Every situation has room for God’s victory. Will we call upon the Lord? Will we listen and follow His lead? Even in the bleariest of chapters…even when we’ve strayed, we can let God weave his hope, peace, love, and joy into our story.
UNHURRY HACK: When we take our focus off what we are lacking, we are able to see our Provider God. We can follow the Lord and leave the logistics to Him.
FIRST READ: Judges 4
Hopelessness is no match for God. It never has been.
For twenty years God had allowed oppression under the Canaanites as a result of Israel’s desire to follow evil instead of the Lord their God. As it so often happens, sin led to their misery. After Sisera and his 900 iron chariots brought Israel to their knees in oppression, the Israelites were finally ready to bend a knee in worship, crying out to the Lord to save them.
God heard them and spoke to Deborah. She immediately called Barak into action, who was serving as Israel’s judge at the time. By God’s hand they led Israel into victory, and pointed mankind once more to our true Savior and Deliverer, Jesus Christ.
Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. Judges 4:14 (NIV)
Soldier versus Chariot. Flesh versus iron. Victory was out of reach by the world’s standards, but not for those whom God was leading that day. God miraculously threw Sisera’s army into confusion causing every single one of his men to be killed. Sisera jumped off his shiny chariot and fled to a nearby tent belonging to a woman named Jael who killed him with a tent peg, thus fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy.
God saved Israel because He loved them. God will never stop loving us either. We don’t ever have to stay in a place of misery and defeat. As God’s Children, He wants to save us, deliver us, and lead us into daily victory through Christ as we follow Him.
When we take our focus off what we are lacking, we are able to see our Provider God. We can follow the Lord and leave the logistics to Him. Psalm 20:7 reminds us, “Some trust in chariots and horses, but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.”
What is your “Sisera” today? Are there changes you want to make this year? Strongholds you want to break? What kinds of chariots make victory seem out of reach? Cry out to God today! Listen and follow the One who leads us. Listen and follow Christ’s lead into hope, peace, love, and joy in all circumstances.. Get ready for victory… Victory has a name--His name is Jesus!
Father God, you are the God who saves. You are Deliverer. The world intimidates me and feels defeating at times. But Oh, when we remember the army on our side! You are Lord of Hosts! I lift up to you today the chariots that stand in my way from trusting and following you. Forgive my heart from choosing my understanding over your incredible ways! In Jesus Name, Amen.