DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN
Febuary 14
FEAR OF LEADING
"When locks are long in Israel, when the people offer themselves willingly - bless the LORD!"
Judges 5:2 NRSV
A few generations after Joshua, the people of Israel abandoned God and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (2:11). As a result, Israel began to be overwhelmed by its enemies. God raised up judges to lead the Israelites but, whenever a judge died, the people reverted to corrupt ways and lost whatever ground they had gained.
When the prophetess Deborah became judge, the Israelites were being oppressed by the Canaanites. God told an Israelite named Barak that if he took 10,000 men to battle the Canaanite army, led by a general named Sisera, then the Israelites would win. But Barak was afraid, so he told Deborah, "If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me. I will not go" (4:8). Deborah agreed but advised Barak that he would not get the glory and "the LORD will Sisera into the hand of a woman" (v.9).
Barak's army was victorious against Sisera's. Fleeing on foot, Sisera ended up at the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. As Sisera slept, Jael took a tent peg and drove it into his temple, killing him. The Israelites continued to battle the Canaanite forces until they destroyed Jabin, king of Canaan.
The song of victory sung by Barak and Deborah begins with the assertion that "the leaders took the lead" (5:2). Deborah certainly did, but Barak had refused to lead unless Deborah went with him and, as a result, all the glory for the victory went to the women - Deborah and Jael - and to God. Barak was okay with that. So were the people of Israel, even centuries later. The "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews chapter 11 lists Barak among those who were faithful.
Feel like you can't do what God wants you to do? Find a trusted friend to go with you. You may not get the lgory, but you're not in it for the glory anyway.
Febuary 14
FEAR OF LEADING
"When locks are long in Israel, when the people offer themselves willingly - bless the LORD!"
Judges 5:2 NRSV
A few generations after Joshua, the people of Israel abandoned God and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (2:11). As a result, Israel began to be overwhelmed by its enemies. God raised up judges to lead the Israelites but, whenever a judge died, the people reverted to corrupt ways and lost whatever ground they had gained.
When the prophetess Deborah became judge, the Israelites were being oppressed by the Canaanites. God told an Israelite named Barak that if he took 10,000 men to battle the Canaanite army, led by a general named Sisera, then the Israelites would win. But Barak was afraid, so he told Deborah, "If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me. I will not go" (4:8). Deborah agreed but advised Barak that he would not get the glory and "the LORD will Sisera into the hand of a woman" (v.9).
Barak's army was victorious against Sisera's. Fleeing on foot, Sisera ended up at the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. As Sisera slept, Jael took a tent peg and drove it into his temple, killing him. The Israelites continued to battle the Canaanite forces until they destroyed Jabin, king of Canaan.
The song of victory sung by Barak and Deborah begins with the assertion that "the leaders took the lead" (5:2). Deborah certainly did, but Barak had refused to lead unless Deborah went with him and, as a result, all the glory for the victory went to the women - Deborah and Jael - and to God. Barak was okay with that. So were the people of Israel, even centuries later. The "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews chapter 11 lists Barak among those who were faithful.
Feel like you can't do what God wants you to do? Find a trusted friend to go with you. You may not get the lgory, but you're not in it for the glory anyway.
DAILY STRENGTH FOR MEN
Febuary 14
FEAR OF LEADING
"When locks are long in Israel, when the people offer themselves willingly - bless the LORD!"
Judges 5:2 NRSV
A few generations after Joshua, the people of Israel abandoned God and did what was evil in the sight of the LORD" (2:11). As a result, Israel began to be overwhelmed by its enemies. God raised up judges to lead the Israelites but, whenever a judge died, the people reverted to corrupt ways and lost whatever ground they had gained.
When the prophetess Deborah became judge, the Israelites were being oppressed by the Canaanites. God told an Israelite named Barak that if he took 10,000 men to battle the Canaanite army, led by a general named Sisera, then the Israelites would win. But Barak was afraid, so he told Deborah, "If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me. I will not go" (4:8). Deborah agreed but advised Barak that he would not get the glory and "the LORD will Sisera into the hand of a woman" (v.9).
Barak's army was victorious against Sisera's. Fleeing on foot, Sisera ended up at the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite. As Sisera slept, Jael took a tent peg and drove it into his temple, killing him. The Israelites continued to battle the Canaanite forces until they destroyed Jabin, king of Canaan.
The song of victory sung by Barak and Deborah begins with the assertion that "the leaders took the lead" (5:2). Deborah certainly did, but Barak had refused to lead unless Deborah went with him and, as a result, all the glory for the victory went to the women - Deborah and Jael - and to God. Barak was okay with that. So were the people of Israel, even centuries later. The "Faith Hall of Fame" in Hebrews chapter 11 lists Barak among those who were faithful.
Feel like you can't do what God wants you to do? Find a trusted friend to go with you. You may not get the lgory, but you're not in it for the glory anyway.
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