On Monday we read the story about a young woman who is not super well-known. Her name is Jael (the person our youngest daughter was named after). When Sisera came to her tent to find refuge from the army of Israel, Jael proved herself to be a sort of hero in the Bible…in a very odd and unexpected way. You see, he assumed, because there was peace between his people and her people, that he would be safe in Jael’s tent. At first, it seemed to be true. But, as you read, while he slept Jael drove a tent peg through his skull finalizing the complete annihilation of Sisera’s people. I hope, however, that you sort of saw this coming. Earlier in the same chapter we see Jael kill Sisera, Deborah prophetically told Barak that this would happen. After she ordered Barak to take 10,000 soldiers and defeat Sisera, this happened. Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” – Judges 4:8-9When I read this the first time, I thought for sure she was talking about herself. Here she is, a strong and courageous leader serving as the juxtaposition to Barak, a timid and hesitant leader. I assumed that she was simply saying that she would get credit for it if she went. That is not what she meant. Instead, she was referring to a young woman that we had not yet met. A young woman that, after this story, we would not hear of again. Barak’s reluctance to step boldly into God’s call did not mean God’s plan would not happen. It simply meant it would be fulfilled through someone else. I often wonder if we would have ever known about Jael if Barak had simply been more bold and courageous. I wonder what my daughter’s name would be since we would have never heard of her name.I also wonder how many times God opens a door that I don’t step through. I wonder how many times I am like Barak. Hesitant. Timid. Anxious. I wonder how many times I fail to step into a call. I wonder how many times someone else has been called to do what I was not able or willing to do. What about you? Do you feel like Barak at times? Do you wonder sometimes how many callings you have missed?
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