1 00:00:00,280 --> 00:00:04,480 Speaker 1: And behold, as Barrick pursued Cicera, ja l came out 2 00:00:04,519 --> 00:00:07,720 Speaker 1: to meet him and said, unto him, come and I 3 00:00:07,760 --> 00:00:10,920 Speaker 1: will show ye the man whom thou seekest. And when 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:14,440 Speaker 1: he came into her tent, behold Cicera lay dead, and 5 00:00:14,520 --> 00:00:18,000 Speaker 1: the nail was in his temples Judges for twenty two. 6 00:00:19,520 --> 00:00:22,400 Speaker 1: Dear Heavenly Father, as I reflect on the life of Deborah, 7 00:00:23,040 --> 00:00:25,920 Speaker 1: I thank you that you are giving me the wisdom, knowledge, 8 00:00:25,920 --> 00:00:30,200 Speaker 1: and understanding that I possess to day. I declare that 9 00:00:30,360 --> 00:00:33,720 Speaker 1: Deborah's boldness on the battlefield will be the same boldness 10 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:37,120 Speaker 1: I have as I walk through new doors of opportunity. 11 00:00:38,080 --> 00:00:42,519 Speaker 1: As she declared victory in advance, I too am claiming 12 00:00:42,600 --> 00:00:46,239 Speaker 1: victory and divine favor over my life, my decisions, and 13 00:00:46,360 --> 00:00:49,920 Speaker 1: my projects. I will not wait to see the victory 14 00:00:50,240 --> 00:00:54,680 Speaker 1: before I claim it, because I have faith, and faith 15 00:00:55,280 --> 00:00:58,560 Speaker 1: is believing what is not seen, to call what is 16 00:00:58,640 --> 00:01:02,440 Speaker 1: not as though it was. As in Judges four five, 17 00:01:03,040 --> 00:01:06,160 Speaker 1: I praise you for setting up others to help accomplish 18 00:01:06,280 --> 00:01:09,040 Speaker 1: my task, like you did through the life of Barrack 19 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:13,800 Speaker 1: and Jail. I decree and declare that all fear based 20 00:01:13,880 --> 00:01:17,640 Speaker 1: thinking will be penned to the floor of defeat, as 21 00:01:17,640 --> 00:01:24,160 Speaker 1: I raise and claim my victory in Jesus name. Amen. 22 00:01:25,440 --> 00:01:29,160 Speaker 1: Listening to these daily prayers strengthens your relationship with God. 23 00:01:29,720 --> 00:01:33,560 Speaker 1: Continue hearing from the Lord by listening to today's Bible 24 00:01:33,680 --> 00:01:36,640 Speaker 1: in a Year brought to you by Bible in a 25 00:01:36,720 --> 00:01:48,120 Speaker 1: Year dot com the Palm of Deborah. Previously, we learned 26 00:01:48,160 --> 00:01:52,760 Speaker 1: about the backsliding people of Israel. Despite all God had 27 00:01:52,800 --> 00:01:57,120 Speaker 1: done for them, they continued to give themselves to other idols. 28 00:01:57,520 --> 00:02:01,200 Speaker 1: As a result, they were overtaken and made slaves by 29 00:02:01,240 --> 00:02:06,320 Speaker 1: neighboring kingdoms. But God sent the mighty Judges off Nia 30 00:02:06,560 --> 00:02:11,240 Speaker 1: and Ahood. Both were crafty and brave men chosen by 31 00:02:11,320 --> 00:02:16,480 Speaker 1: God to save the Israelites from their own disobedience and captivity. 32 00:02:16,680 --> 00:02:20,519 Speaker 1: Now we will learn about the deliverance of Israel once again. 33 00:02:21,320 --> 00:02:25,560 Speaker 1: God summons the leadership of Debrah and Barak to free 34 00:02:25,560 --> 00:02:29,880 Speaker 1: the people from the oppression of the Canaanites. Inspired by 35 00:02:29,880 --> 00:02:35,600 Speaker 1: the Book of Judges, Hello, I'm pastor Jack Graham with 36 00:02:35,639 --> 00:02:39,280 Speaker 1: today's episode of the Bible in a Year podcast. In 37 00:02:39,320 --> 00:02:42,680 Speaker 1: our previous episode, we enter into the time of the Judges. 