Have you ever sensed God was calling you to do something, but been prevented by fear from moving ahead? After God spoke through the judge and prophetess Deborah, Barak had that problem; he would not take a stand against Sisera unless Deborah would go with him. She agreed, but prophesied that he would not receive the glory from the victory, but that it would go to a woman, who turned out to be Jael. Was Barak fearful that not enough soldiers would volunteer? Did he fear the battle?
After all, the Canaanites with their iron chariots were the terror of the Northern tribes, keeping the Israelites from growing crops on the fertile plains of Megiddo or demanding tribute from what they could grow. God allowed this oppression because of the Israelites’ turning away from him to worship the Canaanite gods. It should have been no surprise to them that serving Canaanite gods would lead to Canaanite oppression. Such is the plight of those who turn to substance abuse or other addictions to ease their physical or emotional pain only to suffer bondage to the very things they thought would bring freedom.
Ultimately, it seems that Barak’s fear, like many of ours, was simply a lack of faith. God had a plan! Those chariots would be of no use when God sent a deluge that turned the ground to a sea of mud (Judges 5:21). For those Israelite soldiers who had ultimately gathered to do battle with Sisera’s army, victory came when the Canaanites had to abandon their chariots and engage in hand-to-hand combat they were unprepared for. They fled and were annihilated, and their general succumbed to a woman with a tent peg!
Barak hesitated, but eventually obeyed God, and because of that is listed in the “Faith Hall of Fame” (Heb. 11:32).
What fears are keeping you from having faith to trust God for victory over the attacks of Satan that plague you? Trust God’s plan and obey the Spirit’s leading in your life and see him work miracles.
Jim Jensen
Extended Scripture: Judges 4–5
