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Judges 3:31-6:40<\/strong><\/span> Wow, the past 3 months seem to have flown by\u2026\u00a0 It\u2019s now April 1 and we are officially 25%, or one\u00a0quarter,\u00a0of the way through the Bible!\u00a0 Congratulations! Give yourself a pat on the back!\u00a0 High-five God!\u00a0 Your marathon pace is going great!<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n Okay, women rule in today\u2019s readings in Judges!! \ud83d\ude42\u00a0 Deborah basically tells Barak that he\u2019s being a wimp, so she\u2019ll help lead the military victory, and does.\u00a0 Below is a map someone put together of the whole Deborah \/ Barak v. Sisera battle, with Mt. Tabor in the middle highlighted being a focal point of the battle:<\/span><\/p>\n And then Jael, who is likely not an Israelite, finishes off Sisera, the commander of the enemy army of the Israelites, with a tent peg!\u00a0 Don\u2019t mess with Deborah or Jael!\u00a0 Below is a painting by Italian Baroque painter Artemisia Gentileschi (yes, also a woman) from the year 1620 titled \u201cJael and Sisera\u201d:<\/span><\/p>\n Before this fateful scene above, an image is below for Judges chapter 4 verses 17 & 18: \u201cMeanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber\u2019s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, \u201cCome into my tent, sir. Come in. Don\u2019t be afraid.\u201d So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n In Judges chapter 5 we read the wonderful song of Deborah and Barak, and it is of note in verse 31: \u201cThen there was peace in the land for forty years.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 Quite a song!\u00a0 Below is artist Gustave Dore\u2019s engraving of Deborah\u2019s song:<\/span><\/p>\n Bob Deffinbaugh with Bible.org\u2019s commentary on Joshua chapters 4 & 5 today titled \u201cThe Prophetess Deborah\u201d<\/strong> is <\/span>at this link<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n Today in Judges chapter 6 verses 1 we read \u2013 \u201cAgain the Israelites did what was evil in the LORD\u2019s sight.\u201d<\/em>\u00a0 It is so interesting to see the back-and-forth relationship of the Israelites with God in the Old Testament.\u00a0 The Israelites did evil.\u00a0 They cried out to God.\u00a0 God saved them.\u00a0 Then\u2026 The Israelites did evil again\u2026\u00a0 And I wonder \u2013 are we so different from the Israelites today?\u00a0 \u00a0Should we be?\u00a0 Could we be?\u00a0 How?\u00a0 I do believe that through a growing and loving relationship with Jesus, we can be spared of this back-and-forth relationship with God.\u00a0 I believe this is the only Way.\u00a0 Let us not have to spend our lives running back and forth to \u201ccaves\u201d as we will see below\u2026\u00a0 Let us only run into the arms of the Jesus!<\/span><\/p>\n An image is below for verses 1 & 2: \u201cSo the LORD handed them over to the Midianites for seven years. The Midianites were so cruel that the Israelites fled to the mountains, where they made hiding places for themselves in caves and dens.\u201d<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n Today read about Gideon and the fleece. We also read about how the angel of the Lord comes to Gideon and tells Gideon he will save Israel out of Midian\u2019s hands, because he is being sent by God. In verse 15 Gideon replies, \u201cBut Lord, how can I save Israel? My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.\u201d<\/em> You\u2019ll notice how this reply of Gideon\u2019s is reminiscent of Moses\u2019 reaction to God\u2019s call to serve in Exodus chapters 3 & 4 \u2013 \u201cWhy me? How can I?\u201d etc. etc. And I think it is very useful for each of us to note that God often calls the seemingly lowly \u2013 like Moses and Gideon \u2013 rather than the seemingly mighty to act for him. This should be encouraging to us! I wonder if you and I are sometimes like Gideon and Moses? I wonder if perhaps we are being called to do something incredible for God in our lives, and we are making excuses like Gideon and Moses made excuses? Should we instead act in obedience to God\u2019s call and trust that he will lead us? If God has called us to something, shouldn\u2019t we have enough faith to believe he will give us the strength and wisdom needed for the journey? What is God calling you to do in your life that you are not doing? Are you making excuses like Gideon and Moses did? Will you instead move forward in faith and obedience to God in this holy calling in your life?<\/span><\/p>\n Worship Video:<\/strong> Today\u2019s readings in Judges reminded me of Third Day\u2019s song \u201cYou Are Mine:\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n \n
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