Image from facebook.com
View the devotional: https://bit.ly/47sTBn8
View here: https://bit.ly/47g6xNt
1 The People of Israel kept right on doing evil in God's sight. With Ehud dead, 2 God sold them off to Jabin king of Canaan who ruled from Hazor. Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim, was the commander of his army. 3 The People of Israel cried out to God because he had cruelly oppressed them with his nine hundred iron chariots for twenty years. 4 Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time. 5 She held court under Deborah's Palm between Ramah and Bethel in the hills of Ephraim. The People of Israel went to her in matters of justice. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, "It has become clear that God, the God of Israel, commands you: Go to Mount Tabor and prepare for battle. Take ten companies of soldiers from Naphtali and Zebulun. 7 I'll take care of getting Sisera, the leader of Jabin's army, to the Kishon River with all his chariots and troops. And I'll make sure you win the battle." (Judges 4:1-7 The Message Bible)
Good morning, Friend! I pray this finds you well! May our walk with the Lord bring us closer to Him and to His people. May this time in prayer, study, and reflection build you up for more service and outreach for Him, and towards Him. Pray for one another. Pray for those on your church's prayer list. Pray to reach the world for Jesus, and get busy!
We've talked about the prophetic cycle: Israel is blessed by God, so they're close to God. They mess up (sin) and they find themselves away from God. They cry out to God and God answers and they're close to God again. And this is precisely how this chapter of Judges begins; "The people of Israel kept right on doing evil in God's sight." Their wrongdoings led them as a nation to be sold to a foreign king, read welcome to slavery again! Their suffering was justified by their wrong decision-making. This time they faced 20 years of hard labor at the hands of their new king's army. Not much one can do when they're surrounded by an army of 900 chariots. And to face this type of oppression for twenty years!
Enter a female judge by the name of Deborah. She's a married woman and she was also a prophet of God. She was used by God to hold court, meaning to decide cases of her people. Her courtroom was under a palm tree that bore her name, Deborah's Palm. All who needed justice knew to go to her to seek it from her. Being a prophet, her connection to God gave her the wisdom needed for fair judgments. The word of the Lord came to her regarding their political situation, so she sends for Barak from Kedesh and tells him to go to Mount Tabor and ready himself and his army for war. He was to take ten companies of soldiers from Naphtali and Zebulon. Deborah says she would get the assistance of Sisera, the leader of Jabin's army, to go to the river Kishon with all his chariots and troops, and she shares God's promise of victory in the battle awaiting them.
What does this lesson teach us? There are several things we can benefit from reading this passage: First thing; God is still in charge. Though the people have gone astray, God is still where He needs to be; right alongside His people. Our God is an active, caring God, Who leads those who ask for His guidance. Secondly, God can use unexpected instruments. In Deborah's time, the role of a woman would not normally allow for a woman to be a judge nor a leader of men; those were roles of men, some would clamor! It's truly a lesson that says that God uses individuals that He selects regardless of what others may think or expect. May we be reminded that God's ways are not always going to align with human expectations. Thirdly, the response by Deborah and Barak show us what faithful obedience looks like. These two did not blink or wince at the thought of the challenges and risks ahead. These two trusted God and so are eager and ready to carry out His commands. It should serve to encourage us to trust God to lead us even when we face such daunting circumstances. Fourthly, this passage teaches us that collaboration and unity are important in doing God's work. A team effort usually beats out solo endeavors, if God so directs. If different individuals with diverse skills and roles can work together to accomplish God's plans, This emphasizes the value of cooperation and shared responsibility.
The fifth thing taught is the importance of God's word. The words of Deborah as judge were words of power because she was also God's mouthpiece, as prophet. As she spoke to Barack, it was really God speaking those words to him. This shows us that using God's word to direct and guide us is vital to all endeavors in God's work. We are to pay attention to God's word and follow His instructions. The sixth thing; this story sets the stage for God's intervention and deliverance. Even when up against a stronger army that may in all ways outnumber or outgun us, God assures us the victory. This reinforces the theme that ultimate success and deliverance come from God, not human strength. The final one is to remind us of the consequences of disobedience. As the passage mentions Jabin, the king of Canaan, who is oppressing the people of God, it is showing us a backdrop. It is implying that the people's disobedience and their turning away from God led to their being in challenging circumstances. There are consequences when people drift away from God.
PRAYER: Loving God, for all You do we are thankful. Guide us to faithfulness and trust. We thank You for the role model we find in Deborah. Open our horizons to better understand Your inmeasurable ways and see the potential in us when we are obedient and trustin in You; in Christ Jesus we pray, amen.
Have a great and blessed day in the Lord! YOUR CALL TO ACTION: Trust God more to use you more!
Receive my blessings of joy and hope,
Pastor Eradio Valverde, Jr.
