8 And Barak 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!” 9 So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Judges 4:8-9 (NKJV)
Yesterday we started looking at the period when the Prophetess Deborah, was Judge of Israel, and how by obedience she instructed Barak according to the Word of God to lead Israel to battle against Jabin, the King of Canaan. Barak responded by saying that he will go, but on a condition. The condition is if Deborah was going with him. Why would he say this?
Barak understands a simple principle, that Deborah was the one upon whom God has revealed Himself to in that generation, and she has become a representative of God amongst the people of Israel. By implication, Barak was saying to Deborah that all he needs to go to this battle is the presence of God. This goes on to show us how important God’s presence is in our lives. We should not go about our lives with an acknowledgement of the presence of God with us. This is what makes us more than conquerors in a world that is filled with so many obstacles and challenges. We cannot afford to go about our daily lives and face all that there is in the world without God’s presence accompanying us.
However, now we have an assurance of His Spirit inside of us that guarantees that we are His and He is with us. Therefore, what is left for us is constant engagement, because He is already with us. We must choose to live with full engagement of the God’s Spirit in everything that affects our lives.
Based on Barak’s request, Deborah responded by acknowledging that she would go with him, but she mentioned something else. She said that there will be no glory for him. Why would she tell him that? It was to set his heart right in the mission that is ahead of him. He should not do it so that people would give glory to him for his efforts in delivering the people, but all glory will be to God. This statement was both literal and figurative. Literal in the sense that Sisera did not die at his hands but at the hands of a woman. An figurative in the sense that all Glory belongs to God, and not any man.
This goes on to tell us that God wants to take the glory in our lives and in all that we do. Even though men see you do the things instructed by God. You must understand that it is not about you but about the one who sent you. We have come to do the will of the one who sent us, and by implication the glory goes to the one who sends us
PRAYER
HolySpirit I call you to influence every area of my life. I choose to do life with your help, because it is only with you I can do exploits. Lead me, guide me, help me, stand by me, hold my hands and walk with me in this journey of life. And help me to be humble and give all glory to God, and not try to glory in myself when I see your promises come to pass in my life.
