4th.: Barak’s Conditional Response
“And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord, when Ehud was dead.” And the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin, king of Canaan” (Judg. 4:1-2a). “And the children of Israel cried unto the Lord.” (Judg. 4:3a). “And Deborah, a prophetess, judged Israel at that time.” (Judg. 4:4).
The prophet Deborah called Barak to come.
Deborah relayed God's promise to Barak, that he would defeat Jabin through him (Judg. 4:6-7).
Barak balked,
“If thou will go with me, then I will go, but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.” (Judg. 4:8).
Deborah answered, “I will surely go with thee. Notwithstanding, the journey that thou takes shall not be for thine honor, for the Lord shall sell Sisera [captain of the enemy’s army] into the hand of a woman.” (Judg. 4:9).
Barak went, reluctantly.
However, he would not get military honors for defeating the enemy.
That privilege would go to a woman.
This rebuked Barak’s manhood.
Barak’s issue was not simply a matter of making sure God had spoken, like Gideon.
Nor did his motive seem to be quite the same as Moses asking for someone to go with him
(see Exo. 4:13, or March 16 of this series).
Barak’s error seemed to be a general unwillingness (“I will not go”) to do God’s will.
If we ask God to reveal His will, and He does, will we go and do?
“The fear of man brings a snare.” (Pr. 29:25a)