bibledoorajar Deborah con't

The two ladies(in biblical garb) with Gayle Browning are sisters. They are Mary Frances Cliett Hudson and Emily Cliett Underwood. Their significance to our story of Deborah is that they too are from a line of fruitfulness. Their paternal grandmother "arose a mother in her community."
About 105 years ago, she allowed a group to meet in her front yard to study the Bible. She invited people to come, including many who worked for her husband (among these just happened to by my grandparents). Soon, she was inviting well known gospel preachers to come and share the Word. Many were saved including members of my family. Today, the group which descended from these first meetings is still a viable beacon of faith in the community which Mrs. Cliett loved. She 'made all of this happen' while functioning as a wife and mother. Flash forward to the present. Mary Frances and Emily (granddaughters) found themselves worshipping with a group that needed a place to meet. Mary Frances and her husband, a strong twosome, opened their completed basement to the group. Approximately 65 souls meet in worship there. Now the two sisters have donated a tract of land to the group. It is their desire that a permanent Bible presence be seen and felt in their community. These godly actions of this family give us some feeling of how fruitfulness continues in family lines in the church period just as it did in Israel. God will always have those family lines that have been, are and will be fruitful branches on the Vine. And, the good thing to remember is that He is always  looking for someone courageous enough to start just such a line. Could it be you?
     Continuing our focus on Deborah and Barak, the Israeli general, let's look at how they worked together to defend the tribes from a fierce enemy. The tribes of Israel were a loose confederation at the time with no centralized leader. In times of serious difficulty God would raise up leaders to save the people from any external threat. If you read the biblical texts describing these times, you always see that the need would arise because the people had not lived up to their covenant with God (see Judges 2:8-14). Indeed, God had placed a high standard of responsibility on His people. When they failed miserably, God usually got their attention by allowing a physical enemy to attack (see Judges 4:2). This would usually shock the people back to their senses and they would cry out to God for rescue (Judges 4:3).
     When Deborah sent for Barak and told him of her plan to attack the people's enemy the Canaanites, Barak paused. He considered the reality of Israel's loose confederation and lack of weapons. In weighing the pros and cons, the cons seemed very distressing. But Deborah remained firm. So firm in fact that one can almost feel the energy passing between the two leaders. Barak knew that Deborah was a prophetess who received light on problem situations from God. That was a plus. He also knew that she was from a tribe that was very fruitful. Certainly Deborah was well respected for all the help she provided from her fruitful palm tree. Barak decided that if she would go to battle with him then God would be pleased and make him fruitful (successful) also. This was how Barak, God's general, became emboldened enough to go to war. He recognized the calling of God on another and the power that was involved in such a calling. He told Deborah that if she would go against the enemy then he would too. This reminds me of how many times many of us have become emboldened to take on a work because we sense God's anointing on another. How easy it is to see faith and courage in another; how hard it is to see it in ourselves! Deborah took Barak's comment in stride; she simply told the warrior of God that because he wished to play it that way the honor for the victory would go to a woman. Barak seemed to have no trouble accepting this and apparently was more interested in success than personal fame. We know that his personal faith was not compromised. The writer of Hebrews (11:32) speaks of his wisdom and faith combined with courage that took him to battle. This record placed both these leaders in the category of those who overcome and who persevere. Paul, writing in Romans 8:37, says that we can be the same kind of conquering heroes of faith through Him that loved us and gave us a much greater covenant than the old. I will close today with some verses I stand on.
    "To those who by PATIENT CONTINUANCE in well doing (fruitfulness--rap) seek for glory and honor and immortality, eternal life: but to them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that does evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile: for there is no respect of persons with God." Rom. 2:7-11 I'm all for choosing fruitfulness in Christ Jesus. How about you?

