Deborah and Barak
Judges 4-5
A Resolute Witness vs 1-7
It was a time when no man was searching for the Lord. God used a woman who was looking to the Lord. Go used her to deliver a message to find Barak and have him lead troops.
A Reluctant Warrior vs. 8-16
When Barak was told of God’s plan, he would only go if Deborah would go with him. God already promised that He would win the fight for Barak. However, he insisted on taking Deborah. Because of this lack of faith and obedience, the victory would now be won by a woman.
They gathered troops from the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, producing 10,000 men.
Sisera and his troops had their new weapons of iron chariots. Working with iron was a new concept and was a freighting thing to the inhabitants of the land.
Barak took the troops to Mount Tabor. As Sisera and his chariots began to make their way up the mountain, they were met with and earthquake and torrential downpour of rain. The chariots were stuck in the mud making the super weapon useless. Sisera abandoned his chariot and fled.
A Righteous Woman vs. 17-24
Sisera seeks to hide in the camp of the Kenites. He sought to hide in the tent of Jael. This was against the customs to have a man in the tent of the woman he wasn’t married with. The penalty of being caught was death for both.
Jael gave him shelter, afraid for her life. Sisera thought nobody would search for him there. Jael also feared what would happen in Barak found him there.
So, she acted. She found the only object handy, a tent peg and a hammer. She lightly placed the tent peg on the temple of sleeping Sisera and hammered it home.
A Revealing Word Chap 5
After this the tribes were brought to Deborah and either blessed or blamed for what they had done or left undone.
Those who were willing vs. 14-15, 18-22
Ephraim was there, as was Benjamin, Machir, Zebulun, Issachar and Naphtali.
Those Who Were Wanting vs. 15-17, 23-31
Reuben wasn’t there, he was too busy. Gilead wasn’t there. Dan was fishing. Asher was on vacation on the beaches.
Meroz commanded the pass and could have prevented the escape of Sisera’s forces. They did noting and were cursed.