The Daily Word: Sunday, April 25th, 2021
Judges 4:1-5:31
Luke 22:35-53
Psalm 94:1-23
Proverbs 14:3-4
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Commentary from Pastor Michael White:
Then she sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?” – Judges 4:6-7
Israel “cried out to the Lord” (v 3). They were trapped under the tyrannical rein of Jabin king of Canaan and the commander of his army, Sisera. They needed help! But what they didn’t know is that God had already promised deliverance through a man named Barak. God had already spoken! God told Barak to go to a specific place with a specific army, and promised that He would give the enemy into Israel’s hand! But Barak was afraid. He didn’t have the heart to take God at His word. So God had to send Deborah, a prophetess, to remind Barak that God had already spoken.
Has not the Lord God of Israel commanded? What has God told you to do that you’re afraid of doing? Do it. There is no sense in crying out for help from God if He has already told you what He needs you to do to receive His help! Where has He called you to go? Go there. What has He asked you to do? Do that.
If you’re crying out to God to deliver you from an impossible situation, you have to ask yourself: what has He already asked you to do that you’ve left undone? And is the fear of stepping out and doing it keeping you from the victory you seek? Barak had to swallow his fear and do what God asked! And so do you. And just as Israel won the victory, so too will God give the battle into your hand.
Prayer:
Father, I trust You. Give me the courage required to charge into battle. To do what You have asked me to do! I refuse to live my life afraid. I will live with the bold courage that only You can inspire, in Jesus’ name!
© Michael D. White, 2021. All rights reserved.