Judges
chapter 4 reminds us that God will work through anyone willing to
trust in Him as God Almighty. The chapter begins with the same
familiar pattern, “After
Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the sight of the
Lord“.
Ultimately, this will happen to all of us if we put our faith in man
rather than God alone. People will always fall short of our complete
fulfillment. So many experience the turbulent ride of highs and lows
as they move from relationship to relationship seeking the happiness
that can only be satisfied by God. “So
the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan.”
The names change, but the story remains the same. We read that “The
commander of the army was Sisera”
and “he
cruelly oppressed the Israelites for 20 years before they cried out
to God for help“.
Notice it is taking longer each cycle for the Israelites to call out
to God for help. As we become desensitized to unholy living, we
often begin to accept it as normal. But our God is so patient with
us, it is never too late to call out to Him!
“Deborah,
a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that
time“.
Whenever there is a lack of leadership by the men in the home or in
the church, the women will step up to lead. That is not God’s
best, but it is often driven by necessity. God always holds the man
accountable going back to Adam and Eve. Romans 5:12 does not even
mention Eve, only the sin of Adam. Deborah summoned Barak the leader
of the tribe of Naphtali and prophesies, “The
Lord God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go take with you ten thousand
men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way… I will give you
Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army… and give him into your
hands’.”
But listen to Barak’s pitiful response, “If
you will come with me I will go, but if you do not go with me, I
won’t go“.
Deborah does not hesitate, but she also explains he will not get the
glory for the victory. “Very
well, I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about
this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will turn Sisera over
to a woman“.
Even
at the decisive moment of battle, Deborah has to prod Barak into
action, “Go!
This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not
the Lord gone ahead of you?”
And we read, “The
Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots… and Sisera abandoned his
chariot and fled on foot… all of the troops of Sisera fell by the
sword; not one was left“.
We read that Sisera fled to the tent of a woman named Jael, the wife
of Heber the Kenite. All we know is that they are descendants of
Moses’ brother in law. Sisera demands she hide him, “If
someone comes and asks you, ‘Is anyone here?’ say ‘No’.”
While Sisera is sleeping under a cover, “Jael,
Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and hammer and went quietly to
him while he lay fast asleep… she drove the tent peg through his
temple into the ground, and he died“.
By the time Barak got there the work was completed. The chapter
ends with, “And
the hand of Israel grew stronger and stronger against Jabin the
Canaanite king, until they destroyed him“.
God’s
will is always accomplished; sometimes through righteous preaching,
sometimes through the hot pursuit of the Holy Spirit and sometimes
through our circumstances. And, mercifully, He waits for us to get
with His plan. What is He trying to work in your life? 2 Peter 3:8
reminds us of God’s desire.
“But
do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the
Lord one day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years like one
day. The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness,
but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all
to come to repentance.“