Deborah was an Israelite, one of God’s chosen people. Deborah was leading Israel as a judge and a prophetess. Deborah decided disputes among the people, and she also delivered messages of God to His people. History did not recognize women so let’s pay close attention to this woman named Deborah.
In this specific time, Israel was doing evil in the eyes of the Lord. Israel has a reputation for walking close to God and drifting far from God. At this time the Lord allowed Israel to be sold into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan. Deborah delivers an important message from God to engage the enemy even though defeat looked definite.
6 One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7 And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”Judges 4:6-7 (NLT)
Contrarian = “A person who takes an opposing view, especially one who rejects the majority opinion.”
Deborah was taking a stand against the majority. She was devoted to the Lord and was delivering His message. Barak and others of Israel’s military was timid to embrace this challenge because of their lack of trust in God.
God called Israel into a battle against their captors. God was with Israel and would lead them to a certain victory. God created the plan of attack to happen in a valley. The enemy was certain they had the upper hand, but they did not know the power of God. Israel’s military and the Canaanite military had something in common-neither trusted the power of God!
When has God had a plan for your life that looked like no plan at all? When have you discounted the power of God to fight and win for you? You are not alone. Often people who love and follow God look too long at the circumstances and glance at who God is. With our sights fixed on our problems, they can seem too big for God. But if the people of God would fix their eyes on God and glance at their problems, they would see that nothing is too big for God!
Let’s Pray:
Dear God, You are sovereign- You know the end from the beginning. You call us to take bold moves that are counter cultural. We often will find ourselves standing alone against the majority when we truly follow Your ways. You don’t call us out to leave us alone but instead You showcase Your power and strength when we obey You. Please give us courage to do the hard things You ask. Help us to trust You completely for victory in our lives. Help us to partner with You in Your good plans. In Jesus’ name we pray, Amen.