Tag: Barak

Judges 6-8

Judges 6 introduces us to Gideon who is only mentioned outside of Judges 6-8 in Hebrews 11 before Barak. However, his alias “Jerubbaal” is mentioned in 1 Samuel 12 along with Barak and this name is used in reference to the next judge, his son Abimelech.

Judges 6 introduces us to Gideon who is only mentioned outside of Judges 6-8 in Hebrews 11 before Barak.  However, his alias “Jerubbaal” is mentioned in 1 Samuel 12 along with Barak and this name is used in reference to the next judge, his son Abimelech.  Gideon comes onto the scene after “the Israelites did what was evil in the sight of the LORD” again.  The phrase, in the NRSV, “was evil in the sight of the LORD” eight times in Judges, thirty-four times in the history of the kings (mostly in the northern kingdom), and once in Jeremiah.  A common phrase that does not occur in the New Testament.  I guess we will find out what that is when we get there.

What was the evil?  It seems they were worshiping the gods of the Amorites (verse 10).  The Midianites and Amalekites were cruel people who would allow the Israelites hope for a season and then would crush that hope by removing from their hands all they had worked for during that season.  God is a jealous God who does not allow people to replace Him with that which is not a god at all.  His reply in verse 10 to the Israelite’s plea in verse 7 is interesting.  He basically tells them that they call to Him as God and yet worship other gods and, it is implied, that He will not listen to their pleading because they do not listen to His.  However, they do repent and then He listens.  This is something we need to understand as we go through the Scriptures.  God hears our pleas/prayers when we are in right fellowship with Him.  In order to have fellowship with Him, we need to be in right relationship with Him too.  We cannot have fellowship with someone we do not have a relationship with and we cannot have meaningful relationship with someone we are not getting to know on a personal level.  This is why, I believe, Gideon went through the measures he did when God called him.  If we are in fellowship with someone we know and are getting to know better, when they speak we will recognize their voice.  Jesus tells us that His sheep know His voice.

Gideon is wondering who is speaking to him.  If you notice, in verse 11-18, he is asking about those things he remembers his ancestors doing.  He wants to know where the God of those adventures is and why He is not present with the Israelites.  He wants to create his own adventures to remember.  God is gracious and gives Gideon a sign and a command to tear down the altar his father has to Baal.  This is Gideon’s first test to see if he fears man more than God. 

What area of our lives are we being tested to see whether we fear God or man?

To his credit, he accomplishes the task (although under the cover of night).

Gideon then tests God.  This is an anomaly in the Scripture.  It is not suggest we “throw out a fleece” to determine what God has called us to do.

Judges 7-Throughout the book of Judges, God is intent on letting the people know that He is the one who delivers not the people.  Zechariah tells us that it is not by might nor by power but by His Spirit that God produces much.  In this section, God hones the army of Israel down from 32,000 to 300.  He then commands Gideon to give them trumpets and lamps for battle.  With these men and these tactics Gideon conquers and kills more than 100,000 men.

Judges 8 is a strange chapter.  People refused to help Gideon in fear of the men he was pursuing.  He vows to destroy them for not caring for him and does so after he is victorious over the Midianites.  He then asks his youngest son to kill the kings but he does not because he is too young.  There is much taunting in this passage.

Gideon is called to be the king.  The people ask him and his sons and grandsons to rule over them.  He refuses and gives credit to God.  The next judge, his son, attempts to be king.  Gideon then makes an altar that was not to God.  He rules, dies, and the people turn to Baal once more.

The cyclical pattern we see in these chapters is as follows:

  • Relapse:  The people did evil in the eyes of God
  • Retribution:  7 years of captivity to the Midianites
  • Repentance:  After great persecution, the Israelites finally cried to God for help.
  • Rescue:  God used Gideon to deliver the nation
  • Rest:  40 years of peace

What do we make a stumbling block for ourselves?  How do we prostitute ourselves?  When we are gone from our sphere of influence, what legacy will we have left?  Who will have drawn closer to God and who will walk away?

Judges 4-5

Judges 4-A woman, Deborah (Judges 4 and 5 only), is presented as a prophetess who is, as I see it, given the title of Judge by default (the absence of male leadership). This brings great controversy, not because I believe women are to be barefoot and pregnant but because God mandated men to lead.

Judges 4-A woman, Deborah (Judges 4 and 5 only), is presented as a prophetess who is, as I see it, given the title of Judge by default (the absence of male leadership). This brings great controversy, not because I believe women are to be barefoot and pregnant but because God mandated men to lead. She knows it is not her position to lead the armies. She calls Barak (1 Samuel 12 and Hebrews 11) and informs him that God called him to fight the Canaanite army of King Jabin. His response is a disclosure on the character of the men in that area of that era. He doesn’t ask for God’s presence but asks for Deborah’s presence instead. She grants him that favor but insists, I believe, that his victory will not have glory because he insisted on her and not God to go with him. Yet, he is listed in the men of faith listing of Hebrews 11. These battles were in the north by the Sea of Galilee dealing with Naphtali and Zebulun, even though she was from the central region of Ephraim, think Samaria.

The battle ensues. God uses Barak to panic Sisera who flees. He runs to a tent of a descendant of Moses. A woman, as predicted in verse 9, becomes Sisera’s downfall. Jael invites him in for protection then slays him with a tent peg through the temple. Jabin and his arm of the Canaanite armies are done.

Judges 5 is a poetic rendering of Judges 4 with greater detail of who was and was not involved in the battle along with the angst of those involved. It mentions Shamgar who was given a sentence in Judges 3. Poetry is another genre that I enjoy, but not at this point; maybe later I will attempt a study on the poems of the Old Testament.

Looking at the pattern we see,

  • Relapse: After Ehud died, the people did evil in the sight of God
  • Retribution: Cruel oppression by the king of Canaan (Jabin) for 20 years.
  • Repentance: The people cried to God to deliver them
  • Rescue: Deborah, Barak and Jael defeated Sisera and his army
  • Rest: 40 years of peace

God will get His work accomplished despite what we do but He chooses us to bring us blessings as we choose to obey Him. Whatever the cost of obedience, the blessing of doing His work will always go beyond it.

What is God calling you to do that you are wanting someone else to do for or with you? Should you be calling on Him to give you the power to do it yourself? Sometimes we use the excuse that we are not good enough, don’t know enough, or others in an attempt to switch the responsibility to others. If God calls us, He empowers and enables us to do His work.

Tomorrow we look at Judges 6-8 and the judge called Gideon.