United under God

          Fear was everywhere, both on the inside and outside, as Barak took yet another step with the unknown before him.
She was well-known among the tribes, one of the few female judges that Barak had heard of. Rarely, had he ever seen her in public, catching only glimpses of her in the marketplace; flashes of her walking the dusty trails in the early morning.
}It was said that there was wisdom in her words, depth to her insight and strength in her poise. She was full of grace and love and there was nary a person who didn't seek her advice-nor toss it into the air. The palm tree was her resting place, ironic, since palm trees were best known for their unwavering strength amidst the storm and that in itself seemed to symbolize Deborah's unwavering faith despite opposition. The Israelites would come seeking her wisdom; desperate for the words of God; for Salvation. It wasn't uncommon to hear voices of oppression, to see the struggle of the tribes under Canaanite rule. The people cried out to Yahweh-the One whom they had long abandoned since the death of Ehud. Now seeing the error of their ways they sought relief, wishing for peace. But even in their unfaithfulness to Him, Yahweh is faithful, and Deborah perceived that now their God would once again show His love for them. Thus, His Spirit moved in her, to summon Barak: a mighty commander.

    Somehow, her summons were not a surprise to Barak, for he had been wrestling within himself as whether or not he should fight against Sisera-commander of the Canaanite warriors. But he did not have an army for himself, nor a confirmation that this was the task he was to take on. Even now, as he trudged on to meet this prophetess; he remembers the whispers he had heard in the night, calling him to fight against their oppressors; those dreams which stirred his spirit.
He finally found her, led to the palm tree by the talk of the villagers. Another woman was just leaving, her eyed red from many tears but now sparkling with unsurpassed joy. She cast Barak a hopefully look as she waltzed past and he, in turn, quickly moved his gaze to Deborah.

