I Am That One

In the book of Judges chapters 4 & 5, we read the story of Deborah and Jael.

These were two women God used to bring deliverance to Israel, at a time when Israel was going through turmoil and oppression. 

We hear a lot about Israel. It seemed to me to be a problematic place. There were many seasons when the people were faithful and then there were also many times when disobedience was the order of the day.

Out of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (renamed Israel), came the twelve tribes of Israel.

We are very familiar of the period when Moses led the children of Israel out of slavery in Egypt, through years of wandering in the wilderness,  and then finally, under the leadership of Joshua, conquering the land of Canaan, the Promised Land, after 40 years. We can find this in the book of Exodus chapters 1-15.

Now here comes another season for Israel, as they were being led by judges. 

It’s in this period we find Deborah and Jael. During this season of foreign domination and conflict, often referred to as the period of the Judges, the Canaanites and the Moabites were of particular threat to Israel.

Israel once again needed to be delivered from their oppressors. 

This study was particularly impactful for me, Family, and I trust it will touch somebody else in a meaningful way as well. Because somebody needs to know that the struggles we are facing today in our minds, in our families, with our marriages and friendships, business partnerships and even in our various ministries, are nothing new. But, in the name of Jesus, they can be conquered. We can come out on the other side, victorious, glory to God. 

All we have to do is to know our God, trust in Him, be obedient to His commands, claim His promises and walk holy. 

Romans 8:35-37 NLT - ”Can anything ever separate us from Christ’s love? Does it mean he no longer loves us if we have trouble or calamity, or are persecuted, or hungry, or destitute, or in danger, or threatened with death? (As the Scriptures say, “For your sake we are killed every day; we are being slaughtered like sheep.”) No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us.“. 

I’m feeling like many of us today, Family, are like the Israelites. We know who God is, yet we get caught up with this world and its temporary pleasures. We lose focus when we see others flourishing and we are struggling. And we falter by the wayside. 

Then when our health starts to fail, when our marriages are on the rocks, when we lose our jobs, when things are not going so well for us with these dreams we have to be successful, we remember there is a God who provided for us and delivered us in the past and we run back to Him crying. 

Thanks be to God for His faithfulness to us in every season of our lives. Amen?!

Psalms 77:11-12 ”But then I recall all you have done, O Lord; I remember your wonderful deeds of long ago. They are constantly in my thoughts. I cannot stop thinking about your mighty works.“ 

And we are encouraged by Psalm 46:1 ”God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble.“

The beautiful thing about this Family, is that God gives the same overcoming power to each of us - man, woman, boy and girl. 

Galatians 3:26-28 ”For you are all children of God through faith in Christ Jesus. And all who have been united with Christ in baptism have put on Christ, like putting on new clothes. There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus.“

Brothers and Sisters, God has given each of us power to overcome sin: Romans 6:14. 

God has given us power to be transformed into His image like He intended in the first place: 2 Corinthians 3:18. 

God has given each of us spiritual gifts to counsel, heal, perform miracles, prophesy, teach, speak in unknown languages, and interpret unknown languages: 1 Corinthians 12:4-11.

God has given you man, you woman, you boy and you girl, the spirit of boldness so that each of us can share our faith with others. Acts 1:8.

When God was giving us power to love, it was for all believers: 1 John 4:7-12.

Family, God has also invited us to pray to Him. Jesus Himself taught us how to pray. And we can be confident that when we pray, man, woman, boy or girl, that He hears and answers according to His will: James 5:16.

God never changes Family. And so when He spoke to Deborah, who was a prophetess and judge, and instructed her to lead Israel, He did not make a mistake. God appointed her to serve as a political and spiritual leader.

Let’s read the account of what God told Deborah to do in Judges 4:6-9. I read from The Passion Translation version of The Bible now.

”One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam from the city of Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “Yahweh, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, deploy ten thousand men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun, and march to Mount Tabor. I will draw Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, to fight against you at the Kishon River. He will have his many chariots and soldiers, but I will give you victory over him.’ ” Barak replied, “I will go if you go with me, but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go either.” “Very well,” she answered. “I will go with you, but you will receive no glory in the victory because Yahweh will hand over Sisera to a woman.” So Deborah set off for Kedesh with Barak.“

Let’s read some more: 

