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With faith as a compass, Barak conquered the unknown,

We can do the same, if we trust in God’s Word alone,

Barak’s faith a lighthouse, on treacherous shores,

A shining armor that’s dependent on God’s divine laws.

Faith is a mountain that challenges us to climb higher,

Faith connects us to light like an electric wire,

Faith is believing that God is truth, and Satan a liar,

Barak’s faith a phoenix soaring through the air.

Faith is a rocket that launches you to a new height,

Faith is a socket that switches on the light,

Barak’s legacy, eternal flames burning bright,

With God as the lead, He clarifies our sight.

Faith is a journey that takes us to new places,

Faith is the victory, making us win the races,

Diamonds, rubies and emeralds can’t be more precious,

Faith is more than all these, leading to priceless treasures.

Hebrews 11:32-35 (KJV) – “³² And what shall I more say? For the time would fail me to tell of Gedeon, and of Barak, and of Samson, and of Jephthae; of David also, and Samuel, and of the prophets: ³³ Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions. ³⁴ Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. ³⁵ Women received their dead raised to life again: and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance; that they might obtain a better resurrection.”

We are going to focus on the faith of Barak. The name Barak means lightning in Hebrew. It refers to something bright or something that glitters. Faith in God glitters. Trust in God brings brightness into dark situations. Barak was a judge and a warrior who responded to God’s call to deliver Israel from the oppression of the Canaanites.

Judges 4:6-10 (AMPC) – “⁶ And she sent and called Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded [you], Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun? ⁷ And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you at the river Kishon with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hand? ⁸ And Barak said to her, If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go. ⁹ And she said, I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the trip you take will not be for your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. [Fulfilled in Judg. 4:22.] ¹⁰ And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh, and he went up with 10,000 men at his heels, and Deborah went up with him.”

“Barak knew the scattered, disheartened, and unarmed condition of the Hebrews, and the strength and skill of their enemies. Although he had been designated by the Lord Himself as the one chosen to deliver Israel, and had received the assurance that God would go with him and subdue their enemies, yet he was timid and distrustful. He accepted the message from Deborah as the Word of God, but he had little confidence in Israel, and feared that they would not obey his call. He refused to engage in such a doubtful undertaking unless Deborah would accompany him, and thus support his efforts by her influence and counsel. Deborah consented, but assured him that because of his lack of faith, the victory gained should not bring honor to him; for Sisera would be betrayed into the hands of a woman.” – Daughters of God, Page 37.4, Ellen G. White.

Barak portrayed faith when he obeyed Deborah’s prophetic message and gathered 10,000 men from the tribe of Zebulun and Naphtali to fight against Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army. Barak’s father’s name was Abinoam which means ‘father of pleasantness’ or ‘father of delight’ in Hebrew. In reference to the Strong Hebrew Concordance, Kedesh means to be clean (ceremonially or morally); it also means to purify, to sanctify and is also used to refer to something that is Holy, and the name Naphtali means wrestling. The name Zebulun means dwell with. According to the Strong Greek Concordance, Zebulun means exalted. According to the Strong Hebrew Concordance, the name Jabin means intelligent, and the name Canaan means to humiliate or bring down.

The tribe of Naphtali was given the following blessings:“Naphtali is a hind let loose: he giveth goodly words (Genesis 49:21, KJV).” This blessing from Jacob implies that Naphtali and his descendants would be graceful, swift, agile, and eloquent. Drawing from this verse, some interpreters understand that Naphtali would produce scholars and poets who would teach and inspire others.

“And of Naphtali he said, O Naphtali, satisfied with favour, and full with the blessing of the Lord: possess thou the west and the south (Deuteronomy 33:23, KJV).” This blessing from Moses indicates that Naphtali and his tribe would enjoy God’s favour and blessing and inherit a fertile and pleasant land.

The tribe of Zebulun was accorded the following blessings:

Genesis 49:13 (KJV) – “Zebulun shall dwell by the haven of the sea; and he shall be for an haven of ships; and his border shall be unto Zidon.”

Deuteronomy 33:18-19 (KJV) – “Rejoice, Zebulun, in your going out, and Issachar, in your tents. They shall call the people unto the mountain; there they shall offer sacrifices of righteousness: for they shall suck of the abundance of the seas, and of treasures hid in the sand.”

Therefore, Barak, whose name means lightning, was the son of pleasantness (because his father’s name Abinoam means pleasantness) and came from a sanctified or holy place (Kedesh means to sanctify). Barak was from the tribe of wrestling (because Naphtali means wrestling). Nothing in scripture is accidental. There is a reason why the names Barak, Abinoam, Kedesh and Naphtali are mentioned. The fact that they are mentioned means that they are essential. If they were not significant, they would not have been mentioned. For example, Lot’s wife’s name is not mentioned. Job’s wife’s name is not mentioned. Therefore, it is safe to conclude that God sent pleasant lightning from a holy place to wrestle against the intelligent enemy to humble them. God does not put men in a state of humiliation to mock them. He humbles men so that they can draw closer to Him.

Barak was afraid to go to battle against Jabin’s army. Therefore, he requested Deborah to go with him. Some people can go to minister or to prophesy alone. At the same time, others need people to accompany them. Deborah agreed to go with Barak. We should always be willing to join our less spiritual friends to enable them to overcome the enemy. Barak did not know God had given him sufficient power and blessings to overcome the enemy. Many saved Christians do not know God has given them enough power to overcome temptations. Barak had never battled anyone before. Therefore, he might have feared for his lack of experience in war.

