Text : Hebrews 11:32, Judges 4 & 5
After explaining how faith is necessary to please God, the writer of Hebrews in chapter 11 lists many people from the Old Testament who exhibited faith in their lives. Then, in chapter 12, the writer compares these heroes of faith to spectators who are watching and cheering on Christians as they run the race for eternal life by faith.
One of these heroes of faith mentioned in this section is a man called Barak (Hebrews 11:32). To read more about Barak, you have to go back to the early period of Israel’s occupation of the Land of Canaan, which you read about in the book of Judges. After a successful conquest of Canaan by Israel under the leadership of Joshua, the Israelites, for while lived in peace. However, after Joshua’s death the those of his generation, Israel fell into a dangerous spiritual cycle. Over and over again throughout the book of Judges, we see the same pattern repeated by the Israelites. First, the Israelites would rebel against God and His ways, so God would allow one of the remaining Canaanite nations to rise up and oppress the Israelites. Then after a lengthy period, the Israelites would repent and turn to the Lord. Upon seeing their repentance, God would raise a judge who would deliver Israel from their oppressors and once again give them a time of peace.
Amid one such cycle, Israel is oppressed by the Canaanite king, Jabin, for twenty years (Judges 4:1-3). After Israel cries for help, the Lord brings victory and freedom to the Israelites through a judge and prophetess named Deborah and a man named Barak.
Now there are several features that make the story about Deborah and Barak an interesting read. Firstly, is the strength of Jabin’s army. This army, led by a commander named Sisera, had 900 hundred iron chariots at its disposal. So, you might say that Israel faced a superior enemy that, for their era, was technically advanced. Secondly is the leadership of Deborah. Although she was one of the few women leaders mentioned in the Old Testament, she was a godly, wise and strategic. And, to his credit, Barak was willing to listen to her. Thirdly is the part where Jael, a lady from a tribe friendly to Jabin, kills Sisera. In the end, she is given more honour than Barak for her role in defeating the commander of Jabin’s army.
The strategy for defeating this army is simple but brilliant. South-East of the Sea of Galilee is a large Mount called Tabor. It is a steep mount and would give any army an excellent defensive position and the high ground in the area. Deborah commands Barak to take 10,000 soldiers and wait on Mount Tabor until she has lured Sisera and King Jabin’s army to the Kishon River, located not too far from Mount Tabor. Perhaps Judges 5:21, a section of Deborah’s and Barak’s victory song, gives us a clue as to why this was such a great place to lure Jabin’s army. It says, “The river Kishon swept them away, the age-old river, the river Kishon”. This verse seems to implies that the river Kishon was somehow instrumental in overcoming the army. Perhaps it rained when Sisera arrived with his chariots, making the soft soil close to the river muddy. Anyone controlling a chariot in these conditions would lose all advantage if their wheels became bogged. Or, it might be that the Kishon River flooded, carrying many of the chariots away. Either way, the fact that Sisera fled the battle by foot indicates that the chariots were rendered useless. (Judges 4:17). With Jabin’s chariots now inoperable, Barak and the Israelites came running down from Mount Tabor and routed Jabin’s army.
Sisera, although he fled the battle, lost his life.
To be honest, Barak is someone I probably would have dismissed had I written the letter of Hebrews because in my mind he stands in the shadow of Deborah (Judges 4). Yet, with consideration, it is clear that he can stand alone as a person of faith, which is why the writer of Hebrews adds him to the list of faith heroes in Hebrews 11.
As I consider the story of Barak and his addition to Hebrews 11 as a person of faith, I wonder what obstacles might have caused Barak to have stumbled in his faith and failed to have been included in this list? Here are five possibilities:
- He could have focused more on the strength of the enemy rather than the strength of God. (Judges 4:1-3)
King Jabin certainly had a strong army compared to Israel and had dominated Israel for twenty years. When Deborah sent for Barak and asked him to lead ten thousand Israelites into battle, Barak could have focused on the enemy’s strength and turned away from Deborah’s request in fear. Yet, he didn’t. Instead, he focused on God and His power and went and fought the enemy and won. Of course, as Christians, we are not being asked to fight a physical enemy. However, we face problems that are often large and seemingly impossible to overcome. We also face strong spiritual enemies that are always seeking to destroy our relationship with God. Yet, as difficult as these things can be, we can, like Barak, meet these things head-on by giving less attention to how big and mighty they are and more attention to how large and powerful God is. People of strong faith continually steer their focus towards God’s character, faithfulness, and might. - He could have let his ego get in the way of wisdom. (Judges 4:4-7)
Women throughout the ages have often been looked down upon and either dismissed as unimportant or mistreated by men. Had Barak been an ordinary man and not a person of character and faith, he might have ignored Deborah and shunned her leadership, thinking, “what does a woman know about war?”. However, in the account of Deborah and Barak, we read that not only did Barak accept Deborah’s leadership but was prepared to listen to her military strategy and implement it. - One dangerous thing that Barak did that could have caused him to stumble was making obedience to God conditional. (Judges 4:8-9)
Even though Barak became known as a man of faith, he wasn’t perfect. One mistake that nearly caused him to stumble was making his obedience to God conditional. When Deborah told him to go and fight King Jabin’s army, he told Deborah that he wouldn’t unless she came with him. Thankfully she agreed, and God, in His grace, still used him. But I wonder what would have happened had Deborah decided not to go with him into battle? It certainly would have hindered God’s work and may have even brought further consequences from God. So even though it worked out, it was unwise for him to do this.
