“And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord: for he (Jabin king of Canaan), had nine hundred chariots of iron: and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.” Judges 4:3
Many are the accounts In Scripture of Israel being outnumbered and with little resources, under the oppression of their enemies, and yet, who rose up to defeat them. That which is singularly important to note in most of the accounts, if not in all of them, is where the “beginning” of the victory was found. Where did it come from, and how did it develop to the point where, with the engagement of the meager forces of the Israelites, the victory was finally won, and the people again having “rest” from the oppression of a domineering enemy?
In the book of Judges, we find a situation which has come about because of Israel’s foolishness in turning aside from following the Lord. As Scripture tells it: “…the children of Israel AGAIN did evil in the sight of the Lord.” (4:1) This “evil” was certainly because of the neglect of following the Lord wholly. There followed the slow, insidious, infiltration of ideas and imaginations associated with false, or foreign gods. The God of Israel, which is also the Christian’s God, is a jealous God. He does not give, or share His glory with anything or any one who is of a different nature than Himself. Idols are fabrications of men, the result of false ideas and imaginations of sinful men. God will never associate Himself with such. This is why the enemy of our souls is always seeking to dilute, confuse, and cause the believer, or nation, to turn aside from the TRUTH of God. God honors the truth, and will only work according to it. God does not lie. That is the part and function of idols.
The result of Israel “doing evil” was that the Lord gave them into the domineering hand of Jabin king of Canaan. The captain of his army was a man named Sisera. The chariots of Sisera, which were nine hundred strong, were made of iron. The Israelites were absolutely no match for this overwhelming show of strength, and were forced to submit to Jabin. Regardless of the oppression of these circumstances at that time, there was a prophetess named Deborah, who judged Israel. Certainly in answer to Israel’s cry, the Lord spoke to Deborah, and told her of a coming battle where He would give Sisera, with his chariots and multitude of men, into her hands. Her commander, who was called forth, was Barak. His primary request of Deborah was that she accompany him to the battle. Her response was clear, but full of assurance: “…the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” (Judges 4:9)
Barak obeyed Deborah, calling forth the necessary fighters from different families of Israelites, and came to Mt. Tabor. Just before the battle, Deborah told Barak the following: “…this is the day in which the Lord HATH DELIVERED Sisera into thine hand. Is not the Lord gone out before thee?” (4:14) With such a declaration of victory, Barah would go forth in full assurance of faith. Barak relied upon the God of Deborah, who had spoken to her, revealing to her, and now to him, that the victory would be theirs. The result was that, “…the Lord discomfited (routed) Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of the sword; …and there was not one man left.” (v.15,16)
Sisera would eventually fall by the hand of Jael, the wife of Heber. Barak would not receive the glory of conquering him, for, as Deborah had said, that honor would fall to the woman Jael.
Where does assurance come from? First and foemost it comes from a clear vision, or truthful perception of God, that he IS truth, and does not lie. Secondly, it comes with knowing the will of God, His way, and His timing. And thirdly it comes in answer to prayer by the assurance He gives by His Spirit to the engaged, obedient believer.
Dear Father, Strengthen our following hearts. In Jesus’ name, Amen.