Sonshine's Journal

This is Women’s Month and today we stop to honor Deborah for her part in the overthrow of foreign governments that sought to undermine Israel. She trained the men, she followed them into battle and she honored Jael who singlehanded killed an evil enemy when Barak refused to go into battle without her. The story of Jael’s craftiness is worthy of our read today. She was a modern day MI6 warrior that craftily lured the enemy Sisera into a tent where she offered a drink of milk after which he laid down into a slumber. Then Jael hammered a tent peg into his skull. Deborah said a woman would be given the honor and Jael was that woman.

You never know when God will call upon you to serve Him in extraordinary ways just as we see here in the life of Jael. 

Where is God calling you to serve in extraordinary capacities? Are you ready? 

Just as God raised up Joshua and other male leaders to guide the nation of Israel, He has raised up women to fulfill His plans. Today in our reading we come across Deborah who sat under a tree to offer wise counsel to the people, one of whom as Barak. Now Barak was what we call a sissy for his fear of the enemy was stronger than his fear of the Lord. So, because God had called him to exterminate the enemy and he was fearful, God allowed Deborah to counsel him. She was a wife and a prophetess and clearly gave Barak the news that God had chosen him to lead. But, Barak needed more encouragement. Listen to his words: I will go if you will go with me. “Sigh”….When God calls you to do His bidding, He often doesn’t say go get a woman or any other to go with you! However, Barak did and Deborah went with him with this warning: your victory will be given to a woman not you. 

Beloved, when God calls you to serve, He will provide just what you need. Do you trust God to go with you, before you and behind you? Do you trust Him to provide all you need? Or are you a Barak? 

When Joseph was in Egypt he was a slave for many a year. However, after being released and becoming Prime minister, Pharaoh gave him Askenah as wife to whom were born two sons: Ephraim and Manasseh. Joseph lived and died but his descendants were part of the Israelites who left Egypt to travel to the Promised Land and his two sons joined as well. But, after that we don’t know much about them except some interesting facts one of which is that Joshua notes that Joseph’s sons were warriors. 

It is important to remember that God is always at work and in this chapter we learn more interesting facts about Manasseh. While Joshua allotted land for both sons, and he also fulfilled the words of Moses regarding the daughters of Zelophehad because he had no sons by giving his daughters an inheritance among their brethren. In addition, we see that God made sure that their inheritance was kept within the tribe of Manasseh by providing husbands for the girls.

We should always stop and thank God for His provision for His people. If we stop and think about our family history, we can find how God has provided for our every need; even to providing inheritances and husbands for our daughters. 

Way back in the history of the Israelites we recall the time when he and Joshua spied out the land and brought a favorable report, unlike the other spies. God promised Caleb that he would be given a blessing because of his faithfulness. And now the time has come. Caleb asks for the land on which his foot had trod and Joshua and God agree. But  there is another important part of this story that needs to be noted: Joshua asked God to bless Caleb to conquer the city of Hebron and the surrounding territory. And God did just that. That is an important principle here: when a friend asks us to pray for them it is not only a gift to us and to them but it honors God. 

God heard and He responded and blessed Caleb who conquered Hebron. 

Who has asked you to pray for them today and have you been faithful to that request?

As we read these chapters, one characteristic is note: the Israelites were a complaining people. No matter what God provided, the Israelites found fault. They have short memories and if truth be known we are as well. They complained about no water, they complained about the manna, they complained about entering the Promised Land. What are you complaining about? What am I complaining about? 

In the midst of all this we find Moses complaining to God about these people. Yes, Moses joined the ranks of the complainers. And yet in all of this the author of Hebrews captures the truth about this man. “Now Moses was faithful in all God’s house as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.” 

We learn much about this man Moses and the people who were under his charge. His humility is a lesson for us and complaining is an insult to God for our thanklessness. Today stop and consider if you are humble or a complainer for what God has given to you. 

It has been some years since my father died and the memories of that day are in the past and are hardly remembered. He lived, he died and was buried in the land of the north. There was little mourning.  Mother refused to let us mourn but encouraged us to move on and return to our work and other things. How unlike the death of Moses. He lived, he died and was buried on Mt. Nebo in some unknown place. The people mourned for thirty days and then moved on with Joshua as the new leader. 

Elijah and Enoch lived but did not die for God took them home to heaven. There was no mourning but life moved on and we have their witness in the Word. Moses died and we have his witness in these last chapters of this book. 

So what are we to glean from these last chapters? We are to recall the life of this man. As the book of Hebrews tells us: “Now Moses was faithful in all God’shouse as a servant, to testify to the things that would be spoken.” Is this our life’s testimony as well? Are we faithful in all of God’s house? Stay faithful dear ones so you will receive the same eulogy as this servant of the Lord. 

There are many lessons to glean from this marvelous book of the Law but one stands out above all and one I have chosen many a year ago while studying. How often have you heard “if only God would reveal Himself or do miracles” then I would believe. When men ask those questions they are testing God who has revealed all we need to know about Him and His plan for us. Listen carefully, there are 10 lessons for us to learn in this chapter but vs 29 is a key point: The secret things belong to God but the revealed things belong to us and our children forever so that we might obey the Law.”

The revealed things belong to us FOREVER!  We can know what those are by reading, meditating on and obeying that which is revealed. God has kept some things in His secret places and He has given us enough to know His will and His plan for the ages and for us in particular. 

What things has God revealed to you so you might obey? Share some here. 

For centuries the Jewish nation has endured many a curse. Why? It is because they have become stubborn and hard hearted. They read the book of the Law but do not choose to honor it and obey it. Today antisemitism is rampant across the globe and it breaks our hearts. Yet, the Book of the Law is clear. Do these things and God will bless you. Forget or disobey these words and God will bring curses upon you. 

These chapters are hard to read because of the evidence that is on every newspaper and tv news shows. Men have tried to stop this madness. Men have sought for peace but it is non-existent. Even Moses was not given the blessing of being able to enter the land because of his disobedience. 

There is lesson here for all of us. If we want God to bless us we must be a people that honor Him and obey His commandments. How are we doing in that department? 

War is a terrible event but it has been that way since the Garden. Men lead into battle and many do not return home. Moses gave men several opportunities to not go and they are listed here. A new house, a new vineyard, engagement to a woman. In all of them, many were just fearful and rightly so. War is never pleasant and often the soldiers pay with their lives to protect the innocent. Today we have those who are pacifists but in this passage God called the men to go and reminded them to not be afraid for He would be with them. 

What lesson are we to learn from this? God calls us to do hard things and many times we pay with our lives. What has God called you to do that might mean you will have to sacrifice your life? Are you prepared? Are you fearful? Will you trust God in the battle and beyond? 

Here in America we have the same principle that God gave the Israelites. A man/woman is considered innocent until proof of his guilt is established. No matter what social scale they live in, what cities they inhabit, their family structure, innocence was the key to proper law adherence. We adhere to this and it is part of our judicial system. 

So what was the test of guilt or innocence? There had to be at least two witnesses and the court is to listen and then a jury of their peers responds. God is clear about what He has ordered in order that there may be peace and order in the land. What was done in Israel is also done in our court system today here in America. Wise principles help to maintain order and righteousness.