38 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:46,920 Speaker 1: We heard how Israel entered into a cycle of sinning 39 00:02:47,000 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: and captivity and repentance, and then rescue from God. Each 40 00:02:51,360 --> 00:02:53,720 Speaker 1: time they cried out to God for help, God would 41 00:02:53,760 --> 00:02:57,160 Speaker 1: give them a powerful man of valor and righteousness who 42 00:02:57,160 --> 00:03:01,359 Speaker 1: would lead God's people to freedom, not just from physical captivity, 43 00:03:01,760 --> 00:03:07,280 Speaker 1: but spiritual bondage. Today will learn how Israel sinned again 44 00:03:07,840 --> 00:03:12,400 Speaker 1: and were conquered by another nation. As always, God will 45 00:03:12,639 --> 00:03:16,640 Speaker 1: set them free from oppression, and he'll work through two 46 00:03:17,040 --> 00:03:22,000 Speaker 1: notable and powerful women. As you listen today, take note 47 00:03:22,040 --> 00:03:24,560 Speaker 1: and remember that the hero in the story is never 48 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:28,519 Speaker 1: the one through whom God works, but rather God himself. 49 00:03:29,080 --> 00:03:33,600 Speaker 1: So let's listen now to today's reading. The pursuit of 50 00:03:33,720 --> 00:03:39,200 Speaker 1: darkness continued. Israel was tempted by every god of the land. 51 00:03:39,800 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: They looked for any excuse to satisfy their selfish desires 52 00:03:44,040 --> 00:03:49,200 Speaker 1: in pursuit of simple comforts. As before, God removed his 53 00:03:49,320 --> 00:03:52,440 Speaker 1: hand of blessing and allowed them to fill their hearts 54 00:03:52,520 --> 00:03:56,680 Speaker 1: with sin. God would not beg for their love, but 55 00:03:56,800 --> 00:04:01,720 Speaker 1: he would not leave them either. Soon Ehud died, Jabin, 56 00:04:01,960 --> 00:04:06,440 Speaker 1: King of Canaan, and his general Cicerah attacked Israel with 57 00:04:06,640 --> 00:04:10,480 Speaker 1: nine hundred chariots of iron like a black wave. The 58 00:04:10,520 --> 00:04:17,239 Speaker 1: Canaanite army crashed upon Israel. They consumed them, drowning in oppression, sin, 59 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:21,799 Speaker 1: and helplessness. The children of Israel cried out to God again. 60 00:04:22,760 --> 00:04:26,440 Speaker 1: Judging over Israel at that time was Deborah. She was 61 00:04:26,480 --> 00:04:31,039 Speaker 1: a strong and wise woman, a prophetess devoted to God. 62 00:04:31,839 --> 00:04:34,880 Speaker 1: People would often seek Deborah's wisdom and come to her 63 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:40,560 Speaker 1: with disputes. Her pragmatism, discernment, and sensitivity to God's spirit 64 00:04:40,960 --> 00:04:44,559 Speaker 1: made her a leader worth following. When the oppressive hand 65 00:04:44,600 --> 00:04:48,320 Speaker 1: of Jaban pressed upon the throat of Israel, Deborah sent 66 00:04:48,400 --> 00:04:52,680 Speaker 1: for Barak, a commander of Israel's army. Barak came at 67 00:04:52,720 --> 00:04:57,920 Speaker 1: once and stood at attention before Deborah. She spoke to him, saying, 68 00:04:58,360 --> 00:05:02,560 Speaker 1: the Lord has commanded you to take ten thousand soldiers 69 00:05:02,600 --> 00:05:07,480 Speaker 1: and go against Cesarah. Barak gulped, slightly scared at the 70 00:05:07,480 --> 00:05:12,200 Speaker 1: thought of facing nine hundred iron chariots and even more footsoldiers. 71 00:05:12,839 --> 00:05:16,320 Speaker 1: He looked at Deborah and said, I will go, but 72 00:05:16,480 --> 00:05:21,400 Speaker 1: only if you go with me. Deborah smiled and nodded, saying, 73 00:05:21,600 --> 00:05:24,279 Speaker 1: of course I will go with you, but know this, 74 00:05:24,680 --> 00:05:27,560 Speaker 1: there will be no glory for you if you are victorious, 75 00:05:28,040 --> 00:05:30,919 Speaker 1: for the Lord is giving Cesarah into the hand of 76 00:05:30,960 --> 00:05:34,919 Speaker 1: a woman. Then Deborah rose and rode like the wind 77 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:39,200 Speaker 1: with Barak to the valley of Kadesh. Ten thousand men 78 00:05:39,360 --> 00:05:43,080 Speaker 1: followed them, and