She sat on a rug beneath her favored tree, her back to the setting sun which cast an ethereal glow around her, while the wind pulled tendrils of her hair from beneath her head covering. Her expression was smooth as she gazed at Barak, but her eyes faintly twinkled at the sight of the warrior before her; obviously pleased that he had come.
}For a moment, nothing but the silent wind passed before them, making the palm tree clap at his presence, until her gaze finally un-nerved him.
Well?" he finally demanded, unsure of what to say to the prophetess who had summoned him. A light smile shadowed her lips at his apparent agitation.
"Barak" she began, "has the Lord not commanded you to take troops to Mount Tabor? Has he not said that warriors from the Nephtalites and the Zebulunites-ten thousand in all-would join you? Hasn't Yahweh promised to lure Sisera and his army to you for conquering?"
Her words struck Barak's heart, shaking him to the core. The words spoken to him in the secret of the night were now spoken aloud, and from a woman he had just met. Surely, her insight was from the Lord!
"Yes" Barak intoned quietly.
"Do you doubt Yahweh?"
  The warrior inhaled sharply-it was the question that he often asked himself-ever since he had learned of Sisera's great army, and wondered where the Lord was: why His might had yet to be shown.  Still, he knew that God was there; had seen His might through Ehud, so who was he to doubt that the Lord could use him?
Deborah perceived his struggle, had seen it all before in the people who had come to her, searching for God.
"The Lord has promised that He will be with you" she said.
"But will you?" Barak asked, "if you will come with me, I will go. But if you do not, than neither will I. This way, if you come, you represent the Lord and I will know you are with me."
"I will come, but you will receive no honor from this, because the Lord will give Sisera to a woman" she warned.
"It is better for the Lord to be with me, than to have all the honor" Barak replied solemnly.
"Very well. It is late now, we will retire to my home. My husband will want to know of our plans and, at sunrise, we will leave for Mount Tabor."
  The two went in companionable silence to Deborah's home nearby. Granted her high position as the Lord's prophetess, Lappidoth understood the sudden journey his wife had to undertake with the warrior. The three talked well into the night, mapping out their journey and sought the Lord for his mercies and victory to come.
                                                                                      ~
  With dawn's light, Barak and Deborah quietly made their way through the town, towards the mountainous regions where Barak's fame as a warrior was already known among the various tribes. His own memory well recalled the oppression that those people suffered from Sisera's hand.  Deborah recognized the Lord's Spirit was with them as they trekked the higher ranges, and He told her their warriors would go ahead of them.
The sun was well into the Western sky when Barak and Deborah were met by Naphtalia and Zebulun, who had readied their warriors in Kedesh. Seeing their weathered faces and the bright glints in their eyes, Barak knew they would fight hard and heavy, faithful to the end.
"Commander" Zebulun said in respect and grasped his arms, as was the custom for warriors.  The three gathered to meet in privacy and, once alone, the generals eyed Deborah warily, unaccustomed to the presence of women in their business.
"The Lord is with her" Barak said defensively, "therefore, she is with me."
"Peace, then" Zebulun said in humility, "a prophetess is wise to have in council"
"Indeed, but I tell you now, there is hardly need for you to make plans. The Lord has already given you victory."
"But our scouts have reported that he comes with nine hundred iron chariots and more-men from Harosheth to the Kishon river! That is a significant number; how can we possibly not make plans?" Nephtali asked in near disbelief at the woman's words.
"If you must plan, than I advise you to plan to trust the Lord" her eyes swiftly came to rest on Barak, "hasn't Yahweh gone before you?"
He felt her eyes probe his undaunted, as if seeking for his faith. Ashamed, Barak looked away, suddenly wondering if he was worthy of the Lord's trust and victory.
"If anything, than let us travel o Mount Tabor, to meet our foes" Zebulun suggested, "there are more men being rallied there. At dawn, we will be ready to fight our foe."
"In the meantime, we will fast and pray" Barak added humbly, " we will need the Lord's mercy for this fight."
                                                                            ~
  The grey dawn found Barak looking down from the mountaintop, listening to the quiet morning and feeling the caress of the cool air. Down below sat Sisera's army; despite the clouded sky, there was just enough light for them to catch the sun's rays making them bright enough to throw away the darkness. The very sight of them made Barak's stomach churn.  With the brightened skies, the soldiers were slowly rousing themselves, preparing for war.
"Are you ready, Barak?" Deborah's quiet voice aroused him from his thoughts.
"Look at them!" he said, not taking his eyes away from the camp below. "They glitter like jewels-beautiful and deadly."
"Like jewels, the come with a cost" she replied evenly, "that cost is your faith-faith in the One who designed and created those 'jewels' and the men who wield them. Are you brave enough to pay that cost?"
"When I think of our forefathers, those who have done such great things in the name of the Lord, I wonder if I am worthy enough to be counted among them?"
"Many of them were poor, some farmers, other shepherds, a few warriors and all sinners, whose beginnings were meager. But they were transformed through faith, because they believed and trust in Yahweh-a God greater than His creation. It is what I have been telling you all along: if you believe in the One who has called you, then anything can happen.  He is faithful and will do all that He has said. Have faith."
Barak looked at Deborah, a smile lighting his eyes:"It is good that you have come."
She smiled back, "go. The Lord has gone before you."
                                                                                  ~           
"Men of bravery; soldiers of our Lord. Today, you do not stand alone, but together; united under our God" Barak began, standing before his soldiers, ten thousand in all. Quickly, they had roused, eaten and dressed in their armoury. They stood erect, swords and spears catching the sun and ready at hand to face the enemy. Barak addressed them and, as he stood before them, he was sure he caught a flicker of fear pass their faces. But there was no time for fear and so his words came from the heart, wishing them courage;
"yes, their weapons are great and their men numerous. But if there is one thing I have learned on this journey, it is not the might of our weapons that we need to trust in, but that of God! Today, we stand and fight for our freedom, not because we deserve it, but because Yahweh has promised it! Do you believe?"
{Cheers and shouts arose from the soldiers, their cry echoing off the mountain and into the valley, striking Sisera's men to the heart.
"Then let us fight, as one, for our Lord!"
}With the end of his words, the trumpets sounded and were echoed by those of the enemy, and Barak moved towards them, leading his men to war.
  As in a torrent, everyone clashed together on the field, a collision of sword and spear, chariot and horse; flesh and blood. A sudden vigor touched Barak's which he could only credit from the Lord, as he slashed down the enemy with an energy he hadn't felt in years. In a flicker, he caught the eye of Sisera who fought on foot, not far from himself, but the movement was quick and his opponent disappeared among the flood of men.
Steel clashed around him and the cries of men and horse filled his ears; it was all Barak could do to make a path to where he had seen Sisera. However, each time he thought he was closer, Barak only found he was further off until, in a rise of dust and noise, Sisera sped off in a chariot, giving himself distance from the war.
He's running away Barak realized, his ire rising within.
"Sisera!" he yelled, making himself known, "Sisera you coward! I will find you!"
However, his words were barely a whisper above the noise of war, as Sisera fled to Kadesh.
                                                                                ~
  The battle was ending-and it hardly seemed to have begun, as Deborah watched the bloodshed before her. Indeed, the Lord was with them, strengthening the Israelites, weakening the Canaanites, and giving them cause to fear. With the number of Israelite soldiers, it could only be Yahweh who was giving them victory over the enemy, otherwise, the battle would be impossible for them to win. Deborah breathed a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord, who, even now, was surely dealing with Sisera.
                                                                                ~
  Time passed swiftly; with evening coming in the flicker of a sword, and then, with the new rays of dawn, final victory came. Barak chased the footsteps of Sisera until he came to the outskirts of Kadesh, where a woman named Jael dwelt in a tent-home, with her husband, Heber. The couple were Kenites-an old alliance with the Canaanites although in light of recent events, that was surely subject to change.
"The one you seek is here" Jael said, running to meet Bara as he approached their camp. "Come, I will show you" she added, taking his hand in excitement, and pulling him inside her tent. Wrapped up in a rug for warmth, lay Sisera, dead to the world, with dry blood running down his face, from a peg in his skull. The hammer lying near by told of what happened. Despite the blood, he looked peaceful enough, as if he had been sure he had come to rest in a safe place. He would forever be oblivious to the world, as only death could bring nor would he see the downfall of the Canaanite army-a small mercy. Thus, the Canaanites were defeated, driven back by more than a physical force. King Jabin had lot more than a great commander, and many soldiers, but also the fear of the Israelites who now received courage to fight against their enemy, because God had heard their prayers.
 
  So it was that they celebrated-not simply because of victory, but also in honor to Yahweh, and the lives lost in the battle. With a voice of silver, Deborah sang, a retelling of their victory through the Lord, and Barak joined her, adding strength to her words. It was a song, that echoed well throughout the night and passing straight into time itself.

"Thus, let thine enemies perish O'Lord. But may those who love Him be as the rising of the sun in its strength" Judges 5:31