About thirty years ago, a young woman tennis star named Billie Jean King was challenged to a tennis match in what was billed as the “Battle of the Sexes” Another American tennis star, Bobby Riggs, 55, had been considered the best player in the world years earlier. He won Wimbledon and 3 U.S. Open championships. But years later he thought he still “had it” and could beat a 29-year-old—because she was a woman. Riggs even practiced in a T-shirt that said “If I am to be a chauvinist pig, I want to be the #1 pig.”
Before a live audience of 30,000 and a viewer audience of about 50 million, Billy Jean King trounced Bobby Riggs in consecutive sets 6-4, 6-3, and 6-3.
Riggs was humiliated. It was discovered that a young woman could beat an older man (something few people today would even question.) But clearly the honor went to a woman. This mornings passage in Judges isn’t about a tennis match…but it’s about 2 woman who got honored over 2 men…(not because they were better tennis players)…but because they trusted God. They teach us the bottom line lesson that “If you fail to put your faith and trust in God…you lose opportunities with God.”
So rather than seeing this as a battle-of-the-sexes message, I want you to see the more significant spiritual message: “When you know what God wants you to do, but you tell Him, “I’ll obey, IF. . .” you’ve put conditions on your obedience. And when you put conditions on your obedience, God doesn’t lose out …YOU do! So, we’re going to look at 4 different kinds of faith this morning and at the end of the message, I want you to determine which kind of faith you have. Turn in your bibles to Judges 4,5….
Judges 4:1: After Ehud’s death…Those of you who were here last week remember Ehud don’t you? Ehud was the left handed judge/deliverer who stuck a sword into fat ole King Eglon’s gut. (Dads got a package of pork rinds to help you remember him). He was followed by Shamgar the judge. He defeated 600 Philistines with an ox goad, leading us to rename him “Sham-wow”!
You say, “What happened after Ehud died?” Vs. 1 continues… the Israelites again did evil in the Lord’s sight. In otherwords, the spiral of apostasy that we’ve been talking about (and that we all find ourselves in at one time or another) begins again…vs.2-3…So the LORD turned them over to King Jabin of Hazor, a Canaanite king. The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Haro-sheth-haggo-yim. 3 Sisera, who had 900 iron chariots, ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years. Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help.
Who turned Israel over to the King Jabin of Hazor? The Lord did! This was His loving discipline. See, as our loving heavenly Father, God doesn’t sit back, wring His hands & worry when we fall into sin…He does something about it! Throughout Judges, He sells Israel into the hands of their enemies. This is the consequence for Israel’s sin, & God let’s them experience it in full. He does the same thing for us. He allows us to face the consequences for our actions. Not to destroy us, but to get us to turn back to Him.
So He sells them to a very strong, very demanding enemy…Jabin. A King who ruled harshly & had access to a mighty arsenal. His top commander had 900 iron chariots. Now iron chariots were the “smart bombs” and “drones” of their day. They were basically “killing platforms” used to roll over and chop down their enemies while they were in retreat. So this was a pretty bad time for Israel! They were under the iron fist of Jabin and Sisera for 20 years, before they finally cried out to the Lord for help. And because God is a merciful, caring and loving God…who keeps His promises. Even though He has every right to turn a deaf ear to us…He answers once again!
Enter a woman named Deborah…vs.4 Deborah, the wife of Lappi-doth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. The name “Deborah” lit. means, “honey bee”. And like a “honeybee she was very productive”, but as we’re going to see, while she was a “bee” in peace, she was a “wasp” in war! vs.5 She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. Of all the “deliverers” in the book of Judges, Deborah is the only female. Now that in itself is an astounding thing, since she lived in a male dominated society. But Deborah was an exception. And she held a very high position. People came to her for arbitration in their disputes. But not only was she a ‘judge”, she was a wife (probably a mother), and a “Prophetess”. i.e. People looked to her for direction, as a spokesperson for God. So if you ever wondered if God values women, the answer is “yes”. The bible says in Gal.3:28…There is no longer Jew or Gentile, slave or free, male and female. For you are all one in Christ Jesus. (READ) What that verse is saying is that the ground is level at the base of the cross.
vs.6…”One day she sent for Barak son of Abi-noam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7 And I will call out (NIV= “lure”) Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.” So Deborah receives a word from the Lord, telling her to send Barak into battle with 10,000 warriors. But it wasn’t just a call to battle, it was a promise of victory in battle. It was a done deal…all He had to do is obey.
