Judges chapter 4.
Israel did evil in the eyes of the Lord and he gave them into the hands of their enemy. Deborah, a leader and prophet of God, instructed Barack to go up against the enemy and defeat them. He insisted that she go with him. She agreed to go but said he would not be honored for the victory but she would.
It's not often that we read of women leaders in the Bible but they are in there. One of my favorites is in first Chronicles chapter 7:24 when Ephraim's daughter, Sheerah, built three cities. The gifts and abilities she must have had in order to orchestrate such a plan and carry it out. Her leadership skills had to be extremely amazing and admirable!!
Deborah was definitely a leader and great prophet having great faith in God and great wisdom. She encouraged Barack to trust God.
2 thoughts from this chapter:
- Just as Barack did not allow God to use him to the fullest, I feel men in the church today are not allowing God to use them to the fullest. They seem content in pursuing the world and letting the women of the church take on leadership positions. I'm okay with women having leadership positions but I'm not okay with men not being role models for Christ in their homes and church.
- Male or female: if you are willing to be used by God, God will use you!
I was thinking about how gruesome that it would have been to hammer a tent peg through someone’s temple as Jael did to Sisera while he slept. Of course, God wouldn’t tell us to murder someone today, but He may ask us to do something that might seem difficult for us. Whatever it may be, I’m reminded of the saying that the One who brings us to it will help us through it. Barak refused to go without Deborah going too. May we choose to only go with the Holy Spirit leading us on.
Remember Romans 12:17-21. ‘Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” To the contrary, “if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.” Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.’
The ApologetiX song for chapter 4 is Barak & Deborah, a parody of Abracadabra. https://youtu.be/RGCHPAX9m4M
I agree with your thoughts on being used by God, Pastor Blair! I think the Lord delights in using whatever is in our hand to bring about His purposes. The amazing thing about the judges that we read about here is that they are extraordinary ordinary! Yet every one of them had an ability that God used in a powerful way. We see this over and over again in the Bible.
Moses said he couldn’t go before Pharaoh because he was afraid Pharaoh wouldn’t listen to him. When God asked him what was in his hand, Moses said a shepherd’s rod. God told him to throw it down and his shepherd’s rod became a snake. God used the shepherd’s rod in his hand in a powerful way to lead His children out of bondage. (Exodus 4)
David grew up throwing stones at trees, stones, etc., as he watched his father’s flocks. What did the Lord use to slay the giant, Goliath? (1 Samuel 17:49)
Among 5,000 hungry people on the hillside was a little boy. What did he have in his hand? 5 loaves of bread and 2 fish – which the Lord used to feed the entire crowd. (John 6:9)
When I think I don’t have any special skills, I’m reminded by this book of Judges that God can use whatever it is in my hands for His glory … whether being left-handed, babysitting, sewing, chopping wood, fixing a car … you get my point! May the book of Judges be an encouragement to all of us!
“Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands.
sometimes its difficult to do what Gods asks us to do…i can only imagine the fear he must have felt having to face an enemy that and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, and nine hundred chariots fitted with iron.
kinda makes my challenges a little smaller.
This passage makes me thankful for the gifts that God has given me and gives me the belief that those gifts are my right and not my privilege to use in his name!