I would suggest that it is also unwise for us to make obedience to God conditional. Yet sometimes, we still do. Perhaps not always in an obvious way. It might be that we say to ourselves, “I will only become a Christian as long as I don’t get wet (Baptised)”. Or, “I only help my enemy as long as they change”. Or, “I only worship God if I can do it the way I like it”. Or, “I only serve others if it isn’t too much of a sacrifice of my time and resources”. Or “I only forgive when others repent”. Or, “I only gather face-to-face with God’s people if it is convenient” (Admittedly, there are some good reasons for not always being able to meet face-to-face). Rather than making obedience to God conditional, we would do well to take heed to what He has asked us to do and get on and do it. - Wavering in indecision. (Judges 5:2, 5:9, 5:15-18)
In Judges 5, we come to Deborah and Barak’s victory song. In verses 2, 9 and 15, Deborah and Barak give attention to those who willingly came to help fight Israel’s enemies. These people did not hesitate to present themselves to the service of the Lord, even if that meant facing danger.
In contrast to these people, Deborah and Barak call out those who didn’t come to help but wavered in their decision. In verses 16-17, they sing, “Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks? In Reuben, there was much searching of heart. Why did you stay among the campfires to hear the whistling for the flocks? In the districts of Reuben, there was much searching of heart. Gilead stayed beyond the Jordan. And Dan, why did he linger by the ships? Asher remained on the coast and stayed in his covers.” These people must have had some inclination to come and help in the battle, but because they searched in their hearts, they found themselves wavering in indecision and failed to take any action in the service of the Lord.
Barak could have been like these others but instead willingly acted in the service of the Lord and Israel. As Christians, we are not called to fight in any physical battle for the Lord, but God does call us into service for His kingdom. As part of this calling, we are to love, worship, share the good news and do good towards others. Yet, how often do we waver in indecision and sit there pondering and searching in our hearts about whether we should do something that we know is right? For instance, we wonder, should I help this person in need? Should I share the gospel with this person? Should I put my hand up to take on responsibility at church? Or should I even get out of bed this morning and worship God today?
Of course, discernment is always necessary. However, if we know something is right, needed, and there is an opportunity to make a difference, why do we waver? Why not just willingly give ourselves over to the service of the Lord and His community? - Seeking personal glory. (Judges 5:24-31)
There is no doubt that Barak was a courageous warrior and that he was a significant contributor to the success of this battle against king Jabin’s army. Yet rather than being full of pride and crediting the win to himself or even moping around because Jael (a woman) got the final opportunity to kill Sisera, we find in Judges 5 Barak joining in with Deborah as she praises God for the victory and sings of Jael’s efforts. Barak seemed to have been a humble person whose primary interest was to glorify God.
Nothing will kill a life of faith quicker than pride. When pride is present, so is sin. Pride puffs us up until our sense of importance removes any space for God and His will. That is why the first Be-attitude in Jesus’s sermon on the mount is “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of God” (Matthew 5:3). When we are humble and seek to glorify God, we are strengthened in faith and position ourselves to be utilised by Him in ways that make a difference to his kingdom.
Thankfully Barak’s faith was never derailed by these obstacles. He certainly wasn’t perfect. But he did act in faith. Through his example he demonstrated that his focus was on God’s strength and not the enemies. He was also humble enough to set aside his ego to listen to Deborah’s wisdom and seek God’s glory. Rather than hesitating or running in fear from a fearsome enemy, Barak and his army of willing volunteers ran to do the will of God.
Final Thought:
The question for us is how does our faith compare with Barak’s? And, if there was another letter like the Hebrews written outlining the heroes of faith of this generation, would we be included in it?
