, but his Nazirite calling, symbolized by his uncut hair (Judges 16:17). The true source of his strength was the Spirit of the Lord, who repeatedly came upon him (Judges 13:25; 14:6, 19; 15:14).

The Book of Judges records only a few of Samson’s remarkable feats—though Scripture suggests he accomplished many more that are not written down (Judges 16:24). Some of the key victories include:

• Tearing apart a lion with his bare hands (Judges 14:5–6) : When the Spirit of the Lord came upon him, Samson killed a lion as easily as tearing a young goat.

• Killing thirty Philistines at Ashkelon (Judges 14:19) : To settle a wager from his riddle, Samson struck down thirty Philistines and took their possessions.

• Burning Philistine fields using three hundred foxes (Judges 15:4–5) : By tying torches to their tails, he set fire to grain fields, vineyards, and olive groves.

• Striking the Philistines with great slaughter (Judges 15:8) : After his wife was given to another man, Samson attacked the Philistines fiercely.

• Carrying away the gates of Gaza (Judges 16:3) : At midnight, Samson tore loose the city gates, posts and all, and carried them to a hill facing Hebron.

• Killing one thousand Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone (Judges 15:14–15) : Empowered by the Spirit, he used a simple weapon to achieve a massive victory.

• Destroying the temple of Dagon (Judges 16:28–30) : In his final act, Samson prayed for strength, pushed down the pillars of the temple, and killed more Philistines in his death than in his lifetime.

The Philistines themselves acknowledged the damage Samson had caused, admitting that he had devastated their land and multiplied their dead (Judges 16:24).

God’s purpose for Samson was clear from the beginning: Judges 13:5b - “He will take the lead in delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines.”

And yet, Samson’s life reveals a striking contrast—immense, God-given strength, paired with deep personal weakness. Like an elephant in power but a child in self-control, Samson’s victories highlight both the greatness of God’s calling and the danger of an undisciplined self.

Five Key Lessons from Samson’s Life

When we read about Samson, we often focus on his great strength and victories, but we overlook the self-driven weaknesses that damaged God’s plan for his life. Samson’s story teaches us powerful lessons through his failures. Here are five key lessons (There are many, but we focus only on five key lessons) we can learn from his mistakes:

1.        Samson disobeyed and dishonoured his parents (Judges 14:1–4)

• Samson was an Israelite from the tribe of Dan, and God had commanded Israel to marry within their own people. Samson’s choice went directly against God’s instructions (Exodus 34:12–16; Deuteronomy 7:1–3).

• He insisted on marrying a Philistine woman, refusing to listen to his parents’ godly counsel (Judges 14:1–3).

• Samson followed his self-desire, instead of obedience, He was controlled by 1 John 2:16 - "the lust of the eyes"

• His decisions were driven by self-pleasure rather than pleasing God, We read in he was adamant to override their parents to marry a philistine woman [Judges 14:3 NIV] 3 His father and mother replied, "Isn't there an acceptable woman among your relatives or among all our people? Must you go to the uncircumcised Philistines to get a wife?" But Samson said to his father, "Get her for me. She's the right one for me."

Lesson for us to Learn

• When we have God’s spirit in us, we cannot live to please what we want, rather we need to live to please him [2 Corinthians 5:15 NIV] 15 And he died for all, that those who live should no longer live for themselves but for him who died for them and was raised again.

2.        Samson Lost His Nazirite Vow (Judges 14:1–4)

• Samson was set apart as a Nazirite, a vow that required separation from grapes, uncut hair, and no contact with the dead (Numbers 6:1–21).

• But Samson wandered into a vineyard, a place forbidden for a Nazirite, showing his careless disobedience (Judges 14:5; Numbers 6:1–4).

• God’s Spirit empowered him to kill the lion, but Samson ignored the warning and continued on a sinful path (Judges 14:6)

• Later, he touched a dead carcass of Lion and ate honey from the carcass, breaking his vow and defiling himself (Judges 14:8–9).

• His fall followed a pattern, now to give into the Lust of his Flesh (Self-Desire): 1 John 2:16  lust of the flesh

Lesson for us to Learn

• Check to see what Vows you made to God - Ask God to forgive in his mercy if the vows are yet not fulfilled in your life.

• Ask God to give the grace to fulfil the Vows to please him. Its not by our own we fulfil; it’s his Grace that makes it happen.

3. Samson Lost Control of His Tongue

• Samson’s words revealed his lack of self-control (Judges 14:10–18).

• He boasted through a riddle, turning God’s work into a game and revealing spiritual pride (Judges 14:12–14).

• His downfall followed the pattern described in 1 John 2:16—first the lust of the eyes (the Philistine woman), then the lust of the flesh (breaking the Nazirite vow), and now the pride of life, using God’s work as a reason to boast.

• Spiritual Pride is something Satan uses in men of God to make them fall.

• He gave in under pressure, revealing what should have remained as secrete (Judges 14:16–17).

