“His father and mother didn’t realize the Lord was at work in this, creating an opportunity to work against the Philistines, who ruled over Israel at that time.”
The Lord had all along warned his people not to intermarry with the Caananites, Philistines, etc. Samson’s parents were right to question his desire to marry the girl from Timnah. And yet we learn from this verse that the Lord was in it.
The Lord would always have us take the right path. But if we take a left turn instead, He does not forget about us. After all, the whole map belongs to the Lord.
God would have much preferred Samson marry a virtuous Israelite woman; but He knew Samson, and used him nonetheless.
