Judges 4:8 (6/21/23)

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Judges 4:8 (6/21/23)

Spirit Over Strategy

June 21, 2023 • Benham Brothers • Judges 4:8

I used to think it was a lack of faith in Barak to ask Deborah to go with him into battle, but now I see it differently.

Yes, it was a male dominated culture at this time so for a woman to go into battle as a leader was certainly a sign of cowardly men.

But it was also a sign of courageous faith on the part of Barak.

He didn’t care what it looked like, he wanted the prophet to come along as a representative of God’s presence in the battle.

He didn’t care if it was a girl or guy, God’s presence was the most important thing.

This is why I believe in Hebrews 11:32 Barak made it into the Hall of Faith where all the heroes of the faith are listed.

Vs 6-9 - “She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’” Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.”

Barak made it into the Hall of Faith in Hebrews 11 because he elevated the Spirit over Strategy!

You would think Barak would enlist the help of a military strategist, but he didn’t do that.

He insisted, rather, on a spiritual giant - someone who had a direct line into God and could get His advice on what to do next.

EX: This would be like the CEO of a company hiring a pastor to be his right-hand man to lead and guide the company.

Who would do that? Someone who truly believed that God could lead the company better than he could!

This is what Barak did, and he was rewarded for it in history.

Yes, while he was alive a woman got credit for the victory.

But who ended up listed in the Hall of Faith? Barak! What an example to follow.

Matthew Henry - “He could do nothing without her head, nor she without his hands; but both together made a complete deliverer, and effected a complete deliverance. The greatest and best are not self-sufficient, but need one another.”

Judges 1 (4/12/18)

April 12, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* The Israelites had ownership of the land but they did not possess it. * They had the power and the authority, but they refused to walk in authority and use their power. * They “could” not take the land because they “would” not. * Why? * 1) They were slothful and cowardly. * 2) They were covetous - they wanted the Canaanites’ labour and money would do them more good than harm. * 3) They pitied those who would lead them astray - they didn’t have the proper view toward the dangers of idolatry. * 4) They didn’t truly believe they could defeat them.

Judges 1:19 (4/13/17)

April 13, 2017 • Benham Brothers

* Luke 9:1 - God has given us two things: * Power - the “ability” to do something. * Authority - the “right” to do something. * As Christians we have BOTH! * ** Side note - Judas had authority as well. * In Judges 1:19 we see that the Israelites owned all the land, but they didn’t possess all of it, so they couldn’t enjoy it. * They “failed” to drive them out because they “refused” to do it. * The Israelites had the authority and power to possess the entire land, but they didn’t. * Judges 1:27-36 - all of these tribes went from defeat to defeat. * We walk in defeat when we cease to walk in faith. * Judges 2:1-3 - the reason they couldn’t drive out the inhabitants - they hadn’t done their part by staying set apart from the people. * If we do our part God will do His part.

Judges 3:1 (4/12/18)

April 12, 2018 • Benham Brothers

* God turned the Israelites failure of driving out the Canaanites into something that could be positive. * For the Israelites who didn’t know how to fight it would teach them how to be warriors. * This is a picture of what we are to do with sin - drive it out! * This will require a FIGHT. * The Israelites had to learn to be militant and so do we.