Jael: The Gentle Warriorنموونە

Yesterday, we left off at Judges 4:6 – Deborah summons Barak and declares what God has commanded. Let us pick up at the latter end of verse 6.

“Go and march to Mount Tabor and take with you ten thousand men from the sons of Naphtali and from the sons of Zebulun. ‘I [LORD, God of Israel] will draw out to you Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his many troops to the river Kishon, and I will give him into your hand.’” Then Barak said to her, “If you [Deborah] will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”Judges 4:6-8 NASB [implication added].

Did anyone else have to pause and reread Barak’s response? So many questions are springing to mind …

Why would Barak refuse to go unless Deborah came with him? Why would Barak choose to disobey a command from Almighty God?

God said He would ‘draw out Sisera’and ‘hand him over’ to Barak. It sounds like the victory is already won. What is causing Barak’s hesitation?

Let us take a closer look at the heart of the matter.

The Israelites did not have the fear of the LORD. As evidenced by their return to idolatry and sinful living. If they had truly known (yada’) the God of their forefathers, they would have been awestruck by Him – by His power, by His holiness, by His merciful compassion. Unfortunately, we witness that their ‘fear of men’ is greater than their ‘fear of God.’

They lacked knowledge of God’s law and the Hebrew scriptures. This ties into the first point – if they did not know God and His law, they had no foundation upon which a personal relationship could be built. It is difficult to love someone if you do not know them personally. Furthermore, it is difficult to revere and obey someone if you are not aware of the authority they hold.

Misplaced trust. Barak respected Deborah’s authority: after all, he heeded her summons, and he was willing to fight if she was by his side. He trusted her plus God, but not in God alone.

Insecurity results in failure to act. In the life of a believer, insecurity is fueled by lies from the enemy. Insecurity stems from an inaccurate or incomplete perspective of our identity in Christ. In this case, Barak did not see himself as a child of God, called forth from the promise of Abraham, and forged together by the Great I Am. His insecurity led him to desire stagnation over obedience.

Friends … Deborah feared God –Deborah knew God, intimately and personally. This truly makes all the difference!

Join me in prayer.

Heavenly Father, Creator of the Universe, Most Faithful Friend,

We come before you with gratitude and praise. You are Awesome! You are Great and greatly to be praised! Father, we humbly ask that You cultivate a holy reverence in our hearts towards You and Your Word. Our greatest desire is to know You and be known by You – truly, deeply, and with our whole being. Insecurity has no claim over us. Disobedience has no appeal to us. We desire You, Your Ways, always! In Jesus’ name, Amen.