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Who has superhuman strength in the Bible?
Superhuman or supernatural strength is the kind of strength that is above and beyond what is naturally and physically possible for a human to possess. One cannot possess supernatural strength on his own. As we will see in the examples below, for a human being to exhibit a supernatural strength, he has to be influenced by a supernatural being which can be either the Spirit of God, a demon, or demons. Let’s look at some examples of persons who had superhuman strength in the Bible:
1. Samson
In the days when the Philistines were oppressing the Israelites, God came to Israel’s aid and gave them a savior called Samson whose mission was delivering Israel from the hands of the Philistines (Jg 13:5). Samson was from the tribe of Dan, born to a man called Manoah (Jg 13:2). As an adult, Samson walked around as a normal human being. However, when the need arises, the Spirit of God empowers him to exhibit supernatural strength. Once a young lion attacked Samson near the vineyards of Timnah. Then the Spirit of the Lord empowered him to rip the lion’s jaws apart easily with his bare hands (Jg 14:6).
Another time Samson was arrested, bound, and brought to the Philistines in Lehi. As the Philistines were shouting in triumph, the Spirit of God empowered Samson to snap the ropes from his hands, fell upon the Philistines with a donkey’s jawbone, and killed 1000 of them (Jg 15:15). Another time, Samson took hold of the gates of the city of Gaza and carried them on his shoulders to the top of the hill that faces Hebron (Jg 16:1-3).
Samson was later betrayed by his girlfriend Delilah. His hair was shaved and he was captured, bound, and imprisoned. While in prison, his hair began to grow again. Out of excitement over Samson’s capture, the lords of the Philistines gathered together to offer a great sacrifice to Dagon their god. During the feasting, they brought Samson to the temple so that they would make fun of him. However, Samson took hold of the pillars supporting the temple and pushed them down, collapsing the entire building. Three thousand Philistines and Samson himself died from the disaster. (Jg 16:23-31)
2. Legion
The man who referred to him as Legion came into the biblical narrative when Jesus crossed Lake Galilee to the region of Gerasenes. Immediately Jesus came out of the boat, this man came from the tombs to meet Him. For a long time this man had not worn clothes or lived in a house, but had lived in the tombs, and no one could bind him anymore, not even with a chain. This man was exceptionally strong and senseless for the demons in him made him exhibit superhuman strength.
He had often been chained hand and foot and kept under guard, but he tore the chains apart and broke the irons on his feet. No one was strong enough to subdue him. And the demons drove him into solitary places – the tombs. Night and day among the tombs and in the hills he would cry out and cut himself with stones. Just imagine!
His real name was not Legion. The writers did not mention it in the Bible. We call him Legion now because when he encountered Jesus, Jesus asked him what his name was and he replied that he was called Legion because the demons in him were many. It took the power of God to subdue this man and cast out all the demons to free him for good. See Luke 8:26-39 and Luke 8:26-39
3. The demon-possessed man from Ephesus
All things being equal, it is unfair to make one person fight a group of seven men. It is certain that the seven men, working together, can overpower him and pin him to the ground with little effort. However, there was a case where a single person fell on a group of seven men and defeated them mercilessly. This person possessed a supernatural strength which was activated in him by a demon. The story began when Paul went to Ephesus to do God’s work. There, Paul performed unusual miracles such that handkerchiefs or aprons that had merely touched his skin could heal the sick and expel evil spirits.
Upon learning that the name of Jesus was effective, some unbelieving Jews who were in the business of casting out demons began using Jesus’ name in their incantation to cast out demons. One day a group of seven exorcists who were sons of Sceva tried to use Jesus’ name to cast out a demon. In the course of the exorcism, they spoke to the demon as it manifested, saying, “I command you in the name of Jesus, whom Paul preaches, to come out!” Then the demon replied, “I know Jesus, and I know Paul, but who are you?” Then the man with the evil spirit leaped on these seven men, overpowered them, and attacked them with such violence that they fled from the house, naked and wounded. This is how it happened that one person was able to beat seven men at the same time. (Acts 18:8-22)
Conclusion
As we can see in the examples, it is possible for a person to possess a supernatural strength. Among the three examples mentioned, Samson was the only person whose supernatural strength was influenced by God. God did not grant Samson this strength to make him proud, arrogant, bossy, and to bully others. His strength was geared toward fighting the enemies of God’s people to bring deliverance. In the same way, when the need arises and we call on God, God can give us supernatural strength to bring deliverance.