Read: Judges 3:31-chapter 6
The first judge, Ehud died and Israel went back into idolatry. God turned them over to king Jabin, a Cananite king. His commander, Sisera had 900 iron chariots who abused Israel for twenty years till they cried out to the Lord. When they did, he sent them a woman, Deborah, to judge them. Her name means “a bee”. I think it was because her words were so full of truth that stung. The Lord told her to choose Barak of Abinoam to deliver them. His name means “lightning” from Kedesh which means “set apart for purpose”. He was to be the hand God had set apart for this moment in history but Barak shrunk back in fear. He told Deborah he wouldn’t go unless she went with him. Deborah must have been one tough lady! Because he couldn’t trust the Lord to use him, the victory went to a woman. It went to Jael. She drove a tent peg through Sisera’s head. She was another tough lady! Go women of God!
Sometimes God calls people to do strange things that we can’t understand at the time. Why did Heber move his tent away from the other members of his tribe? I don’t know why he did this but he was positioned at the right place. Sisera chose his tent, thinking he was in a safe place among friends. Little did he know it would lead to his demise.
We all know the story of Gideon but it is one of my favorites. God comes to the son of a Baal priest and called him to defeat the Midianites. Gideon felt the least qualified but he God promised to be with him and he would win.
Midianite means “strife and contention”. God told Gideon to tear down his father’s altars to Baal and Ashterah and erect an altar to Him and burn a sacrifice on it. Gideon did it at night so he wouldn’t get caught. When the angel of the Lord lit the sacrifice and disappeared Gideon thought he would die. The Lord assured him he would live so Gideon named the altar, “the Lord is Peace.” This was the total opposite of his enemy whose name meant contention. It was also the opposite of the reaction he knew he would get the next morning. Gideon proclaimed who God was, and that He is above our situations.
The next day he had power to challenge the god of Baal. Baal had no power to respond. Gideon continually asked God for confirmations and encouragement and God continually gave it to him. We too are called to things bigger than ourselves. God never tires of giving us encouragement and confirmations.
Lord, thank your for Gideon’s life. It helps to see a person who is timid and afraid and how you lovingly push him out of his comfort zone. Help us to step out in power and confidence in you.
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