But Barak wavers vs.8-10…Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.” “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the Lord’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. 10 At Kedesh, Barak called together the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali, and 10,000 warriors went up with him. Deborah also went with him. Barak says that He’ll obey, but on one condition…that Deborah go with him! Deborah reluctantly agrees; but it’s gonna cost him! He’s not going to get any credit for the victory – but a woman will. Again, in a male dominated society, that was a quite a hit to his male ego.
vs.11-13, ‘Now Heber the Kenite, a descendant of Moses’ brother-in-law Hobab, had moved away from the other members of his tribe and pitched his tent by the oak of Zaanan-nim near Kedesh.12 When Sisera was told that Barak son of Abinoam had gone up to Mount Tabor, 13 he called for all 900 of his iron chariots and all of his warriors, and they marched from Harosheth-haggoyim to the Kishon River. So everyone is preparing for battle. The lines have been drawn. Barak has got this massive army made up of 2 tribes of Israel. Sisera on the otherhand, is lined up with his 900 iron chariots. They’re ready for a massive showdown…and out of nowhere in vs.11 the bible tells us about Heber the Kenite. Apparently He’s moved away from his fellow Israelites and has this tent pitched out near an old oak tree in Kedesh. Huh? What’s that all about? No connection? We’ll find out in a minute…
So finally the moment of truth has come. vs.14... 14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. Down the hill they charge, 10,000 strong against Sisera’s soldiers & iron chariots. It would be like trying to take on an Abrams Tank with a horse, or an Aircraft carrier with a little Dinghy.
vs.15-16…”When Barak attacked, the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot.16 Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggo-yim, killing all of Sisera’s warriors. Not a single one was left alive. How overwhelming was the victory? All the charioteers were defeated, and everyone of Sisera’s soldiers were killed. Sisera couldn’t even retreat in his chariot, but had to run away on foot! God completely turned the tables! Later in Judges 5:4, (as Deborah sings her victory song), she fills us in on the details. Apparently, a heavy rain storm swept down and changed the Kishon Brook into a raging river, flooding the valley and sinking Sisera’s mighty chariots in the mud!
In minutes, they went from being “charging bulls” to “sitting ducks”! Some might call the timing of the rain storm “coincidence”…but you know what? I find that the more I pray…the more “coincidences” happen in my life!
vs.17…”Meanwhile, Sisera ran to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because Heber’s family was on friendly terms with King Jabin of Hazor.” Unfortunately, Gen. Sisera gets away on foot. Exhausted, guess where he ends up? Remember that tent that “Heber the Kenite” set up near the old oak tree? Yup…exhausted and desperately needing water, food, and a place to hide…Sisera stumbles on to this tent. Fortunately for him (or so he thinks) Heber is on friendly terms with his King. Heber must be gone, so he’s met by his sweet little wife, Jael. vs.18-20 18 Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come into my tent, sir. Come in. Don’t be afraid.” So he went into her tent, and she covered him with a blanket.19 “Please give me some water,” he said. “I’m thirsty.” So she gave him some milk from a leather bag and covered him again. 20 “Stand at the door of the tent,” he told her. “If anybody comes and asks you if there is anyone here, say no.”
Now, tradition forbid women from taking any men (other than their husband or father) into their tent, so it was a perfect hideout, and Jael seems like the perfect hostess. She brings him into her little “Bates Motel” …”Here you go Sisera, have some nice warm milk! It’ll help you to take a little nappy poo! Here’s a blanky…let me tuck you in.” Sisera accepts her hospitality and quickly falls asleep. vs.21…But when Sisera fell asleep from exhaustion, Jael quietly crept up to him with a hammer and tent peg in her hand. Then she drove the tent peg through his temple and into the ground, and so he died. (Oh really? Yikes! This sweet little lady, with her milk and cookies turned out to be the ‘hostess from hell’ ! Driving the stakes and setting up a tent was women’s work, so Jael was pretty good with a hammer and a stake vs.22… 22 When Barak came looking for Sisera, Jael went out to meet him. She said, “Come, and I will show you the man you are looking for.” So he followed her into the tent and found Sisera lying there dead, with the tent peg through his temple.
I guess Deborah was a pretty good prophetess, because that’s exactly what she predicted would happen. The Lord handed Sisera’s defeat into the “hands of a woman”…just like she said He would. vs.23-24...So on that day Israel saw God defeat Jabin, the Canaanite king. 24 And from that time on Israel became stronger and stronger against King Jabin until they finally destroyed him. This battlefield victory was the start of an even greater one, and eventually all of Israel was liberated & they experienced 40 years of freedom.
