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Chapter 4 of Judges should really be read together with chapter 5 as the two chapters form the two halves of the whole story.
But today, we are looking at chapter 4 only and it begins rather sadly: “And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the LORD after Ehud died.” As a result, God “sold” (Heb. mākar, literally to transfer ownership) the Israelites into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan. To understand how serious this is, we must recognize that God did to Israel what He forbade them to do (Leviticus 25:42). So once more, the people of Israel cry out to God for help because Jabin oppressed them for 20 years.
We are then introduced to Israel’s fourth Judge, Deborah, a woman and a prophetess. So unusual is it to have a woman in authority, especially in the Old Testament, that many modern readers today mistake chapter 4 to be about Deborah, the heroic female leader of Israel, who overshadows Barak, the man she summons to lead Israel’s army but who is too cowardly to do so without Deborah’s presence in v.8, where “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.’” It is this verse that we often hear many pastors preach as evidence of Barak’s timidity and point to Deborah’s reply in v.9 to be a rebuke, “And she said, ‘I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’” In other words, Barak is supposedly reluctant or afraid to go into battle without Deborah and Deborah scolds him, telling him that because of his lack of confidence or fear he will receive no honour in capturing or killing the enemy general, Sisera. The thing is, a close reading of the Hebrew text and even the way the story is told in English does not support this idea.
You see, when Deborah speaks to Barak in v.6, she speaks as a representative of God, she speaks with God’s voice and authority. There is no indication that Barak is marginalized in any way – God appoints Barak as commander of Israel’s army (v.6), not Deborah; Barak leads the army into battle (v.10), not Deborah; God gives Sisera into Barak’s hands (v.14), not Deborah’s hands; Barak is the one who actually fights the battle (v.15-17) while Deborah is absent. So, when Barak gives his famous reply to Deborah in v.8, he is not replying to Deborah per se but to God Who gave the command through His servant, Deborah. In effect, Barak’s reply becomes a declaration of faith – a plea for the presence of God rather than an expression of hesitance, in the same way Moses tells God that they will not move without God’s presence (Exodus 33:15).
Once we understand that declaration in v.8 (“If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go”) for what it is, it changes the idea we have of the story in chapter 4. It is key to understanding WHO the story is about. Most Christians see Deborah as the heroine of the story. Don’t get me wrong, there is certainly much to admire about Deborah but look a little more closely with me.
When Deborah responds to Barak, it is still with God’s voice and authority. Her assurance of her presence is an assurance of God’s presence (in the same way God assured Moses that His presence will go with him in Exodus 33:17), and His presence alone guarantees victory (v.9). Once Barak’s desire for God’s presence is understood as an expression of faith, the rest of v.9 (“the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman”) can be understood as God giving Barak a sign of God’s hand at work so that only God can take the credit – He has spoken to Deborah, He has called Barak, He will engineer Israel’s victory, He will give the enemy commander to a woman, Jael (pronounced “yeh-ell”, not “jail”), the wife of Heber the Kenite.
The clearest demonstration that this story is about God and He is the one Who deserves all glory is found in chapter 5. In chapter 4, it may not be as explicit as the praises sung in chapter 5 but it is still clear that as the story unfolds exactly as God had said it would, no one human actor (Deborah, Barak, or Jael) could have brought about victory. It is God Who brings all the disparate elements together to break the Canaanite oppression.
There are many parallels between the Israelites in the time of Deborah living in the midst of Canaanite oppression and we Christians living today in the midst of world hostile to our faith, between how Israel allowed Canaanite practices to become mingled with their own worship practices and how we allow worldly influences to colour godly values.
In times such as we live in now, we need to learn to depend on God, to fully trust Him as Lord and Master of every aspect of our lives. We need to believe that God is completely sovereign, to have no doubt that God is able to fulfil His every promise.
We need to be able to say to God, “If You will go with me, I will go, but if You do not go with me, I will not go.”
Reflection & Prayer:
Abba Lord, As we reflect on the story in Judges 4:8, we are reminded of the importance of seeking Your guidance and presence in all our endeavors. Just as Barak asked Deborah to accompany him into battle, we come before You today, recognizing our need for Your presence in our lives.
Lord, we acknowledge that there are challenges and battles we face daily. Sometimes, like Barak, we may feel uncertain and in need of reassurance. We ask for Your guidance, wisdom, and courage to face these challenges with faith and determination.
Just as You were with Barak and Deborah, we ask that Your presence be with us in every situation. Grant us the assurance that, with You by our side, we can overcome obstacles and achieve victory over our struggles. Help us to trust in Your divine plan and timing, even when the path ahead seems uncertain.