they rode with purpose to war. The 79 00:05:43,200 --> 00:05:46,880 Speaker 1: two armies met for battle. The vast numbers of Israel 80 00:05:46,960 --> 00:05:51,320 Speaker 1: looked thin compared to the bulk of Cicarah's chariots. Deborah 81 00:05:51,400 --> 00:05:55,200 Speaker 1: could sense the weakness in her men. She rode among them, 82 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:59,200 Speaker 1: clanging her sword against theirs. She yelled at the top 83 00:05:59,240 --> 00:06:04,000 Speaker 1: of her lung, saying, Arise, God has already given them 84 00:06:04,040 --> 00:06:07,839 Speaker 1: into our hands. Does he not go before you? The 85 00:06:07,960 --> 00:06:12,240 Speaker 1: soldiers raised their swords and spears and followed Deborah and 86 00:06:12,240 --> 00:06:17,040 Speaker 1: Barak into battle. The army of Israel overpowered the chariots. 87 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:22,040 Speaker 1: One by one. Iron fell into the dust. Barak fought 88 00:06:22,080 --> 00:06:25,680 Speaker 1: among the men, his sword gliding through flesh and bone. 89 00:06:26,320 --> 00:06:29,200 Speaker 1: Spears flew through the air, hitting the hearts of the 90 00:06:29,320 --> 00:06:33,560 Speaker 1: chariot drivers. Horses, and men fell to the ground, and 91 00:06:33,760 --> 00:06:37,159 Speaker 1: Sir Sarah could already sense he had lost the battle. 92 00:06:38,000 --> 00:06:41,600 Speaker 1: Sir Sarah leapt off his chariot and ran away on foot, 93 00:06:41,680 --> 00:06:44,400 Speaker 1: looking back to make sure none of his men witnessed 94 00:06:44,440 --> 00:06:48,599 Speaker 1: his cowardice. He ran further and further away from the camp, 95 00:06:48,920 --> 00:06:53,279 Speaker 1: and the screams of men were replaced by silence. None 96 00:06:53,360 --> 00:06:56,960 Speaker 1: were left alive. Sir Sarah had escaped up towards the 97 00:06:57,000 --> 00:07:01,000 Speaker 1: tent of one of his allies, Hebrew. There, Sir Sarah 98 00:07:01,040 --> 00:07:05,080 Speaker 1: met with Hebrew's wife Gail. He ordered Jail to bring 99 00:07:05,160 --> 00:07:08,200 Speaker 1: him food and something to drink, and then keep watch 100 00:07:08,240 --> 00:07:12,200 Speaker 1: while he slept. Geil brought Cis Sarah milk in a blanket. 101 00:07:12,560 --> 00:07:16,520 Speaker 1: Do not be afraid, she whispered, Stroking his hair, she 102 00:07:16,640 --> 00:07:20,160 Speaker 1: hushed him to sleep. She brushed his hair until Cicerah 103 00:07:20,160 --> 00:07:23,640 Speaker 1: fell into a deep slumber. She covered him with a blanket. 104 00:07:24,320 --> 00:07:27,160 Speaker 1: Jail went to the entrance of the tent and picked 105 00:07:27,240 --> 00:07:31,160 Speaker 1: up a tent peg and hammer. She turned towards Cesarah 106 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:34,760 Speaker 1: and slowly approached him. She stroked his hair some more, 107 00:07:35,160 --> 00:07:38,679 Speaker 1: and then, in one decisive swoop, hammered the tent peg 108 00:07:38,880 --> 00:07:42,960 Speaker 1: into Cicerah's skull. The peg was driven straight through his 109 00:07:43,080 --> 00:07:47,920 Speaker 1: temple and touched the dirt. Meanwhile, Barak was in hot 110 00:07:48,000 --> 00:07:50,960 Speaker 1: pursuit of Cicerah and had followed him to Jail's tent. 111 00:07:51,600 --> 00:07:54,240 Speaker 1: Jail rushed out of the tent and stopped him, saying, 112 00:07:54,560 --> 00:07:58,000 Speaker 1: come quick, I will show you where he is. Barak's 113 00:07:58,040 --> 00:08:01,400 Speaker 1: eyes widened as he saw Cesarah, his dead body bolted 114 00:08:01,440 --> 00:08:05,400 Speaker 1: to the floor by his head. It was true God 115 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:08,560 Speaker 1: did grant victory over as Sarah to a woman, but 116 00:08:08,640 --> 00:08:12,760 Speaker 1: it was not Deborah the jail. A pool of blood 117 00:08:12,760 --> 00:08:16,600 Speaker 1: surrounded his skull. Back on the battlefield, a pool of 118 00:08:16,640 --> 00:08:27,160 Speaker 1: blood surrounded the Canaanite army. Today's story begins with Israel 119 00:08:27,200 --> 00:08:31,280 Speaker 1: being seduced again by foreign gods. The hearts of God's 120 00:08:31,280 --> 00:08:35,520 Speaker 1: people turn away from Him again, living among those who 121 00:08:35,520 --> 00:08:38,199 Speaker 1: do not know God or follow Him as a challenge today, 122 00:08:38,280 --> 00:08:41,280 Speaker 1: just as it was for these Israelites so long ago. 123 00:08:42,800 --> 00:08:46,000 Speaker 1: And the only hope for staying true to God and 124 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:49,679 Speaker 1: keeping our faith in Him is to always keep our 125 00:08:49,720 --> 00:08:53,040 Speaker 1: eyes on the Lord and trust in his word to us. 126 00:08:53,080 --> 00:08:58,479 Speaker 1: From generation to generation, we see from generation to generation 127 00:08:58,559 --> 00:09:01,520 Speaker 1: in the life of Israel, the people turning away from 128 00:09:01,600 --> 00:09:05,640 Speaker 1: Him and then repenting and then coming back. We see 129 00:09:05,679 --> 00:09:08,960 Speaker 1: this in our own generation, and we are praying for 130 00:09:09,080 --> 00:09:13,600 Speaker 1: revival and restoration because the Bible says, blessed is the 131 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:17,520 Speaker 1: nation whose God is the Lord. There was a foreign 132 00:09:17,640 --> 00:09:20,480 Speaker 1: king in our story. Jaban of Canaan who attacked Israel 133 00:09:20,480 --> 00:09:23,000 Speaker 1: with his army. The army was led by a man 134 00:09:23,160 --> 00:09:28,240 Speaker 1: named Ceserah, and they endured cruel enslavement for twenty years. 135 00:09:28,640 --> 00:09:31,600 Speaker 1: God's people cried out to him for help, as they 136 00:09:31,640 --> 00:09:36,160 Speaker 1: often did when things became difficult. How much heartache and 137 00:09:36,240 --> 00:09:39,160 Speaker 1: how much pain could have been spared if they simply 138 00:09:39,200 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: had called upon God, not just in the bad times, 139 00:09:42,160 --> 00:09:45,440 Speaker 1: but in the good times. But God did not abandon 140 00:09:45,520 --> 00:09:48,120 Speaker 1: his people. God is faithful to his promise and to 141 00:09:48,160 --> 00:09:52,199 Speaker 1: his people. He heard their cries for help. In those days. 142 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,680 Speaker 1: There was a woman by the name of Deborah, a 143 00:09:54,800 --> 00:09:58,440 Speaker 1: prophetess and the only woman ever named as a judge 144 00:09:58,559 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: in the Bible. Judge in the Bible is a deliverer 145 00:10:02,760 --> 00:10:07,360 Speaker 1: a conqueror, and the people looked to Deborah for wisdom, strength, 146 00:10:07,520 --> 00:10:12,440 Speaker 1: and guidance. So Deborah, responding to God's spirit, sent for Bhak, 147 00:10:13,000 --> 00:10:17,319 Speaker 1: a commander of Israel's army. Deborah spoke prophetic words to Barak, 148 00:10:17,720 --> 00:10:20,640 Speaker 1: revealing what God had commanded Barak to do in order 149 00:10:20,720 --> 00:10:25,360 Speaker 1: to defeat Jabon and free Israel from captivity. She spoke 150 00:10:25,400 --> 00:10:28,959 Speaker 1: with confidence, trusting that God would be true to his word. 151 00:10:30,040 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: Barak agreed to go into battle, but only if Deborah 152 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,480 Speaker 1: went with him. Surely he was expecting the confidence that 153 00:10:37,520 --> 00:10:42,200 Speaker 1: comes from God, but also the wisdom from Deborah. All 154 00:10:42,200 --> 00:10:44,679 Speaker 1: we know is he wanted Deborah to go with him, 155 00:10:44,760 --> 00:10:48,360 Speaker 1: and she agreed. But she made it clear that the 156 00:10:48,440 --> 00:10:51,280 Speaker 1: glory for the victory would not go to men, but 157 00:10:51,440 --> 00:10:55,400 Speaker 1: that God would be given to glory. In fact, God 158 00:10:55,400 --> 00:10:58,640 Speaker 1: would give over Jaban's General Cesserah into the hands of 159 00:10:58,679 --> 00:11:02,560 Speaker 1: a woman. Surely, Barack assumed Deborah was speaking of herself. 