bibledoorajar Deborah con't

     Last week we were speaking of the vicious cycles of faith and downfall that plagued the Israelites during the time of the judges. So rampant were the downfalls that the national life of Israel was drastically changed. It took on more and more of the characteristics of the evil Canaanites to the North. God had wanted this territory conquered by the Israelites early on; it was to be a part of the tribe of Napthali's heritage. But, the people failed to conquer. Their failure would prove to be to their peril. One might say that the people who lived to the North lived in darkness. The gods they worshiped were Baal, the god of nature, and Anat, the goddess of fertility. Israel was attracted to the prosperity of their neighbors' farms and villages. Soon, they were also attracted to the gods to whom the Canaanites credited with their success. The Israelites started to abandon God and chase after the gods of the neighbors. And, to make matters worse, they began to take up some Canaanite behaviors. Some of the Israeli hill folk chased after their neighbors possessions by plundering their farms and villages. Evil on both sides abounded and it became troublesome to just be in the streets (sound familiar?).
     The Canannite ruler of the city states was a man named Jabin which means "intelligent". He decided it was time to deal with the marauding Israelites. He had a formidable general named Sisera whose name means "array". At least part of his "array" included 900 chariots of iron. Jabin ruled from a fortified city called Hazor which means "enclosed". The Israelites were sorely afraid of Jabin's military strength and because of their improprieties they were too weary for faith and hope. But God had leaders in mind that could help. The leaders were Deborah, the lady who had been sitting for years under her fruitful palm dispensing help and justice, and, Barak ("lightning"), an Israeli general. Remember Deborah's giftings? She was an oracle, judge and a prophetess. Perhaps in the past, her roles of oracle and judge had been more in view, but now God intended the role of prophetess to come to the fore. It would be Deborah who would help the nation correct their tragic interpretation of life with the enemy. Events would be put into perspective by this "mother in Israel". The spiritually blind, too weak for faith, would see more clearly. The only way they could truly be assured of prosperity and reward would be to follow God's commandments and successfully deal with their enemies.
     So the time was set for battle. On stage would be Deborah, Barak, and Jabin's general, Sisera. Off stage the presence of Lapidoth ("lamps") "warring" against Jabin ("intelligent") would be felt. This situation reminds me that none of us today have seen God or Satan, our wily enemy. But we know the battle rages on. Praise God for sending the great Leader who dispels the darkness and brings light and peace. His grace and truth is a much greater gift than the law given by Moses thereby making victory ours for the taking by God's decree.
     At just the right time, Deborah arose a mother in Israel and sent for Barak. Barak, interestingly enough, was from the tribe of Napthali. When Moses had blessed this tribe he had said, "O Napthali,  SATISFIED WITH FAVOR AND FULL OF THE BLESSINGS OF THE LORD". Barak had found favor and had achieved to the rank of general. Deborah tells him he is to move out with his men to the North in the direction of darkness. He is to go against the evil ruler Jabin who sat in Hazor behind fortified walls. Remember, Hazor was a city that God had wanted to be the possesion of his tribe but Napthali had failed to conquer. Barak knew that Jabin's army had grown even bigger and he knew that he had zero chariots to Sisera's 900 iron ones. Success looked bleak and Barak paused to think. Next week we will look at Barak's decision. Would he be valiant or continue to tolerate darkness?
    

Bibledoorajar Deborah con't

Here I am after a bible class on Deborah trying to get some wisdom from the 101 year old Christian lady who played the role. She really did not have to say anything to me(although she did); there was something about those lovely characteristics of hers that spoke just as loudly to my heart. I find great encouragement knowing that a woman would consistently choose to follow her Savior for 88 years and counting. Her testimony to the goodness of the Lamb and her trust in His shed blood is a wonderful to hear. She's an inspiration to her congregation and they treat her like the precious jewel she is!
     Now back to Deborah's story. There is an old saying, "what goes round, comes round". Israel was victim to a very vicious repeating cycle. Faith, praise and obedience would be high and then they would experience a great downfall. Sin would affect the head/heart harmony of the people and they would have a harder time experiencing God's goodness and mercy. During the downward part of the cycles, Israel's enemies, forces of great darkness, would become stronger and do great harm. Obviously, this type of behavior was not what their God expected and sometimes the people would "feel" His fiery spirit. However, God loved Israel so much that He would identify, describe and empower a deliverer--a savior with a little "s". These saviors were known as judges; they would help the people and they would be rescued from their difficulties. The nation would then start the upward cycle of praising God for His coming Messiah and recognizing Him as the one who would bring restoration on a national level. The people would once again express their trust in God and His provision and wisdom. However, inevitably an awful cycle of sin would ensnare the people again. God actively pursued His purposes in all of this and used the judges to help in the process. God did not "snap His finger" as it were and banish the enemies, but rather chose to provide leaders who would strengthen the people to "fight the good fight". He declares that he PURPOSELY did things  that affected the fight. He purposely left five nations unconquered so: 1) the people might know WAR and learn that the mind set on flesh is death, 2) that he could PROVE Israel by these nations (would they choose the lifestyle of the enemies or would they choose the mind set on the spirit of life and peace which God had placed so nigh to their hearts and mouth? Read more about this in Judges 3:2ff.) God's objective was achieved with each judge, but the style of each judge God chose differed so much. God was bound to His promises but not how He did things. So many don't understand the trials they must go through about coming to Jesus. They did not know they signed on for spiritual warfare! Every Christian will be "tempted and tried and oft made to wonder why it should be thus", but we must accept that God in His wisdom uses these situations to prove us and to reveal how damaging a mindset on evil can be.  In the body of Christ our brothers and sisters differ so much, but they are all chosen by God to provide wisdom and counsel for another. Sometimes I may tutor you, but later you may be tutoring me. This will go one until the church becomes mature.
     For the fourth judge of Israel, God chose a lady. Her selection is an example of how God can do wonderful things by using the weaker things of the world in the fight between good and evil. These actions by the  weaker ones shame that which is so proudly strong in the world. The apostle Paul to the church says it this way in 1 Cor. 1:27--"to shame the wise, God has chosen what the world counts as folly, and to shame what is strong, God has chosen what the world counts as weakness." This is one way God breaks down prideful barriers that can lead to a terrible fall, and, ultimately result in eternal damnation. God has many strategies to bring His children home and most of the time vessels of honor who do not count themselves worthy are used.
     The fourth judge from the tribe of Ephraim ("doubly fruitful") dispenses justice sitting under her palm tree (a fruitful tree) up on Mt. Ephraim ( "hill of doubly fruitful). Her palm tree was located between the towns of Ramah ("height") and Bethel ("house of God"). Way up on the mountaintop, Deborah was relaxed and satisfied. She may have been just a "mother in Israel", but she was in touch with Almighty God and confident in His provision. This position of rest is extremely important for the rest of us too.  In the midst of turmoil, we are up on the mountain enjoying peace and rest in the midst of the difficulty. Paul encouraged the Thessalonians (1:4) to "rest with us (Paul, Silvanus and Timothy) and patiently wait for when the Lord Jesus would be revealed from heaven with his mighty deeds. So this week I plan to make a conscious effort to stay seated in the heavenlies with Jesus and enjoy the peace. How about you?

