Thinking and Knowing God’s Voice
Judges 3:31-4:10
Synopsis Judges 3:31-4:10 6/7/2018
After Ehud, Shamgar judged Israel. This man slew 600 Philistines with an oxgoad (cattle prod). But the Israelites again failed the covenant. So God brought the Canaanite king Jabin. Like other foreign kings, Jabin oppressed Israel.
A prophetess named Deborah, from Ephraim, received a word from the Lord. She summoned a man named Barak from northern Israel, from the tribe of Naphtali. Deborah instructed Barak to raise and army of 10,000 men from Naphtali and Zebulun and attack Jabin.
Barak’s Response to Deborah
Curiously Barak responded, “If you come with me, I’ll go [attack Jabin’s army].” It seems like Barak wasn’t afraid of the fight. But he received Deborah’s words with caution. His concern was that her prophecy was suspect. His response was reasoned. He probably thought something like; “It’s easy enough to say what someone else should do. But she has no skin in the outcome. She won’t come unless she believes her prophecy truly is the word of God.” Thus the demand that she accompany the army.
Deborah readily agreed to come with the army. But because of his response, she further prophesied that Barak’s glory would be eclipsed by that of a woman. Because he doubted and only reluctantly accepted her prophecy, he tarnished the glory of his military achievement.
In the absence of knowing God’s voice as it had been spoken through Deborah, Barak did the only thing he could have done; he used his reason. There was nothing wrong with that. And his reason served him well – even in this circumstance. But Deborah’s challenge implies he could have done better. He could have recognized God’s voice in the words she spoke to him.
Thinking and Knowing God’s Voice
It’s possible to know God’s voice. That’s a tenant of our tradition. Francis of Assisi heard in a new way certain words spoken in the midst of the daily mass readings. Somehow, he recognized that God was speaking to him, personally, through those words. And it changed everything for him.
So, fearful as I am, I can likewise make myself available to hear God speak into my life. Probably it starts with prayer. But it ends with listening.
“My sheep hear my voice; I know them, and they follow me.” John 10:27
