Hebrews 11:32
Faith’s Hall of Fame: Barak
Introduction
“He dropped the ball!”
I’m sure you’ve heard that expression before. We use it to describe someone who has failed to follow through on an assignment or to reach a certain goal. Some people trace the origin of that phrase to the 4th game of the 1941 Baseball World Series. The series was dubbed the “Subway Series.” The Brooklyn Dodgers were playing my favorite team—the New York Yankees. The Yankees won the first game of the series by a score on 3-2. Brooklyn returned the favor the next game by beating the Yankees 3-2. Then the Yankees took the third game 2-1. And in the fourth game it looked like the Dodgers were going to tie the series. Brooklyn was leading 4-3 at the top of the 9th inning. The Yankees were up to bat with no man on base. There were 2 outs and the count was 3 balls and two strikes on Tommy Henrich. Henrich swung at the next pitch and missed the ball by a mile. Now, that should have ended the game. But the Dodgers’ catcher, Mickey Owen, dropped the ball. The ball hit off the heel of his glove and rolled toward the Dodgers’ dugout. Henrich ran to first base before Owen could retrieve the ball. That started the Yankees’ rally. Next up to bat was “Joltin’ Joe” DiMaggio. The Yankees then went on to score four runs in that inning. And they held on to win the game 7-4. So, instead of the series being tie at 2-2, that victory gave the Yankees a 3-1 lead in the series. Well, that took the wind out of the Dodgers’ sails. And the next day, the Yankees beat the Dodgers 3-1 in Game 5. And so the Yankees won the 1941 World Series. All because Brooklyn’s catcher, Mickey Owen, dropped the ball.
You know, Owen was never able to live that down—even though he was a great baseball player. As a matter of fact, in that 1941 season, Owen set a record for the most errorless fielding chances by a catcher—with 508 perfect attempts. He was an All-Star for four consecutive years—from 1941-44. In 1942, Owen became the first player to pinch-hit a home run in an All-Star game. And during the 1944 regular season, he became the third National League catcher to ever complete an unassisted double play.
But despite his outstanding career in baseball, Owen was always known as the man who “dropped the ball.” Mickey Owen died just a few years ago in 2005. The title of his obituary in the New York Times read: “Mickey Owen Dies at 89; Allowed Fateful Passed Ball.” Even in his death he was remembered as the guy who dropped the ball.
This morning, I would like us to consider the life of a man who many people think “dropped the ball.” No, I’m not referring to another baseball player. I’m referring to a member of Faith’s Hall of Fame. Please turn with me to the book of Hebrews chapter 11.
Last Sunday, on Father’s Day, our Missionary-In-Residence, Bob Lehman shared the Word of God with us. And a month ago, our former pastor, Larry Hummel spoke to us. At the beginning of his message, Pastor Hummel teased me about being in the book of Hebrews for such a long time. But many a truth is spoken in jest. We have been in Hebrews for a long time—14 months to be exact. And recently we’ve been camped out in Hebrews chapter 11—Faith’s Hall of Fame.
Now, I realize that spending so much time in one chapter can present some difficulties. You know, sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. It’s possible to get so engrossed in a study of one passage—such as Hebrews 11—that you forget the big picture. So, I thought it would be wise to take a moment and refresh our memories concerning the big picture—what the book of Hebrews is all about.
The author of Hebrews wrote to encourage a congregation of Hebrew Christians who were facing persecution. Because of this threat of suffering, they were tempted to abandon their Christian faith and return to their former, safer Jewish religion. But the writer of Hebrews encourages them not to leave the faith—but rather to press on to spiritual maturity in Christ. So, he writes to convince them that what they have in Jesus Christ is far better than what they had in Judaism.
And so the book of Hebrews is all about the superiority of Jesus Christ. In a nutshell—Jesus Christ is better. In chapters 1-6, the writer of Hebrews shows that Jesus is better in His person—better than the Old Testament prophets—chapter 1, better than the angels—chapter 2, better than Moses—chapter 3, better than Joshua—chapter 4, and even better than Aaron, the first and greatest high priest of Israel—chapters 5 and 6.
In chapters 7-10, the writer of Hebrews shifts from the person of Christ to the work of Christ. And he demonstrates that Jesus is better in His work. His priestly work is better than the work of the Old Testament Levitical priesthood—chapter 7. His new covenant is better than the old covenant of Moses—chapter 8. His sanctuary in heaven is better than the tabernacle on earth that the Jews worshipped in—chapter 9. And His one sacrifice on Calvary is better than all the sacrifices offered under the Old Testament Law—chapter 10.
And now in Hebrews chapter 11, the writer of Hebrews seeks to motivate these Hebrew believers to move forward in their Christian lives by faith. And the writer does this by encouraging them to follow in the footsteps of the great men and women of faith in the Old Testament. And so we’ve examined the faith of Abel and Enoch and Noah; of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph. We’ve considered Moses and his parents, the people of Israel, Joshua and Rahab. And then in Hebrews 11:32 the writer states, “And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, David, Samuel and the prophets …”
Last time we were together, we considered the faith of the Gideon. This morning we want to consider the faith of Barak—a man who many people believe “dropped the ball.” Why would people think he dropped the ball? Turn with me to the book of Judges chapter 4.
