The Honey Test

I have been reading the story of Samson. One particular detail of this story stands out to me. Samson was empowered to kill a lion and tear it to pieces. After some days, he comes back to the lion’s carcass and inside it is a swarm of bees who have produced honey. Samson decides to scoop some of the honey and eat it. Not only does he eat it, but he brings some to his parents without telling them where he got it. Remember Samson is an Israelite and more importantly a Nazarite; on two accounts he is not allowed to touch a dead carcass. In doing so he has thus defiled himself and his parents. This is not an insignificant story because bees do not normally inhabit dead animals, and never animals that have only been dead a few days. Clearly God has put these bees in this lion’s carcass to test Samson. Interesting that a lion could not defeat Samson, but bees could. I think there is an important lesson here for us. God has placed things in our path for the sole purpose of testing our character. Let me encourage you to pass the test. Yes, the honey looks sweet and is good to the taste. But God has put it there not so that we can eat it, but so that we can choose Him over the honey. The rules of the Lord are sweeter than honey (Psalm 19:10; 119:103).