IMITATE THEIR FAITH/DEBORAH

"THE EARTH SHOOK, AND THE HEAVENS POURED"

Barak went to muster his army. He gathered 10,000 men who were brave enough to go up against Sisera's daunting forces. As Barak led his men up to Mount Tabor, he was glad to have a way to boost their courage. We read:  "Deborah also went up with him." (Judges 4:10) Imagine how it lifted the spirits of those soldiers to see that brave woman to join them in their march toward Mount Tabor, willing to risk her life at their side because of her faith in Jehovah God!

When Sisera learned that Israel had dared to muster an army against him, he acted quickly. A number of Canaanite kings joined forces with King Jabin, who may have been the most powerful among them.  Then Sisera's great squadrons of chariots made the earth shake as they rumbled  in formation across the plain.  The Canaanites were sure that they would make quick work of the pathetic army of Israel. -Judges 4:12, 13; 5:19. 

What would Barak and Deborah do as the enemy approached?  If they remained on the slopes of Mount Tabor, they might have an advantage over the advancing Canaanite forces, for those chariots needed flat open country to fight effectively.  But Barak was going to fight as Jehovah directed, so he waited for word from Deborah. At last, the moment came.  She said: "Rise up, for this is the day that Jehovah will give Sisera into your hand. Is  Jehovah not going out before you?" Next, we read: "Barak descended from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him." -Judges 4:14. 

The forces of Israel charged down the mountain  and out into the open, flat ground, heading right toward those fearsome machines of war.   Did Jehovah go out before them, as Deborah had promised?  The answer came very soon.   "The earth shook, and the heavens poured," we read.  Sisera's proud forces were thrown into confusion. And down came the rain!  It came in such torrents, it seems, that the ground was quickly swamped. Soon, the heavy iron-bearing chariots were more of a liability than an asset.  They sank into the mud and became hopeless bogged down. -Judges 4:14, 15; 5:4.

Barak and his men were not troubled  by the storm.  They knew it was coming from.  They ran right at the Canaanite forces. Acting as God's executioners, the Israelites left none of Sisera's army alive. The Kishon River surged and flooded, washing the corpse downstream toward the Great Sea. -Judges 4:16; 5:4. 

Today, Jehovah no longer sends his servants into physical battles. Yet, he does ask his people to engage in spiritual warfare.  (Matthew 26:5; 2 Corinthians 10:4) If we try to obey God in today's world, we are taking our stand  in that war. We need courage, for those who side with God today may face fierce opposition.  But Jehovah has not changed. He still comes to the defense of those who, like Deborah, Barak, and the brave soldiers of ancient Israel, put their faith in Him. 

Next time: IMITATE THEIR FAITH/DEBORAH -"MOST BLESSED OF WOMEN" 

From the Watchtower magazine, 2015