Now whether you realize it or not…this story is all about faith. The kind of faith that you and I need in the nitty gritty of life…when the battles are the greatest. When we’re battling financial enemies, or physical enemies. When the “Sisera’s” of life have lined up against us and our problems look unbeatable and overwhelming. When challenges come, each of us responds in 1 of 4 ways. Some of us have the kind of faith that the enemy commander Sisera had. You say, “Sisera had faith?” Sure He did! Everybody puts their faith in something, and Sisera decided to put his faith in himself. I call this kind of faith…
1. Displaced Faith
It’s a totally worthless kind of faith. In fact it’s foolish, because your putting your faith in something that’s easily overcome. But it’s a common thing to do. Legend has it, that up to this point Sisera was undefeated. So he’d built up a lot of confidence in himself. It was said that Sisera’s voice was so strong that, when he called loudly, the most solid wall would shake and the wildest animal would fall dead. That he caught enough fish in his beard while bathing in the Kishon to provide food for his whole army. Rabbis declared that Sisera lead no less than 40,000 armies each consisting of 100,000 men. Of course all of that was an exaggeration, but people who put their faith in themselves are prone to do that! They get big heads. They foolishly think that they can handle whatever life throws at them! Only to find out too late that’s not true.
Besides…he had 900 iron chariots! Nobody could defeat an army like that! It was the greatest weapon known to man at the time. Yet in the end, Sisera’s sophisticated technology couldn’t save him. In fact, it quickened his armies defeat as the heavy iron chariots sunk into the mud of the flooded river valley.
No one would have thought such a stunning defeat was even possible…but it happened nonetheless. When you put all of your faith in yourself (or the things around you)…you’ve put your trust in the wrong place! It’s “displaced faith” and it will eventually lead you to a devastating defeat.
Psalm 20:7 says, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.” What are you trusting in this morning? Your “chariots” or the Lord? I know people who “say” they trust in the Lord, but when trouble & disaster strike, do you know what they really trust in? Their money. Their job. Their education. Their smarts. Their talents. Whatever you run to when you’re in trouble is what you put your trust in. We are all making choices this morning based on who or what we trust the most. Choices that define out lives and future. Hear me out! When you’re stuck in the “middle of the muddle”…the only trust that’s ultimately worthwhile, is trust in the Lord our God. Faith in anything less…is worthless, displaced faith.
Now there are some other people (who aren’t mentioned directly, but who show up in Deborah’s victory song in chapter 5. These are the Israeli tribes who never show up for the fight. They have a…
2. Disappointing Faith
Barak was only able to gather 2 of the 12 tribes to fight against their enemies. Zebulun and Naphtali. Read Judges 5:15-17 with me… The princes of Issachar were with Deborah and Barak. They followed Barak, rushing into the valley. But in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision. 16 Why did you sit at home among the sheepfolds, to hear the shepherds whistle for their flocks? Yes, in the tribe of Reuben there was great indecision. 17 Gilead remained east of the Jordan. And why did Dan stay home? Asher sat unmoved at the seashore, remaining in his harbors. 18 But Zebulun risked his life, as did Naphtali, on the heights of the battlefield.
Whereas the tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali risked their life on the battlefield, charging down the hill against impossible odds…the other tribes were indecisive. In fact, they went AWOL! Deborah asks the same questions we might ask: “Where were they? Why didn’t they come?” Apparently even after being terrorized for 20 years, they weren’t willing to put lives on the line. They wanted to be free, but they didn’t want to risk anything to win their freedom. So they stood on the sidelines and watched while others fought their battles for them. Maybe that’s where you find yourself this morning. On the sidelines. Content to let others do all the work? Serve in all the ministries, give all the money, pray all the prayers?
Listen whether you realize it or not…the enemy is on the advance, and his desire has always been (and always will be)… to kill, steal, and destroy. There are no sidelines to huddle in. There is no middle ground. There is no way to be neutral. We’re in the middle of a spiritual battle…and even though you may feel war weary…it’s not over yet! So every one of us needs the prophetic insight and “guts” to get in the battle and fight this thing out. I feel like a lot of Christians today are living like they’re on a playground, when they’re actually on a battlefield. You can’t hide out and remain unscathed. We’re ALL in the fight of our lives, (for our families, our values, our future, our church… and it’s time to come out swinging!