He was willing to give up at the very beginning. Deborah did not want him to give up on God’s call. Therefore, she agreed to help him. We should always be ready and willing to hold hands and uplift new members in the body of Christ, walking with them before they become spiritually mature. The Devil is usually looking for such people, and he delights when he finds them in solitude, with no one to guide them, or in the wrong company.

Judges 4:14-16 (AMPC) – “¹⁴ And Deborah said to Barak, Up! For this is the day when the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Is not the Lord gone out before you? So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with 10,000 men following him. ¹⁵ And the Lord confused and terrified Sisera and all his chariot drivers and all his army before Barak with the sword. And Sisera alighted from his chariot and fled on foot. ¹⁶ But Barak pursued after the chariots and the army to Harosheth-hagoiim, and all the army of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left.”

“Poorly Equipped Israelites Go to Mt. Tabor—Barak now marshaled an army of ten thousand men, and marched to Mount Tabor, as the Lord had directed. Sisera immediately assembled an immense and well-equipped force, expecting to surround the Hebrews and make them an easy prey. The Israelites were but poorly prepared for an encounter, and looked with terror upon the vast armies spread out in the plain beneath them, equipped with all the implements of warfare, and provided with the dreaded chariots of iron. These were so constructed as to be terribly destructive. Large, scythe-like knives were fastened to the axles, so that the chariots, being driven through the ranks of the enemy, would cut them down like wheat before the sickle.” – The Signs of the Times, June 16, 1881, Ellen G. White.

“The Israelites had established themselves in a strong position in the mountains, to await a favorable opportunity for an attack. Encouraged by Deborah’s assurance that the very day had come for signal victory, Barak led his army down into the open plain, and boldly made a charge upon the enemy. The God of battle fought for Israel, and neither skill in warfare, nor superiority of numbers and equipment, could withstand them. The hosts of Sisera were panic-stricken; in their terror they sought only how they might escape. Vast numbers were slain, and the strength of the invading army was utterly destroyed. The Israelites acted with courage and promptness; but God alone could have discomfited the enemy, and the victory could be ascribed to Him alone.” – Daughters of God, Page 38.1, Ellen G. White.

Deborah encouraged Barak by assuring him that the Lord was with him. As Christians, we should not run short of words of encouragement. We should constantly reassure our brothers and sisters of God’s power, lest they forget and fall astray. This reminder is seen in the Sabbath commandment. Exodus 20:8-11 (KJV) – “⁸ Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. ⁹ Six days shalt thou labour, and do all thy work: ¹⁰ But the seventh day is the Sabbath of the Lord thy God: in it thou shalt not do any work, thou, nor thy son, nor thy daughter, thy manservant, nor thy maidservant, nor thy cattle, nor thy stranger that is within thy gates: ¹¹ For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that in them is, and rested the seventh day: wherefore the Lord blessed the Sabbath day, and hallowed it.”

We are commanded to always remember the Sabbath day. One reason is that during the week, we can have numerous challenges and think that God has abandoned us, but when Saturday reaches, we are reminded of God’s love since the Sabbath points us to God as the Creator. The blessed and sanctified Sabbath day is meant to strengthen our faith. Deborah’s reassurance made Barak’s faith in God stronger. As a result, he attacked Sisera’s army, which had 900 iron chariots at Mount Tabor. He pursued the enemy’s army and defeated them so that none was left alive.

Judges 4:17-24 (KJV) – “¹⁷ Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. ¹⁸ And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle. ¹⁹ And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him. ²⁰ Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? That thou shalt say, No. ²¹ Then Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So he died. ²² And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples. ²³ So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. ²⁴ And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.”

Barak sang a song of praise to God with Deborah for the victory over the Canaanites (Judges 5:1-31).

“Deborah celebrated the triumph of Israel in a most sublime and impassioned song. She ascribed to God all the glory of their deliverance, and bade the people praise Him for His wonderful works. She called upon the kings and princes of surrounding nations to hear what God had wrought for Israel, and to take warning not to do them harm. She showed that honor and power belong to God, and not to men, or to their idols. She portrayed the awful exhibitions of divine power and majesty displayed at Sinai. She set before Israel their helpless and distressed condition, under the oppression of their enemies, and related in glowing language the history of their deliverance.” — The Signs of the Times, June 16, 1881, Ellen G. White.

By faith, Barak obeyed God through the words of Deborah, the prophet. He did not look down on her. Instead, he asked her to help him. Some men cannot listen to a woman’s advice even if the advice is Godly. As a result, they block themselves from accessing the blessings of God. We should hearken diligently to the voice of God, even if it comes from a child or someone who is not as educated as we are.

GOD BLESS YOU!

Prayer

Heavenly Father,
We thank You for the example of Barak’s faith. May our trust in You be like a guiding light, bringing brightness into our lives. Please help us to have a constant practice of encouraging others and to discern between righteous and evil advice. Grant us courage and strength to respond to Your call, even in uncertainty. As we face battles, let our faith shine, and may we find victory through trust in Your promises. In Jesus’ name, we pray.
Amen.

Activity

Create a list of the people who have just joined the Christian faith or your church. They can be your friends, acquaintances or anyone. Pray for them and look for ways that you can constantly encourage them.

Author: Mark Alex   

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