15/12/2015 - THE HARM OF HESITATING

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So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh. Judges 4.9

Barak knew that God had called him to deliver Israel from the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan, but he did not have the courage to obey the Lord. Therefore, Deborah, the prophetess that judged Israel in those days, called him and remembered him of his mission. Many people allow the cares of life to hinder the Word from operating powerfully in their lives. When the Most High calls, He grants the necessary means so that the designated task may be fulfilled.

Barak’s answer made him lose the glory of victory. When he asked Deborah to go with him, he heard ‘yes’. However, he also heard about the harms that he would suffer for not doing according to what was told him. Check the Lord’s declarations, and if He does not direct you to ask for someone’s help, do the prayer of faith yourself or do the work that you were ordered. Whoever receives the complete instructions of the Lord does not need to consult anyone.

For more than 20 years, Jabin had oppressed the children of Israel violently, and now that they had made things right with the Lord, deliverance would come in a spectacular way. Whenever a person, a family, or some people cry out to God, He will soon send the answer. Be attentive to the way in which the Father will speak to you, for He always does this through His Word, and He never leaves any doubt. After all, He is not a God of confusion (1 Co 14.33). 

Be careful so you are not disqualified when you are called by the Lord for a specific mission, for another person who will listen to the divine message might be raised. This was said to queen Esther, who at first also felt the burden of what could happen to her in case Mordecai’s plan failed. Now, the Lord’s plans will never lead anyone to defeat. It is true that all people go through trials, but whoever believes in Him is not abandoned.

Barak made one of the greatest feats, for he defeated Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, with only ten thousand men, against nine hundred iron chariots, a huge number of horseback soldiers and a multitude of other soldiers from the Canaanite infantry. It does not matter the number of enemies that may rise against you; there will always be an infinitely greater number of angels from the Lord to protect you.

In fact, he had his reward, but the glory belonged to Jael, a woman whose title was only to be Eder’s wife. She did not even have to put too much effort – she obeyed the Lord’s directions. The Most High always chooses the foolish things of the world to put to shame the wise, and He chooses the weak things of the world to put to shame the things which are mighty (1 Co 1.27). He never changes (Ja 1.17).

Today, those who hesitate also suffer harm, for in the war against the forces of darkness, the Lord calls all of His own. However, the fearful, even if they do something great, will leave the glory for those who say yes to the divine touch. What do you say about what the Most High has spoken to your heart?

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares