I’ll Jump If You Jump

July 7

Read: Judges 4

Barak, Part 1

“(Deborah) sent and summoned Barak…and said to him, “Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor… Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” (v.6,8)

There is never true blessing or victory when we place qualifiers on what God is calling us to do. There is no fullness of life living this way. The call of Barak was clear - God made it so. Barak knew what God was asking him to do. Deborah knew what God had asked Barak to do. He never denied what he had been told by the Lord, but look at his response: “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.”(v.8) When we bargain with God, we are missing the point.

What was it about Deborah that made Barak so adamant that she join him? He had the Lord on his side. He was called to gather 10,000 soldiers with him. He wasn’t even having to go alone like Ehud. Yet for Barak it seemed to hinge on this one prophetess joining him!?! Barak did have one thing right: he knew victory truly hinged on GOD’s blessing… not military power. This was why the 10,000 soldiers did not bring confidence to Barak the way that Deborah did. No matter what, this is for sure - no one else can live out God’s plan for you. When God asks YOU to do something… he wants YOU to do it. He chose YOU. Barak misses out because of his fear and lack of faith. He gets passed over because of his insistence that Deborah comes along. It is not a TOTAL passing over (he is still successful in battle), but there is a crucial / pivotal role that goes to someone else. (We will look at that tomorrow - Lord willing)

I want you to notice one other thing about this opening scene. Deborah CALLS OUT Barak. You see, we all need people around us who will call us out. God reveals to others what he is working in us. Sometimes God reveals to others things about us that we don’t even see about ourselves. This is the role of Christian community. Even when we DO see and hear things bout ourselves, we need others to affirm them and push us. Barak knew what God told him. He needed Deborah to push the issue. If she had never called him out, would he have even gone? (This is a speculation of course, but worth asking.) God uses the other people of God to affirm and spur uson, plain and simple. Deborah had a long track record of doing this… she was known for listening to the Lord and speaking truth. He voice carried WEIGHT with it.

Whose voice carries weight with you? Who do you have a platform to speak into? What have the people of God around you been identifying in you? Do you believe them when they tell you? What has God called you to that is being affirmed by the proverbial “Deborah’s” around you? Have you resorted to “bargaining” with God by saying you will only do something if a certain other person does it with you? When we speak the truth of the Lord, our voices will carry weight. When we boldly move forward when God calls us there will be blessing. Do not “bargain away” the “glory” God is calling you into! Are you afraid you have missed out? Even when we have missed the mark, God is gracious to still grant “victory”. Love you guys. More to come. - JDP