Getting a driver’s license is pretty exciting. The promise of freedom on the freeways gives any learner the impetus to sharpen their driving skills and master all the road signs in preparation for the driver’s test.
I had this same excitement in my late teens when I was preparing for my driving test. Back then, the learners handbook was an actual book, loaded with instructions and a ton of road signs (most of which were not on any road in the country) hence making it difficult and almost impossible to recall during the test. This however did not dampen my spirits; I did my best to commit to memory all the road signs in the handbook and ace the test.
Looking back now, I realize that most of those road signs were warning signs, all geared to alert the driver of the dangers that lay ahead. Hardly any of them give the assurance of hope or the anticipation of Victory Ahead.
The story of Deborah is an interesting tale of trials to triumph that can be applied even in the 21st century and give assurance of victory ahead.
Deborah was a prophetess and judge of Israel at a time when the nation was under oppression by their enemies for twenty long years. Sisera – the face of the adversary was army commander who lead this cruel campaign for decades without facing any opposition. It seems as though the people of Israel had no motivation to fight. In short they were;
Oppressed
Overwhelmed
Overpowered by the enemy.
Enter Deborah.
As a judge she often held court under the Palm of Deborah in a hilly countryside and as she was doing so she received a word from the Lord, specifically to certain man named Barak who was to lead the armies of Israel to victory.
She summoned him and gave him the following message as recorded in Judges 4:6-9
“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. 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.”
Deborah had specific details on how to overcome their oppressors of 20 years. She gave the message as instructed and got the ball rolling, in essence she was telling him “Don’t’ you see the sign? There is Victory Ahead!
The nitty-gritty of the message;
The Who: Barak, son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali
The Where: To go & position his army at Mount Tabor
The What army? 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun
The Where again? The enemy would be subdued at Kishon River
The How: Sisera would be delivered into the hands of a woman
How did Deborah achieve this feat?
She saw herself as a mother in Israel.
“Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose,
until I arose, a mother in Israel”. Judges 5:7
Unlike some leaders today, she was not hung up on power, positions and self-promotion. Deborah was completely given to serving the people, and serving them with strength and wisdom drawn from God.
She positioned herself right
Deborah held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.
Ramah: Means height .It’s literally on a hilly region. It signifies a high spiritual ground like an altar where one would go to encounter God.
Psalms 24:4-5
“Who may ascend the mountain of the LORD? Who may stand in his holy place? The one who has clean hands and a pure heart, who does not trust in an idol or swear by a false god. They will receive vindication from God their Savior.”
Bethel: Means House of God, named so eons ago by one Jacob, who had a dream seeing a stairway to heaven with angels ascending and descending on it. Above it stood the LORD who spoke to him. Jacob later raised an altar at that spot, naming it Bethel.
Palm Tree: Sign of triumph – In the Gospel, Jesus’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem was celebrated by waving palm branches and laying them on the ground for him.
So learning from Deborah, there is victory ahead, let’s go to higher ground. A higher spiritual plane where we can sit at the feet of our LORD Jesus to pour out our hearts to Him and listen to Him. He is more than ready to pick us up in His arms and engulf us in his love.
Prayer
Our Father, thank you for this day that you have given us. Thank you that you have been the one sustaining us all, our families, our world. Forgive us our sins and wash us clean with your blood and enable us to ascend to your holy mountain where we can worship you in holiness and truth and where we may be in your presence and listen to your guidance.
Thank you Lord for hearing our prayer, we glorify your name and put our hope and trust in you. In Jesus’ name we pray AMEN
ComeFullCircle 