After his wife had disclosed the answer to his riddle, Samson had paid off his wager by killing other Philistines and giving their clothes to his wedding guest companions. He then had gone home in anger. When he returned, he found that his wife had been given to his companion, so he caught three hundred foxes, turned them tail to tail, attached torches, and burned up the Philistines’ crops. They in turn burned his wife and her father, and Samson took vengeance by attacking them with a great slaughter.

God had purposed that Samson should “begin to deliver Israel out of the hand of the Philistines.” Sadly, when Scripture records his conflicts against the Philistines, it indicates that his motive was more that of taking revenge than of serving God.

We can understand the ungodly world speaking of “getting even,” of seeking revenge for hurts or slights. This goes back all the way to Cain’s descendant Lamech who, justifying himself, told his wives, “I have killed a man for wounding me, even a young man for hurting me” (Gen. 4:23). How different is the example of our Lord Jesus “who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered He did not threaten.” We are told to follow in His steps (1 Pet. 2:21–23). “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord” (Rom. 12:19).