Written by: John Sernaque
Call to Worship
Judges 4: 8-9
4:8 And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, [then] I will not go.
4:9 And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Barak Lacked Confidence in Israel—
Barak knew the scattered, disheartened, and unarmed condition of the Hebrews, and the strength and skill of their enemies. Although he had been designated by the Lord Himself as the one chosen to deliver Israel, and had received the assurance that God would go with him and subdue their enemies, yet he was timid and distrustful. He accepted the message from Deborah as the word of God, but he had little confidence in Israel, and feared that they would not obey his call. He refused to engage in such a doubtful undertaking unless Deborah would accompany him, and thus support his efforts by her influence and counsel (The Signs of the Times, June 16, 1881). {2BC 1002.5}
Barak may have lacked confidence in Israel but he also lacked faith in God. God commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun? And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand. However, Barak needed the assurance of having Deborah with them. He lacked confidence in Israel’s army. He leaned on his own understanding and not on the promise of God. Without faith, it is impossible to please God. God gives a measure of faith to every man, and if we exercise the faith we have, we can move mountains. If Barak had been listening to God, the Word of God would have increased his faith, as faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. Faith is the supporting foundation in our Christian walk. God’s Word benefits all who apply it to their lives. Faith is confidence in God, and not in man. I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
Our Father, which art in heaven,
We come faithfully before You in thanksgiving, praise, and prayer. We are so thankful and grateful for The Spirit, light, and Your Word to live by. We pray You speak to us that we hear Your voice and follow Thee wherever You lead. We pray for all Your people to apply Your Word in their lives for their benefit. You have told us that faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God. We pray You increase our faith, and help our unbelief. We thank You for granting to every man a measure of faith. We pray for all to exercise the faith they have that they may move every obstacle in front of them, even mountains. Grant us the faith of a mustard seed for all things to be possible, not by our strength but by Yours. May all our faith be confidence in God and not in man or ourselves. Help us to not lean on our own understanding but on all Your wonderful promises to us, as through faith we inherit Your promises. We pray to please and honor You in every way, and for You to lead us to do Your will. Not our will, but let Thy will be done. Help us all to live by faith, to walk by faith and not by sight. Help us to see those things not seen, as things seen are temporal but things not seen are eternal. Help us all do the work You have given us to do, as faith without works is dead. Help us to reach all people who do not know You to lead them to the foot of Your throne. We are sorry we have all sinned, come short of Your glory, and pray for Your forgiveness. We pray that we may all overcome the world through faith, as You also overcame, that we may sin no more. We thank You for hearing and answering our prayers, in the name of Christ Jesus, we pray. Amen.