160 00:11:02,880 --> 00:11:07,040 Speaker 1: The truth would prove much more surprising. So Deborah went 161 00:11:07,240 --> 00:11:10,959 Speaker 1: with Barak to meet the Canaanite army in battle. They 162 00:11:10,960 --> 00:11:13,880 Speaker 1: would not have been favored to win this battle. They 163 00:11:13,880 --> 00:11:19,680 Speaker 1: were outmatched, out weaponized, and outnumbered. But Deborah didn't view 164 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:23,400 Speaker 1: things through human eyes. She looked with eyes of faith, 165 00:11:23,480 --> 00:11:26,760 Speaker 1: and her faith filled Barak with courage as well. As 166 00:11:26,760 --> 00:11:31,800 Speaker 1: he fought the battle. God granted the Israelites victory that day. 167 00:11:32,280 --> 00:11:34,520 Speaker 1: It wasn't through the might of their army, but by 168 00:11:34,559 --> 00:11:38,520 Speaker 1: the hand of their God. Every Canaanite warrior, all the 169 00:11:38,640 --> 00:11:42,680 Speaker 1: enemies were killed, but General Ceserah escaped to the tent 170 00:11:42,760 --> 00:11:47,080 Speaker 1: of Hebrew, one of King Jabin's allies. He certainly thought 171 00:11:47,200 --> 00:11:50,679 Speaker 1: he had cheated death. But Jail, the wife of Hebrew, 172 00:11:50,800 --> 00:11:53,720 Speaker 1: drove a stake through Cesare's temple as he lay sleeping. 173 00:11:54,280 --> 00:11:57,640 Speaker 1: And when Barak, who had pursued Cessera, came to the tent, 174 00:11:58,240 --> 00:12:01,360 Speaker 1: Jail showed him his enemy by her hand. It was 175 00:12:01,400 --> 00:12:05,800 Speaker 1: the fulfillment of Debora's prophecy. Israel was freed that day, 176 00:12:06,160 --> 00:12:08,800 Speaker 1: and it was two very different women who played such 177 00:12:08,800 --> 00:12:11,960 Speaker 1: a huge role in the victory. God will use us, 178 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,280 Speaker 1: both men and women, to accomplish his purposes for his 179 00:12:15,440 --> 00:12:19,760 Speaker 1: children and for his glory. Dear God, thank you that 180 00:12:19,800 --> 00:12:25,440 Speaker 1: you use seemingly unimportant, unknown people to accomplish wonderful and 181 00:12:25,600 --> 00:12:29,080 Speaker 1: powerful things. Thank you that, as you did for Israel, 182 00:12:29,400 --> 00:12:32,439 Speaker 1: you go before us and never leave us or forsake 183 00:12:32,559 --> 00:12:37,400 Speaker 1: us in our personal battles. In Jesus name, Amen, thank 184 00:12:37,440 --> 00:12:39,960 Speaker 1: you for listening today to the Bible in a Year podcast. 185 00:12:40,120 --> 00:12:44,360 Speaker 1: I'm Jack Graham from Dallas, Texas, pastor of Prestonwood Baptist Church. 186 00:12:44,920 --> 00:12:48,040 Speaker 1: Download the Prey dot Com app and make prayer a 187 00:12:48,160 --> 00:12:51,240 Speaker 1: priority in your life. And if you enjoy this podcast, 188 00:12:51,360 --> 00:12:54,400 Speaker 1: share it with others. People that you love and care about, 189 00:12:54,480 --> 00:12:57,359 Speaker 1: people who want to know the Bible help them understand 190 00:12:57,360 --> 00:13:00,960 Speaker 1: the Bible as well. This podcast can make a huge 191 00:13:01,000 --> 00:13:05,280 Speaker 1: difference in someone's life. If you want more resources on 192 00:13:05,320 --> 00:13:07,960 Speaker 1: how to tap into the power of Jesus Christ in 193 00:13:08,000 --> 00:13:12,120 Speaker 1: your life, then be sure to visit Jack Graham dot org. 194 00:13:17,400 --> 00:13:21,640 Speaker 1: This episode is sponsored by Medicine, an innovative healthcare solution 195 00:13:21,720 --> 00:13:25,360 Speaker 1: for Christians to save money without sacrificing quality