Posted: November 10, 2022
The book of Judges notes that Ehud was “a left-handed man” (1) and King “Eglon was a very fat man.” (2) Hmm. 🤔 These are strange details to note in scripture, don’t you think? 🧐 But as a writer, I know that if an author points out something incidental early in the story, it isn’t
Continue Reading “Incidental Details”
Category: Blog
Posted: November 3, 2022
First there was Moses to lead the Israelites. Then there was Joshua. After Joshua died, however, “the people of Israel did what was evil in the sight of the Lord.” (1) The Israelites “abandoned the Lord, the God of their Fathers, who had brought them out of the land of Egypt. They went after other
Continue Reading “Deborah: The Conclusion”
Category: Blog
Posted: October 27, 2022
The Israelites battled the mighty Canaanites and beat them handily. What a great victory!! And here’s the back story. General Sisera, the commander of the Canaanite army, gave the order for his 900 chariots to advance, watched them sink in the mud of the Kishon River, witnessed Barak attack his soldiers . . . and
Continue Reading “Not Exactly What I Was Expecting”
Category: Blog
Posted: October 20, 2022
Barak and Deborah led the Israelites into battle against a powerful Canaanite force that was armed and ready! The Canaanites’ main source of power were the 900 chariots, a squadron led by two warriors, an archer and a driver, and drawn by horses. The chariots were covered with armor and heavy metal, seemingly impenetrable. The
Continue Reading “Wait for the Lord”
Category: Blog
Posted: October 13, 2022
When Barak asked Deborah to assist him in leading the battle against General Sisera, she told him this: “I will surely go with you. Nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” (1) And the next thing
Continue Reading “This is the Day”
Category: Blog
Posted: October 6, 2022
When Barak told Deborah that he would not accept his mission without her assistance, she rallied to the opportunity. Good for her! She did not hesitate. She was not afraid because she knew God had promised them victory. But you know what? The victory was not magical. They would still have to fight! There would
Continue Reading “Playing Defense”
Category: Blog
Posted: September 29, 2022
What was Barak’s response to Deborah when she asked him why he had not responded to God’s command to fight Jabin’s army? “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” (1) He was afraid. (I knew it.😏) Wow. Really? 😟 However .
Continue Reading “Be Strong and Courageous and Do It”
Category: Blog
Posted: September 22, 2022
King Jabin “had 900 chariots of iron and he oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years.” (1) Of course, it was the Israelites’ choice—to be under his rule. That is to say that even though once upon a time they said, “Far be it from us that we should forsake the Lord to
Continue Reading “Fear of Failure”
Category: Blog
Posted: September 15, 2022
When Israel was under the crushing rule of Jabin, Deborah decided to fight back. Apparently, Jabin had “oppressed the people of Israel cruelly for twenty years.” (1) But before we go on, I have a few questions. Question #1: Why was Jabin, this cruel man, ruling over Israel? Well . . . as it turns
Continue Reading “Living With the Enemy”
Category: Blog
Posted: September 8, 2022
If you read the Old Testament very much, you probably grow weary of reading these words: “And the people of Israel again did what was evil in the sight of the Lord. . .” (1) The operative word being “again.” 🙄 My reaction sometimes as I read this is, “What’s wrong with these people?” But
Continue Reading “Doing What We Want”
Category: Blog
