And Deborah said to Barak, Up!

And Deborah said to Barak, Up! Does not the Lord go out before you? (Judges 4:14)

Judges 4:1-16; Num. 14:7-9; Ex. 33:14; Ps. 20:6-8; Deut. 20:1; Rom. 8:37; II Cor. 12:9

What Is God Saying?

Joshua died; his task, though bravely begun, was not finished. The leaderless people were in for turbulent times. The pendulum swung between abject failures and brief periods of success under judges with varying degrees of strength. On the one hand, they were disheartened and afraid. It was easy to give in to the pressures of their environment (Judges 2:12-13). They fought, but the zest for victory was gone. "They could no longer stand up against their enemies" (2:14), for they had become too much like them. They followed their practices, worshiped at shrines, and forsook the Lord. God was distant and unreal.

Then, in His mercy, God raised judges to call the people back and to lead them out against the enemy-who having taken them in, had nearly done them in. Is God's steadfast love patient? Seven times in two and a half centuries, they left Him, and seven times, He sent them leaders in order to bring them back.

In the fight against Sisera, he sent Deborah, an honored prophet who went to battle with Barak, the military leader, because he would not move forward without her. Sisera with 900 chariots of iron? What is that compared to the power of God? "Up, Barak! Now, the time is right. Does not the Lord go before you? Sisera is no match for him!"

How Does This Apply To Us?

God goes before us whatever enemy crosses our path. God knows us, and God knows the enemy. He knows how, in our strength, we may be afraid of the unknown, feelings of inadequacy, and failures from the past. God knows the enemy- his subtle ways, deceit, appeal to our weakness, and desire to control us. Despite the enemy's strength and our weakness, "we are more than conquerors through him that loved us" (Rom. 8:37). "My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness" (II Cor. 12:9).

Pray With Me

Lord, You have led me out, and I follow. You have gone before me into every problem. You have gone before me with a pattern of holy love. You have gone before me into the darkness, and I walk without fear where Your love and duty call. In Your grace, let me hear and heed the command to arise. Please help me to see the danger of the enemies whose company I have not come to despise enough, the enemies of a slumbering will and a listless spirit. In Your kindness, shake me until these self-forged chains fall away. Strike all fatal drowsiness of spirit. Scatter all false dreams of security. Help me rise in response and recognize in Your awakening a call to great adventure and real life.

Because you are with me, I rise, I set out with strength, and finish the course with joy. Does not the Lord go out before you? Is not the Lord ever beside you?

In Jesus' name. Amen.

Moving On In The Life of Prayer

In prayer, we are assured of God's presence. He does not go before us and leave us behind alone and forsaken. He is with us now. We are given wisdom for the decisions we need to make now. We can go out to meet and defeat the enemy, not only because the Lord has gone before us but also because He is always with us. "Lo, I am with you always, even to the close of the age" (Mt. 28:20).