You’ll recall that after the death of Joshua, the children of Israel turned their backs on God. And so began an era often referred to as the Dark Days of the Judges. The people of Israel were trapped in a series of cycles. And each cycle followed the same 5-stage pattern. The first stage is Sin. The people of Israel turn their back on the Lord and follow after the desires of their evil hearts. Sin leads to Servitude. Israel’s enemies rise up, become their oppressors, and make life miserable for them. Servitude leads to Supplication. Israel cries out to God for deliverance. That leads to Salvation. God raises up a judge who delivers Israel from her enemies. Salvation leads to Silence. Israel enjoys peace in the land while the judge is alive. But after the judge dies, then Israel once again forgets God and returns to their sinful ways. And the cycle of Sin—Servitude—Supplication— Salvation—and Silence starts all over again. And this cycle occurs repeatedly in Judges chapters 3-16.
Now, we find the beginning of one of these cycles in Judges chapter 4. Look at verse 1: “After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the LORD.” There’s the first stage—Sin.
“So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim.” There’s the second stage—Servitude.
“Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help.” There’s the third stage—Supplication.
“Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. 5 She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites came to her to have their disputes decided. 6 She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, ‘The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: “Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead the way to Mount Tabor. 7 I will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.”’”—And there’s the fourth stage—Salvation.
God decided to deliver His people Israel through a man named Barak. But there are those who think that Barak dropped the ball. Look at verse 8: “Barak said to her, ‘If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.’ 9 ‘Very well,’ Deborah said, ‘I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand Sisera over to a woman.’”
And that’s exactly what happened. Deborah did go with Barak. He led an army of 10,000 men against the greater army of Sisera, the commander of 900 chariots. And as Israel was defeating Sisera’s army, Sisera fled to the tent of Jael. Jael’s husband and King Jabin were on friendly terms so Sisera thought he would find refuge there. Sisera entered the tent and Jael covered him up so no one could see him. Well, Sisera was exhausted from battle so he quickly fell asleep. We pick up the story in verse 21: “But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died.” Ouch! Now, that’s gotta hurt!!
“Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. ‘Come,’ she said, ‘I will show you the man you’re looking for.’ So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead. 23 On that day God subdued Jabin, the Canaanite king, before the Israelites. 24 And the hand of the Israelites grew stronger and stronger against Jabin, the Canaanite king, until they destroyed him.”
And so Israel defeated their enemy. But, just as Deborah had said—Sisera died at the hands of a woman. And this has led people to think Barak dropped the ball. Because Barak insisted on Deborah accompanying him, he didn’t receive the credit for Sisera’s demise. Jael received that honor. So, why then is Barak listed in Faith’s Hall of Fame? Why not Deborah or Jael? Well, I think if we take a closer look at Barak, we find that he didn’t drop the ball at all. Instead, he showed himself to be a man of deep faith. You say, “What leads you to believe that?” Well, first of all, Barak …
1. DEPENDED ON GOD’S WORD
Now, it is true that Barak insisted on Deborah accompanying him. But I don’t believe that was not a sign of weakness or cowardice. Rather, it was a sign of dependence on God. You see, verse 4 identifies Deborah as a prophetess. That means that she received direct, divine revelation from God. God spoke through Deborah. And Barak obeyed God’s Word as given through Deborah in verses 6 and 14.
The nation of Israel had ignored and abandoned God’s Word. That’s why they were in the mess that they were in. But Barak was not about to make the mistake that Israel made. Barak listened to what God said through His prophetess, Deborah. And he obeyed what God commanded.
Now, I don’t believe we have prophets today. I don’t believe God gives direct, divine revelation any longer. But I do believe that God has given us His Word—the Bible—God’s revelation to man. This is how God speaks to us today. And just as Barak obeyed the Word of God as given through Deborah, we need to obey the Word of God as given in the Bible.
Not only did Barak depend on God’s Word, but he also …
2. DESIRED GOD’S WORSHIP
Deborah informed Barak that he would not receive the honor of personally defeating Sisera. And Barak was okay with that. Barak cared more about gaining the victory for God than he did about his own personal praise and glory. If others got the credit, that was fine with him. His concern was for God to be honored.
Do you desire God’s honor above your own?
My first ministry after seminary was back home in Rochester, NY. I was one of two chaplains at the Monroe County Jail. Every Saturday evening we would hold a worship service in the auditorium at the jail for the inmates. One of the deputies was responsible to keep a log book at the desk outside of the auditorium. In that log book he would record the name of the church group that conducted the worship service, the number of inmates who attended the service, and the name of the chaplain who was in charge of the service. Every week I would check the log book to find out the number of inmates who attended the service. And I would send that information along with other statistics to the Good News Jail and Prison Ministry headquarters down in Washington. Well, one time when I checked the log book, I noticed that the deputy forgot to record my name as the chaplain in charge of the worship service. At first I didn’t think much of it. But in subsequent weeks and months, it started to bother me if the deputy forgot to enter my name in the log book and give me credit for being the chaplain on duty. Well, I remember one particular Monday morning that I opened the log book, and I noticed that my name was not recorded in the book. And my immediate thought was, “Hey! I was in charge of that worship service! How come my name doesn’t appear in that entry?” That very moment the Spirit of God convicted me of my pride. I felt so guilty and so ashamed. I confessed my sin to God and I prayed, “Lord, what does it matter if my name is in that book or not? Who cares? Your Word is being preached in the services, inmates are getting saved, and your name is being exalted. And that’s all that matters.”
And, indeed, that’s all that matters. And that’s all that mattered to Barak.
Conclusion
Mickey Owen dropped the ball. But I don’t think Barak dropped the ball. I believe he was a man of faith who rightly belongs in Faith’s Hall of Fame. His primary concerns were for God’s Word to be obeyed and God’s name to be exalted.
Can the same be said of us?
Let’s pray.
