Getting the Call

Judges 4

I kind of picture Barak like a couple of other Bible figures: Moses, as he was just minding his own business, tending sheep in the desert, until he spied that burning bush; Peter, minding his own business fishing; and the Apostle Paul, minding his own business planning to put Christians in jail as he walked along the road to Damascus.\r
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What all these have in common was the call. God stopped all these individuals and led them in a different direction to accomplish something for the Lord. The call came to these in a variety of ways. And God still calls today. He still sends out men and women on a mission - whether it's to bring the gospel to Africa or a bowl of soup to a hungry neighbor - whether it's teaching the Bible to thousands or to a hungry group of teens in a youth group. \r
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How God calls you may also differ greatly from how He calls me. But there are some things we can learn by how Barak received the call that can help us hear, respond, and act for the Lord.\r
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1. The need is evident - the cry is clear\r
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"Then the people of Israel cried out to the Lord for help" vs 3\r
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Are you aware of the needs around you - the gospel, hurting people (saved and unsaved), furthering the kingdom? Do you pray for God to intervene and help?\r
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Ephesians 6:18-20 praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, 19 and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak. ESV\r
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2. Barak knew the call already in his heart\r
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"Has not the Lord commanded you?" vs 6\r
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It sounds almost as if Barak had already heard the Lord's voice, and Deborah was just a confirmation. Pay attention to that "still small voice" inside of you - prompting you to action.\r
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Isaiah 30:20-21 â?¦ your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 21 And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, "This is the way, walk in it," when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. ESV\r
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3. Be prepared but its God's timing on the battle\r
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"Go, gather your men â?¦ I will draw out Sisera" vs 6-7\r
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How do we prepare for the time to move out into battle? Stay in the Word, stay in prayer, let your life be open to the Lord's direction, go through trials, experience small skirmishes on the way to larger battles (like in chapter 3 - training for war). "Gather your men" I think can also suggest that we get around those that have like minds as us. Perhaps you feel drawn towards feeding the homeless, so fellowship with those that have that calling. Perhaps it's a helps ministry or teaching.\r
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2 Timothy 2:15-16 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. NKJV\r
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4. Rely on God's promise of victory\r
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"I will give him into your hand" vs 7\r
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It's not about us winning the war but participating in the battle. We must always recognize that it's the Holy Spirit doing the work and who will win the day, not us. \r
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Matthew 16:18 on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. ESV\r
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5. Rely on God's wisdom, and the counsel of fellow believers\r
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"If you will go with me, I will go" vs 8\r
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Some have suggested this is weakness on Barak's part, but it might just be wisdom. He recognized that he needed the Lord in control, needed God's wisdom and guidance and help. He recognized that Deborah was God's representative and so acknowledged her role and asked for her assistance in seeking the Lord. And, by the way, that's exactly what happened. Deborah provided the exact right timing for Barak to attack.\r
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And another encouragement I see here is for us to seek the counsel of fellow believers that have walked the road before us.\r
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John 15:5-6 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing. ESV\r
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6. Don't do it for the credit, do it for God's glory\r
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"The road on which you are going will not lead to your glory" vs 9\r
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I really don't think Deborah was saying "you are making a mistake here and showing your weakness." I think she may have been saying "are you sure about giving up the glory here?" What was Barak's real motivation? You can see that Barak was in it for the right motivations - not only did he not get the glory, but it went to a woman!\r
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Is our motivation so that God's kingdom will be established and strengthened? It might mean no one ever knows what you did. Is that okay?\r
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1 Corinthians 10:31 So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God. ESV\r
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7. Be ready to move at any time\r
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"Up! For this is the day in which the Lord has given Sisera into your hand." Vs 14\r
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No one can be totally prepared. But there will come a time when you can respond to the call when it comes to move out. For Paul, he spent some years studying, fellowshipping, and hearing from God. He didn't know when the Lord was going to call him out into service (Acts 13:2). \r
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2 Timothy 4:2 preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; ESV\r
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8. Bring yourself to the battle, let God provide the weaponry\r
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"So Barak went down â?¦ and all the army of Sisera fell by the edge of the sword." \r
God brought the storms and floods\r
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I remember stepping out of the car and approaching a village church in Kenya. I've described it as stepping into the middle of a National Geographic movie. It felt very surreal. Even when speaking I felt a little disconnected - not in a dreamy way, but as if I wasn't really doing this. \r
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It was the Holy Spirit doing the work and things happened. I showed up, prayed up, prepared, but with no weapons to speak of - except the power of God's Word and His Holy Spirit. \r
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Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes ESV\r
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So â?¦ Look for the need, Lift it to the Lord, Listen for His call, Prepare yourself for battle by studying and surrounding yourself with those that are like-minded, wait for God's timing, rely on His promise of victory, and let God bring His weapons to bear!\r