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Context No. 3220 of 4322 · Judges

Context · Reflection

Judges 4:8-13: in context

8Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” 9She said, “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the journey that you take won’t be for your honor; for the LORD will sell Sisera into a woman’s hand.” Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh. 10Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together to Kedesh. Ten thousand men followed him; and Deborah went up with him. 11Now Heber the Kenite had separated himself from the Kenites, even from the children of Hobab, Moses’ brother-in-law, and had pitched his tent as far as the oak in Zaanannim, which is by Kedesh. 12They told Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor. 13Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people who were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles, to the river Kishon.

Deborah calls Barak to battle against Sisera, but Barak answers with a condition: if you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go. Deborah agrees to go, but tells him the road he takes will not lead to his glory, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Sisera comes out with nine hundred iron chariots.

Barak's faith is real but hesitant. He will obey God's call to battle, but only with Deborah at his side. God honors his willingness, and gives the victory, yet Deborah tells him the honor of it will not be his but a woman's. There is a lesson in partial faith: Barak does go, and God works through him, but his hesitation costs him some of the glory. God does not despise the one who says only if you go with me; he uses even leaning, imperfect faith. But wholehearted trust receives more than halfhearted obedience.

Is my obedience wholehearted, or hedged with conditions, and do I trust that God still works through even my imperfect, leaning faith?

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