SCRIPTURE: Judges 4
OBSERVATION/APPLICATION:
Then Deborah said to Barak, ‘Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?’ So Barak went down Mount Tabor, followed by ten thousand men. [Judges 4:14]. In this passage we see God working in the midst of human circumstances. We see Barak as afraid, and Jael as brave. We see soldiers and warfare and violence with tent pegs. This is not the kind of stuff we find in children’s bibles. But we also see God at work behind the scenes. God uses women (undervalued and oppressed in that culture) to humble the men. Barak and Sisera (representing the male ego) are put in their place. But its messy, gritty not pretty. The Lord is at work (or goes ahead of us) through the messy details.
My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. [John 17:15] Jesus affirms that the plan is not to take us out of the mess of this world, but to humble and help us in this world, through the gritty details. He is protecting us from the ultimate intent of the evil one, but that does not mean we do not go through the challenges and struggles caused by the evil one. This life is the stage where our character is pruned and improved. But through the whole journey, through all the tough stuff, the Lord goes ahead of us – preparing the way and protecting us on the way.
I love this line, has not the Lord gone ahead of you? In other words, as I go through my day, the Lord has already been here, preparing the way and providing the support and protection needed to make it through. He is not taking us out of the world, but He is providing and protecting us in the world.
What are the situations that cause me to fear? What if I would repeat this line to myself: has not the Lord gone ahead of you? Why be afraid, Jesus is stronger than the devil. He is in charge. He has beaten the devil and is restoring God’s creation. Nothing happens outside of His plan and purpose. Though I still face the challenges and struggles of this world, the Lord is protecting me from the evil one’s destructive plan. Nothing, and no one, can snatch me from His hand [John 10:28-29].
The Lord has gone ahead of me into today. He knows what I will face, and He has set the stage for me to make it through, with His help, whatever comes.
PRAYER:
Lord, the path is prepared before me. Everything I need to survive and succeed is laid out. Open my eyes to look for, and receive Your provision.
The people cried to the Lord for help. When? In their time of oppression. When? After they had been wayward. When? After going their own way fo 20 years doing what was right in their own eyes. And our faithful God is there for His ‘faithless’ people. When will they learn? When will I learn to daily walk with my God. He is always there. Help me in my walk with you today.
As the Lord my God went ahead of Barak to give Him the victory, as the Lord my God went ahead of the children of Israel by fire and the cloud, so too the Lord goes ahead of me each day in my travels. So why do I fear? The Lord my God has already gone this way even though I have not been here before. He strengthens, leads, guides, encorages, supplies all my needs. In Him I have victory.
Help me Lord to work this day in your vineyard knowing that O am in Your presence and You have gone before me. What power! GodStrong! What presence! LiveStrong! What a life! ChristStrong! JesusStrong!
We come, O Christ, to you, true Son of God and man,
By whom all things consist, in whom all life began:
In you alone we live and move, and have our being in your love.
You are the Way to God, your blood our ransom paid;
In you we face our Judge and Maker unafraid.
Before the throne absolved we stand, your love has met your law’s demand.
You are the living Truth! All wisdom dwells in you,
The Source of every skill, the one eternal TRUE!
O great I AM! In you we rest, sure answer to our every quest.
You only are true Life, to know you is to live
The more abundant life that earth can never give:
O risen Lord! We live in you: in us each day your life renew!
We worship you, Lord Christ, our Savior and our King,
To you our youth and strength adoringly we bring:
So fill our hearts, that all may view your life in us, and turn to you.