Barak - The Hesitant Warrior

Even though Barak was hesitant to obey God, he is listed in the heroes of faith in Heb. 11:32. Barak was called by the judge Deborah to go to war against Sisera. The word from God was to go with 10,000 troops to Mount Tabor, and there God would bring Sisera, and deliver him into Barak's hand. Barak believed this to be a word from God, but his response was less than enthusiastic. He said to Deborah in Jud. 4:8, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go." Sometimes we can have a word from God, and know what God has told us to do, but we are still hesitant to step out and obey. To have great faith is to believe God's Word because God said it. The centurion of Matt. 8:8 said, "...but only speak a word, and my servant will be healed." This faith Jesus commended as being the greatest He had seen. So why are we hesitant to act on what God tells us? Barak wanted more than God's Word. He wanted Deborah to accompany him, or he was not going. So Deborah agreed to go, but told Barak that God would not give Sisera into his hand, but into the hand of a woman. Barak's faith was strong enough to go, but not strong enough to go alone. And even this faith, God rewarded with victory. Barak went into the battle, and God routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army. Sisera fled and came to the tent of Jael, whose husband Heber was at peace with Sisera's army. So she invited him into the tent, and gave him a blanket, and a cup of milk, and assured him she would watch the door for attackers. But when he was fast asleep, she came to him softly, with a hammer, and a tent peg. With one blow of the tent peg into Sisera's temple, he died, and the word that God gave to Deborah came to pass just as she had spoken it. Deborah and Barak sang a new song that day in Jud. 5:2, "When leaders lead in Israel, when the people willingly offer themselves, Bless the Lord." When we rise up in faith, and lead by doing what God has told us to do, we bless the Lord. Rise up in faith, and don't hesitate to obey God.