Jack Handey in his book “Fuzzy Moments” writes- “There used to be this bully who would demand my lunch money every day. Since I was smaller, I would give it to him. Then I decided to fight back. I started to take karate lessons, but the instructor wanted 5 dollars a lesson. That was a lot of money. I found out that it was cheaper to pay the bully. So I gave up karate.”
Are you “paying the bully” this morning? I know a lot of people (even Christians) who’ve given up karate! They’ve decided it’s easier to just give into the enemy than to learn how to defeat him. It’s so tempting to want to sit on the sidelines and hope for a positive outcome. Whether it’s sharing Christ with your friends and relatives…following God’s call on your life, OR simply stepping up to fill a ministry role in this local body of believers. But until you “put on the armor” and commit yourself to the battle…your faith is going to be very “disappointing” (not only to you), but to the one who’s leading the charge...Jesus.
But what about Barak? What kind of faith did he have? Well, initially he wavered, but eventually he led his troops to victory didn’t he? I know it sounds like a oxymoron, but Barak had what I’d call a…
3. Doubting Faith
Barak told Deborah, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go." Barak hears God speaking through Deborah, and he believes (or at least he wants too), but he’s unwilling to go there on His own. He just isn’t confident enough to do this without her. He needs some encouragement. The fact that he demanded she come with him showed that he trusted more in Deborah’s relationship with God than his own relationship with God. One commentator I read wrote, “Barak preferred the inspiration of Deborah’s presence, to the invisible but certain help of Almighty God” I think we’re a lot like Barak sometimes. We put our faith more in other peoples faith, than we do in God. We waver, we doubt, we hesitate to do the right thing because we’re unsure and we’re scared.
But notice God didn’t give up on him. There’s something to be said for this kind of wavering faith. God can still work with it. Just like Jesus was willing to work with the father of the demon possessed boy who said "I believe, but help my unbelief." Jesus will help us, but we have to be honest with Him. We have to be open enough to say, “Lord, I want to believe and obey, but I’m going to need a little help here.” God is always willing to work with the willing, but He can’t (and He WON’T) work with are people who stubbornly drive their stake in the ground and say…This is just the way I am! I’m not going to change! (sorry, bad pun). But as Barak found out, “doubting faith” doesn’t always get God’s best. Someone else would get the honor of defeating the enemy. Have you ever experienced “doubting faith”? Sure you have! You experience it when you take those 1st tentative baby steps to start into a new ministry. We experience “doubting faith” every time we ask God for healing, or to come through with a financial need. And that’s OK…as long as we follow through.
Amazingly, when the writer of Hebrews gives examples of people with great faith in Hebrews 11, Barack is included in the list, but Deborah isn’t. Why? I think it’s proof that God accepts weak, doubting faith as a start, …but we can’t stay there! Barak started out weak, but he ended strong! He eventually charged down the hill and defeated the enemy. He learned a big lesson that day. He probably wondered why He doubted in the 1st place. Have you ever done that? You trust God (kinda)…but yet He still comes through. You go away wishing you had trusted more. But instead of feeling guilty…you need to remember and do better the next time.
Of course the goal is to get us to live the kind of faith that Deborah had. It’s what I call… 4. Dynamic Faith
Deborah’s faith is so strong that when she hears the voice of God, she knows it’s Him, trusts His Word and tells it to others. That’s the kind of faith we all need to strive for! Back then, a woman couldn’t do anything but bear children. But God shows us here that He’ll use ANYONE who’s willing to go all the way with Him!
Now, I don’t want to give you the idea that dynamic faith happens all at once. It takes a lot of practice. It’s developed over years of hearing from God and then acting on what you hear. But it’s not an impossible goal. It starts when you trust Him right now, TODAY…with whatever’s troubling or challenging you…and then as you give that worry or that problem to Him, you find out that He’s trustworthy. Next time it’ll be easier and easier…until finally you have perfect faith and trust.
Some people think it’s hypocritical to reach out in faith just because you’re facing a crisis, but all through scripture we see God using crisis’ as a way to get his people to either renew their faith in Him. Many times He’ll use a crises to get people who have “displaced faith” to reach out to Him for the very 1st time. So this morning if you’re facing a crisis, or if you know that you’re faith has been misplaced in the things of your life…there’s no need to be embarrassed, call out to the Lord right now, with a WILLING faith and God will develop it into a DYNAMIC faith!
As you look at this story and examine the different kinds of faith…Ask yourself…”Where am I at on this scale? Where do I need to be?”
