I stared at my pastor-husband as my stomach twisted in knots. “You can do this; you should do this.” I was 25, trained and experienced in teaching children, only children. I had no seminary education. How/why would I teach the Bible to women who know as much, maybe more, than I? But somewhere, I found the courage to step out of my comfort zone to do not just what my husband pushed me to do but what God called me to do. Deborah and Barak (Judges 4—5) faced a similar but more severe challenge. While doing what they were comfortable doing, God called them to do something they were uncomfortable doing.

The Israelites’ Descent into Misery

After 80 years of peace, the Israelites again

… did evil in the eyes of the Lord.

Judges 4:1

Rather than serve the God who had given them new life and new land, they worshiped foreign gods. Therefore, God removed his hand of protection; he abandoned them to the life they chose. A Canaanite king conquered them, taking back their land and making their lives miserable. Why did they wait 20 years before crying to the Lord for help? Were they comfortable in their misery? When at last they called on God, he responded.

God’s Response: Call Deborah

Deborah was a prophet and judge. Since men couldn’t enter her tent, she held court under a palm tree. Scholars understand the Hebrew eshet lapidot in various ways. Eshet can mean wife, lady, or woman; lapidot is the Hebrew word for torches. So, Deborah could’ve been the wife of a man named Lapidot (most English translations) or a woman who made torches/lamps for the temple or a fiery lady. To further the confusion, the military leader, Barak’s name means lightning. Some rabbis, therefore, claim that Lapidot and Barak are the same, and Deborah was his wife. Interpretations abound, but no one questions that Deborah was God’s choice to deliver his people. 

Deborah gave Barak God’s plan for defeating the Canaanites. Some suggest her words (4:6-7) were a question, implying God had spoken to Barak earlier and promised victory. Barak’s triumph depended not on his military strategy but on his obedience. God wanted to fight for Israel, but his first battle was with Barak, who seemed afraid to act.

Deborah and Barak: Courage, Cowardice, and Consequences

Even after God’s guarantee of success, Barak responded to Deborah:

If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.

Judges 4:8

If forced to exit his comfort zone, Barak wanted to force Deborah out of hers. Deborah agreed but warned Barak that his demand meant a woman, rather than he, would receive the honor for the conquest. Both courage and cowardice have consequences.

Deborah almost had to push Barak down the mountain. 

Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?

Judges 4:14

When Barak stepped out, the Lord stepped in to secure the victory. He used a ferocious thunderstorm to defeat the Canaanites and their 900 chariots. Sisera, the Canaanite general, fled to the tent of Jael, his friend’s wife. Since hospitality is a high value in honor/shame cultures, he assumed she would welcome him. But did she? She risked shame if a man other than her husband or father entered her tent. To Sisera, it was a perfect hiding place. To Jael, it was an ideal opportunity to right wrongs done to the Israelites. After Sisera had fallen asleep, Jael nailed him to the ground with a tent peg.

Through the courageous actions of Deborah, Barak, and Jael, God changed the conditions in Israel.

Then the land had peace forty years.

Judges 5:31

Courage or Comfort?

To obey God’s call, we must leave our comfort zones. What can we learn from Deborah and Barak’s experience?

1. God waits for us to cry out for his help. Until we’re miserable enough to change, we’re not miserable enough.
2. God goes ahead of us to accomplish his purposes. But to take part in the victory, we must follow. 
3. God waits for us to step out in obedience. Our faith-in-action opens the door for him to work in and through us.

Comfort zones can become cages. Stepping out of them requires courage but positions us to be difference-makers in our culture.

 God has a purpose and plan for each of us today. Will you join him in what he’s doing?