What I discovered about God in the story of Deborah and Barak

(Photo taken from https://rockpointechurch.org/deborah-barak/) 

I have always found the story of Deborah and Barak fascinating and a bit creepy when I consider that Jael pushed a tent stake through the king's temple! But when I reflect on GOD and how He works in our lives, I love that GOD provides us a story of a woman leader. It gives me comfort as a woman and as someone that wants to be a leader to see Deborah's example. Recently as I studied the story of Deborah and Barak, I reflected on what I learn about GOD in this passage and I am always surprised by what GOD reveals to me when I ask this question, What do I learn about God? I have provided below some of the truths I discovered about GOD. I especially love how GOD gave Deborah details of who to talk to, what will happen, and how He will work it out. 

Go read the passage and see what God reveals to you in Judges 4. 

Here is what I discovered! 

 1. What do I learn about God? 

     a. God knows when the Israelites do evil. 

     b. God hands Israel over to Jabin, King of Canaan. 

     c. God heard the cry of Israel when Israel cried out to God in their oppression. 

     d. God used Deborah, a woman, as a prophet, to judge and send messages. 

     e. God sent Deborah with a command in what to do. It included who and where! 

     f. God uses details when He sends messages. 

     g. God uses Deborah to lead Barak to lead the nation out into battle. 

     h. God routed Sisera at Barak’s advance.

     i. God waited for Barak to do what was commanded. 

     j. God subdued the King of Canaan, Jabin. 

    k. God caused mountains to quake when Deborah and Barak sang a song praising the LORD. 

    l. God uses people to help Him in battles. 

1. What to emphasize about God?

    a. God does NOT tolerate evil! 

    b. God knows our choices and releases us to our enemies when our choices are evil. 

    c. God releases us to our evil. 

    d. God hears our cry for help. 

    e. God sends prophets and messengers.

    f. God gives commands that need to be followed. 

    g. God uses women to lead. 

    h. God routes the enemy.

    i. God uses people to accomplish help! I find the story so encouraging. I do not need to fear evil and I can trust that GOD will route the enemy. Isn't that comforting! 

What blesses you about this story? 

As you read through what I discovered about God and what I thought was important to emphasize did you have anything that stood out to you as important? 

What made it significant to you? 

I know for myself each time I read through it I can apply it to different areas of my life. I confess that it is a little bit scary to know that God will release a person or a nation to their choices when they are evil. This has such great consequences for those around us. But, I have tremendous hope when I realize that GOD will send messengers, prophets, and leaders to do His work. We just need to be willing to obey when He does. I love that GOD uses people to accomplish His work. I love that you or I could be the one He chooses to use! Don't you! 

How can you pray this story into your life today? For me, it is that I listen to Him clearly and that I give the messages He asks and I do what He presents to me to do!

Spiritual synergy is born in mutuality

 

(Deborah; prophetess and only female judge of Israel (held office 1260 - 1221 B.C.) 

akg-images / Balage Balogh / archaeologyillustrated.com)

When Greg asked me to marry him, he told me that we have “synergy”. He said that we were better together than we were apart. At the time, I did not get it. I did not think it was very romantic. I am so blessed that Greg had a big picture vision of how we would be better together for the LORD than we would be a part. He was more spiritually discerned than I was and recognized that when we worked together the power of God was more effective through us and that we were better at building community together than we were apart. At one point, Greg even went so far as to tell me that one day God would use me to teach in other nations. I laughed at him because I did not see the vision as he did. I cannot begin to tell you how often in my life I have pondered Greg’s wisdom and his patience in collaborating with me. I am so thankful that he was willing to abide with God and hear from God about how we would be better together than we are apart.

This reminds me of Deborah in the Bible. She heard from God a message that she needed to give to Barak. She listened and obeyed. She was patient with Barak as he learned how to collaborate to help the nation find victory over their enemy.

As I studied Deborah and Barak recently God really pressed in on me on the importance of synergy. I realized how valuable a gift it is when we were with someone that gets it. The truth is that there are two levels of partnership that must take place for us to have a synergistic relationship. Spiritual synergy must begin with God. It is about us crying out to God and seeking Him, knowing Him, and desiring to hear from Him and be with Him. When we have developed this relationship we will discover that we are just like Deborah and able to hear a clear message from God and go forth and give messages that will help route enemies in the lives of those around us. Our trust in God and His work in us makes us trustworthy to those around us which will then build in the synergistic relationship with have with others. 

Spiritual synergy is born from mutuality! Give and take! Without mutuality, the relationship will die!  Spiritual synergy is born in abiding and then is grown through agreement, concession, collaboration, exchange, and reciprocity. At any point, we can stop this synergistic momentum. We can hinder our spirituality by not abiding with God and we can hinder by not being willing to grow in mutuality with others. This can make marriage a nightmare, work unbearable, and friendships die. But, when we are willing to grow in mutuality born of abiding in the LORD then we discover that we are willing to dare to do something we might be afraid to do like Barak going into battle against Sisera or slaying the enemy with a tent stake like Jael. 

On a more personal level, spiritual synergy helps me to slay me! Yeah, you heard me! Sometimes, my greatest enemy is growing in synergy is me. When I am caught up in my emotions, thoughts, habits, or wants and desires and I do not seek the LORD before I speak or act then I am the one that has taken myself out of the mutuality of synergy. I actually rob myself of the gift of synergy. Why would I do that? UGH! It really annoys me when I do because there is nothing more beautiful than when two work together in a synergistic relationship. 

I recently read four facts about synergy by Darren T. Carte at likeateam.com. I love the four facts that he used to summarize synergy. 1. Synergy helps us to create something we cannot do on our own. 2. Synergy releases power as we partner with others. 3. Synergy is born out of shared responsibilities in the community. 4. Synergy that is born of God will build the next generation! Think about it. It is all about RELATIONSHIPS! Our relationship with God and then our relationship with others. One feeds the other and both are what make us able to slay our enemies! 

Synergistic relationships strengthen us and lighten our load. They enable multiplication to take place and allow our tent stakes to expand beyond us. I want spiritual synergy in my life! Don't you? I find myself asking, What do I need to do to make sure that I am abiding in a healthy way with God so that I may hear His heart and speak from His heart? Who are the people that I need to seek to find mutuality with through collaboration, agreement, the exchange of ideas, reciprocity, and at times concession? I am so thankful for the maturity of Greg in my life to recognize that we have synergy! Who does God want you to do that for in your life today?