March 18

I was so excited when I opened my Bible and found it was about Deborah and Barak and then Gideon today! Two of my favorites! Another Barak I know could learn a few things!
This photo shows the Jezreal valley where this all took place. Picture iron chariots here...It's really hard to explain the topography. Except for in the cities and around Galilee, you feel like you can see everywhere. There are many hills surrounding the valley, and from any vantage point in the valley (it is flat for miles and miles) or on any of the hills you feel like you can see forever!  I'm actually standing on Mt Carmel where Elijah called out the prophets of Ba'al. But soooo many things happened in this valley (including this story). If you read my blog, it only scratched the surface. Mt. Gilboa (the spring of Haron at the foot of it, where Gideon kept eliminating warriors) is somewhere in back of me.

First, whiney little Barak.....I love it......."Well, I'll go but only if Deborah goes with me!". (this woman whose claim to fame is being like original Judge Judy under a palm tree). I believe that male leadership was indeed designed by God. But when they step down......or don't step up  (which I think has happened a LOT in our society), God WILL let a woman  step up to the plate and then hold on to your hat!! Or your chariot cuz we are chasing you out of town!! Not a man was left except the commander Sisera who fled on foot. Barak does purse him (come on he had 10,000 troops and he is the only one left....get him already) but it's when he meets up with another woman who drives a tent stake in his head that the job is finally done. We know the story and we are 'used to it'. But what if you saw this headline this morning "Woman kills Osama Bin Ladan with tent stake"? Whoa!

 This account simply says that the enemies were 'routed'. When we were there, they told us that because of the rain the chariots got caught in the mud. It does mention rain in the song.

Enter Gideon.....another reluctant warrior, from the tribe of Manasseh who had a large territory on each side of the Jordon. The Midianites are absolutely wrecking havoc with them, forcing them to hide out in caves for fear of their lives. The Lord appears to him and he asks Him what is on many peoples mind, "If the Lord is for us, then why has all this happened to us?". A question that I'm sure has been asked by every generation of Jews right up to the present day. And a question that has been asked by many others. No answer is given, except to 'go in the strength that you have'. And clearly, God was with him (that was his strength) and he was given the victory.

 Before going to war (and testing God multiple times to see if God reeeaaaalllly wants him to do this). He takes care of some business. He smashes down his fathers alters to Ba'al and his Asherah pole and builds a proper alter to the Lord. I love the answer his father gives...."Well, if Ba'al is a god, he can defend himself when someone breaks down his alter".

Even after God giving him multiple (multiple, multiple....) signs Gideon is still reluctant until God has him spy on the camp. They find out that the enemy is terrified of them. They sneak up on them in the middle of the night, blow trumpets and smash pottery. The enemy gets so confused they kill each other.

Don't you just LOVE these stories of God's power and provision. I do!