• When angered, he spoke harsh and bitter words, showing no restraint (Judges 14:18).

Lesson for us to Learn

• Tongue cannot be controlled by human; Only God can control and tame the tongue.

• The more we given in to the Self the tongue becomes an evil object, and it does prideful things leading to Sin.

• Tongue is the spoiler for the Body, the word says it’s like a rudder in a ship - [James 3:1-2 NIV] , so commit this tongue and pray God that it does not corrupt the body.

• Tongue is the fire for the body’s weakness. [James 3:6-8 NIV] 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body

• Humbly ask God to teach you how to walk in humility, for He is the greatest teacher of humility. Though He is the Son of God, He lived a life of humility and can teach us to do the same.

• Ask God for forgiveness and protection from spiritual pride, which comes from Satan and quietly works to pull us away from God.

4. Samson Lost His Temper

• Driven by anger, Samson killed thirty Philistines in Ashkelon and walked away from his marriage (Judges 14:19–20).

• His uncontrolled anger led to violence, broken relationships, and missed direction.

• Instead of seeking God’s guidance, Samson acted on impulsive behaviour, forcing God to overrule his choices.

Lesson for us to Learn

• If we look to walk in Faith - Ask him to lead and guide, don’t let the self-rule to make you do what you want to do and be an impediment to God’s work. [Psalm 32:8-9 NIV] 8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. 9 Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you.

• Samson swung between rushing ahead impulsively like a horse and resisting stubbornly like a mule, forcing God to step in and deal with him.

• If we're looking by faith into the face of the Lord, He can guide us with His eye, the way parents’ guide their children. But if we turn our backs on Him, he has to treat us like Horses and Mules to harness us.

5. Samson Fell to Temptation

• Samson gave in to sexual temptation by visiting a prostitute in Gaza (Judges 16:1).

• Once again, the lust of the eyes and the lust of the flesh controlled his actions (1 John 2:16).

• Though God still gave him strength to escape, this was another step downward into spiritual darkness (Judges 16:2–3).

• God did not tempt Samson—he placed himself in temptation and became his own enemy (James 1:12–15).

• It seems incredible to us that a servant of God (Judg. 15:18), who did great works in the power of the Spirit, would visit a prostitute, but the record is here for all to read. The Lord certainly didn't approve of such behaviour, especially on the part of a Nazirite; and the experience was for Samson one more step down into darkness and destruction.

• We can't help it when Satan and his demons tempt us; but when we tempt ourselves, we become our own enemy.

• Samson the man had become Samson the animal as the prostitute led him to the slaughter (Prov. 7:6-23).

Lesson for us to Learn

• The enemy’s trick is to get the Self destructed - he uses temptations to woe us.. Satan knows our weakness more than we know our weakness. He uses “Temptation” trap to woe us. If we are anger heavy, he will use situations to make us angrier, if our eyes are weak, he will use lust of eyes to lure us to commit Sin.

• So, fight the temptation by

  • Submit to God first - Without submission, resistance becomes willpower-based and weak.

  • Resist the devil - Follow Jesus’ example in Matthew 4 answer temptation with Scripture, “Away from me, Satan in Jesus Name”. [Matthew 4:10 NIV] 10 Jesus said to him, "Away from me, Satan! For it is written: 'Worship the Lord your God, and serve him only.'"

  • Draw near to God (James 4:8) - Fill your mind with fellowshipping with God - prayer, worship, and God’s Word.

  • Flee when needed - Paul says, “Flee from sexual immorality” (1 Cor. 6:18) and “Flee the evil desires of youth” (2 Tim. 2:22).

  • Use God’s Armor (Ephesians 6:10–18) - Belt of truth, shield of faith, sword of the Spirit (God’s Word).

Summary

Samson’s life teaches us a sobering truth: a great calling can be weakened by an undisciplined self. He was chosen by God, empowered by the Spirit, and used mightily—yet his repeated disobedience, broken vows, careless words, uncontrolled anger, and surrender to temptation slowly eroded God’s purpose for his life.

God remained faithful to His plan, but Samson lost the joy, freedom, and fullness that come from walking in obedience. His story reminds us that strength without self-control leads to spiritual loss. If we desire to fulfil God’s will, we must continually surrender the self, guard our hearts, and live to please God rather than ourselves.

God’s plan will always stand—but how we walk in it depends on us.

250th Blog - Thank You Note

I praise and thank God for His grace and wisdom in helping me write this 250th blog. It is entirely by His grace alone, it’s not by my wisdom or knowledge I have written so far, his Grace & Mercy has taken me to this milestone.

He is our Almighty God and he has given me the wisdom to write. I never imagined—even in my dreams—that I would reach this milestone, and yet by His grace, the journey continues. As the Psalm’s Say’s - [Psalm 8:3-4 NIV] 3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? I am humbled and honoured that he chose to care for me to shower his wisdom. Glory to you Jesus.