Judges 4:12-21  ”When Sisera found out that Barak son of Abinoam was marching toward Mount Tabor, he gathered together his nine hundred iron-rimmed chariots and all his soldiers and sent them from Harosheth of the Gentiles to the Kishon River. Then Deborah prophesied to Barak, “Today, Yahweh has given you victory over Sisera! Go! Yahweh is marching out before you!” Immediately, Barak charged down from Mount Tabor with his ten thousand warriors. And Yahweh threw Sisera and his army into confusion before the onslaught of Barak and his men. Sisera and all his chariots and men were overwhelmed. He leaped from his chariot and fled on foot. Barak pursued the other chariots and the army to Harosheth of the Gentiles until Sisera’s whole army was killed by the sword, and only Sisera survived. He ran for his life to the tent of Jael wife of Heber the Kenite, for there was friendship between King Jabin of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite. Jael came out of her tent to greet Sisera and said to him, “Come in, my Lord, come in here. You have nothing to fear.” As soon as he entered her tent, she hid him under a blanket. Sisera said to her, “I’m so thirsty. Please let me have some water.” So she opened a skin of milk, gave him some to drink, and covered him again. He said to her, “Stand at the entrance of your tent. If anybody comes and asks you if there is anybody here, tell them, ‘No.’ ” Exhausted, he fell fast asleep under the blanket. While he slept, Jael wife of Heber took a tent peg in one hand and a hammer in the other and tiptoed over to where he was lying. And with a crushing blow, she drove the tent peg through his temple until it went down into the ground—he was dead!“

Israel, Family, was in trouble again. And who did God raise up to help them this time? Two women. Deborah and Jael. We just read the story. 

We saw where Deborah told her military commander Barak to take his troops and go on the attack, but Barak was like, no, you go, and I will follow. 

This was God’s plan at the time. 

A sister friend sent me this message in December last year. I found it so profound that I’ve been sharing it at the end of The Morning Joy Experience lately.

“When God wants to accomplish something, He will find the right person, He will find one who is trustworthy. He will find one who has faith in Him. He will find one who will obey His voice, He will find one who will not be distracted but who will remain focused and follow His instructions.”

Deborah was that one. Jael was that one. 

Family, regardless of your gender, God wants to use you. And this is not a case for whether women should preach or whether when women are praying they should have their hats on or whether women should be silent in the church as men lead.

Deborah and Jael were simply being obedient to God, they were courageous and they exercised their faith in God. 

What is your story today? What is my story? Can we say to God, I am that one? I am not only saying that I am available, but I am really giving You myself to use me as You choose, regardless of what anyone says?

Barak was not about to stand in the way of the instructions Judge Deborah received from God, even if he didn’t get the recognition as commander of the army. 

No pulling of rank, no undermining authority, no bad talking the leader, no splitting up of the army forcing them to take sides, no jealousy, no gender bias. Mighty God!

Is there a man, is there a woman that is standing in the way of what God has instructed you to do today? Are you, am I, standing in the way of what God has instructed someone to do?

In this account, God’s instructions were given to a woman. His instructions were carried out, prophecy was fulfilled and the ensuing victory brought peace to Israel…albeit for just a time. 

Because Isreal was Israel right, and very soon, 40 years later, their peace was disrupted by their disobedience to God, again.

That’s when Yahweh handed them over to the Midianites who invaded Israel, destroying their crops, seizing their animals and forcing the Israelites to hide in caves. 

But that’s another story when Gideon was raised up to deliver them. You can find that in Judges chapter 6.

The question for us today Family, is, how many more times with shattered hearts do we have to cry out to God for help before we finally shape up and get it right?

How often do we have to be reminded of the many times God delivered us from evil? 

How many more times do we have to realise that we cannot make it without God and His way is the best way?

Today, Family, we are reminded that we must honour the work of the Lord, however He chooses to accomplish it and whomever He chooses to use - man, woman, boy or girl, rich, poor, white or black, Bishop, Pastor, Evangelist, Prophetess, Deacon or church member without a title.

Some folk get too caught up in titles and semantics and lose the real focus of this walk with Jesus. Yes, Doctrines are important, but how is your heart for God?

1 Samuel 16:7 NLT version reminds us …“…The Lord doesn’t see things the way you see them. People judge by outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”“

And so I leave us with the question, how is your heart, how is my heart towards God today? 

Are you that one ready to give up popularity, fame, money, in order to obey the commandments of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? Am I that one?

Family, don’t let discrimination cloud our judgment and prevent us from receiving the Word of God as it is presented by whomever God appoints.

And when we receive the Word, we must apply it to our daily lives. Time is running out. Jesus is on His way back. We must be ready to see His Face.

aub - 18 March 2024

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