Israel’s Superman

[249 words] Samson was a real-life superhero, an ancient Israelite Superman. Many people are familiar with his superhuman exploits, about how Samson killed a lion with his bare hands, single-handedly destroyed a thousand-man Philistine army with no weapon other than the jawbone of a donkey, and about how he was a one-man wrecking crew that demolished a Philistine temple. If you would like to read it for yourself in the Bible, Samson’s story is found in the book of Judges 13-16. But just as Superman is vulnerable to kryptonite, Samson had his weakness too. No, it was not his treacherous lover Delilah nor was it the most famous haircut in history which she gave him. The source of Samson’s strength was not his long hair, but his faith in God symbolized by his long hair. Samson forgot the source of his strength was God, not himself. When his pride led…