“And Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!” So she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh.” – Judges 4:8, 9 

Scripture reading: Judges 4:1- 5:31

Deborah was not prophesying about herself when she said “…for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, would be pegged by God for the task of killing Sisera. Still, when it comes to courage, both Deborah and Jael had received ample supply from God. Deborah had to hold the hand of timid Barak to wage war against the Canaanites of Jabin. Jael would hold a tent peg to the temple of Sisera and hammer him to the earth. Neither woman, it seems, had been pining for a fight. Yet, when the moment of need arrived, both received grace from God equal to the task.

The bigger picture of this text is God’s delight when His people willingly offer themselves in His service (read chapter 5 carefully). This both Deborah and Jael did, but the courage to fight was given to them from the Lord. It is never by might nor by power, but always by His Spirit.

The point should be obvious – God can grant us courage equal to the task. We are probably not tasked to fight Canaanites or drive a tent peg into a person’s head (gross), but our task might seem to us too hard to deal with. Remember Deborah! Remember Jael!

Suggestions for prayer

Ask the Lord to give you courage for the hard tasks you face. Remember those who lived by faith before you and seek help from God.

Rev. Harold Miller graduated from Mid-America Reformed Seminary in 2001 and has served churches in Wellsburg, Iowa and Kansas City, Missouri before arriving at Oak Lawn, Illinois in 2020. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. It is also available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.