Hath Not the LORD Gone Out Before Thee?

The Story

For twenty years, a Canaanite king named Jabin oppressed Israel. His army commander, Sisera, had nine hundred iron chariots, the most fearsome weapon of the day. Israel had nothing like them.

At that time, Israel was led by a woman named Deborah, a prophetess and judge. She held court under a palm tree in the hill country, and people came to her for wisdom.

Deborah sent for a man named Barak and gave him God’s command: take ten thousand men to Mount Tabor, and God would draw Sisera and his chariots to the river Kishon and deliver them into his hand.

Barak hesitated. “If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.”

Deborah agreed to go. But she told him the honor of the victory would not be his. God would deliver Sisera into the hand of a woman.

When Sisera gathered his chariots, Deborah said to Barak, “Up; for this is the day.” Is not the Lord gone out before you? Barak charged down the mountain with his ten thousand men, and God threw Sisera’s army into confusion. Deborah’s song later says the stars fought from heaven and the river Kishon swept the enemy away. Sisera himself jumped off his chariot and ran on foot.

Reflection