bibledoorajar Deborah con't

Last week we spoke a bit about Deborah's role as wife, mother and the 4th judge of Israel. Before we continue the story of this amazing woman, let's first look at the detail God took in forming the nation she proudly served. Moses outlined this in Deut. 4:33. Moses wanted the people to know how special they were to God. He pointed out that they heard the voice of their holy God in fire and had not been consumed. No other god had EVER taken for HIMSELF one nation out of another nation as God had done with Israel. The nation had been rescued by 1) miraculous signs and wonders, 2) by war, 3) by God's mighty hand and outstretched arm, and 4) by awesome deeds done by God before the very eyes of the people of Egypt. These comments by Moses well demonstrate the unsurpassed operations of God in calling out Israel as a nation unto Himself. One cannot help but sense the force, the power and the supernatural energy which God employed in this endeavor. This reminds us of the statement, "nothing is impossible with God" and reassures us that by miraculous signs and wonders, by spiritual warfare, by a mighty hand and an outstretched arm, and by awesome deeds before the world's very eyes Jesus is taking his kingdom with power ( Matt. 11:12). Moses dealt with God and obediently brought God's desire for Israel to light. Israel was to share the wonder of God with a pagan world. Today, we follow the Pattern Son as He wonderfully brings His church out of the world. As servants we are to shed light on His desires for a world that is just as much in bondage as Israel ever was.
     Moses carefully brought light to God's intentions for Israel. There would be understanding as to how they were to relate to Him and to others. The laws and order that resulted from the Ten Commandments are now known as the Mosaic Covenant. Later, when the Israelites were in Moab (a very carnal gentile nation with a mind set on life in the flesh), God recognized that His own people shared the same carnality as Moab. But He loved His special nation and reestablished His covenant with them. Here are some important parts to this new covenantal statement: 1) even in their sin, they were to be His and were a nation unto Him, 2) they would not always understand everything God was doing and their revelation and understanding would be progressive, 3) The promises made to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob would be included in their covenant, 4) gentiles would share in the covenant, 5) Israel would be exiled from their country 6) parts of the covenant would remain a mystery of God--secret and known only to Him, 7) Israel would one day return to their land and 8) grace would replace law and God's word would be found in the hearts and minds of His people. Read more about this in Deut. 29 and 30. Before Moses died he blessed the tribes of Israel. Of our heroine's tribe he said:
          "And of Joseph he said...let the blessing come upon the head of Joseph, and upon the top of the
            head of him that was SEPARATED FROM HIS BRETHREN, His glory is like the....with them
            he shall PUSH the people together to the ends of the earth. And they are the TEN THOU-
            SANDS of Ephraim..." (read in entirety at Deut. 33: 13-17)
How precious indeed is it that our brother who was SEPARATED FROM HIS BRETHREN was glorified by the Father and is now PUSHING the people together to the ends of the earth. Hey, did you think nothing was going on?
     Moses died and the leadership passed to Joshua. He, too, was a great leader and Israel entered a nearly incorruptible period. The great Joshua led the tribes into their promised land, their physical home on earth. For a long time the people were loyal to Joshua and obeyed the law. Joshua challenged every household to do as his was going to do---commit and serve the Lord! The people responded with a loud "we will". God wanted to lead the people through a head/heart relationship with Him. If they trusted Him, He would share His light through their priests and prophets and also in their hearts. But alas, the people could not keep their promise and lawlessness so abounded that it was necessary for God to raise up judges to settle disputes and confront lawlessness. In the next blog we will return to Deborah, the lady  who could speak gently or with a little fire and many would listen and accept her rulings.