Judges 4:4-10 Deborah\, a woman\, prophet \, and wife of Lappidoth\, judged Israel during the rule of Jabin\, who ha d oppressed Israel for twenty years. The commanding officer of his army wa s Sisera\, and he had 900 iron chariots ready for war.
\nDeborah pro phesied and judged under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel in the mount ainous region of Ephraim\, where the Israelis would approach her for decis ions. She sent word to Abinoam's son Barak from Kedesh-Naphtali\, summonin g him. She asked him\, \"The Lord God of Israel has commanded you. He has told you\, 'Go out\, march to Mount Tabor\, and take 10\,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun. I will draw out Sisera\, the commanding of ficer of Jabin's army\, along with his chariots and troops\, to the Kishon River\, where I will drop him right into your hands.'\"
\n\"If you go with me\, I'll go\,\" Barak replied. \"But if you don't go with me\, I' m not going.\"
\nShe responded\, \"I will surely go with you\, but t he road you're about to take will not lead to honor for you. The Lord will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.\" Then Deborah got up and went wit h Barak toward Kedesh. Barak called out the army of the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali to march on Kedesh\, and 10\,000 men went out to war with him \, along with Deborah.
\nSisera's confidence was mainly in his chari ots. Deborah's\, God's command and promise that theirs was the victory. If we believe God goes before us\, we may go on with courage and optimism. F ollow Him fully\, and don't be overwhelmed by the difficulties you meet wh en resisting rulers of the darkness of this world against spiritual wicked ness in high places.
\nJudges 4:14 \"Get going!\" Deborah told Barak . \"Because today's the day when the Lord has dropped Sisera into your han ds! Look! The Lord has already gone out ahead of you!\" So Barak left Moun t Tabor\, followed by 10\,000 men\, and the Lord threw Sisera\, all the ch ariots\, and his entire army into a panic right in front of Barak. Then Si sera abandoned his chariot and escaped on foot while Barak chased the char iots and army as far as Harosheth-haggoyim. Sisera's entire army died in t he battle – not even one soldier remained.
\nBarak went down\, tho ugh disadvantaged\, with confidence and dependence on the Divine power. Wh en God goes before us in our spiritual conflicts\, we must make a physical and mental effort to rouse ourselves\, and when\, by His grace\, He gives us some success against the enemies of our souls\, we must lose no time g iving thanks to the Lord for the victory. Judges 5:1-31 is Deborah's song of praise to the Lord with a full heart. Her soul had been a part of this fight\, and through the grace of God\, the strength of her spiritual enemi es was trodden down and fell before them.
\nBattles in our day and t ime consist of conflicts which include:
\nStrife and disharmony whic h disrupts relationships.
\nBitterness
\nAnger
\nGuilt\n
Insecurity and anxiety for the future.
\nLearn from Deborah h ow to deal with these spiritual enemies. Cry out to God for deliverance. V ictory through Him is assured\, but we must seek His direction and put for th an effort to see it through.
\nThere are seven steps to victory:
\nRecognize your spiritual battles and know that God goes before you.
Obey God's instructions\, trusting His plan. His Word is our guid e\; if you read it\, He will show you the way.
\nDo not focus on the strength of the enemy.
\nBe confident in God's Word.
\nRefrai n from being deterred by those who lack spiritual vision.
\nDo not c ompromise with the enemy.
\nGive praise and glory to God for the vic tory.
\nI am determined to finish this race strong. I must be courag eous\, bold\, and sure\, just like Deborah\, remembering that she didn't s ave Israel – she only gave them the courage to believe that God would sa ve them.
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