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| Photographed by: Avi Theret of the Edom Mountains Israel |
On the morning of July 1, 2021, I had my breakfast, went to my office and began spending time with the Lord. It was Dominion Day, which is a very special day for us Canadians especially, during what may seem like uncertain and dark times. I asked the Lord what was His message to Canada? What encouragement or insight did He have that He could share with His Canadian people? All I could hear in response was “Judges chapter four”. So, I opened my Bible and read this particular chapter and to my surprise there are so many parallels in this story that relate to the times we are living in now. I believe the story provides a message of hope and insight for Canadians.
Summary:
This particular chapter in Judges, relays the story of how, after the death of the Judge Ehud, Israel did evil in the sight of the Lord. Jabin, King of Canaan, invaded Israel using 900 chariots of iron that were under the command of Sisera. They suppressed Israel for 20 years. Now Deborah was a prophetess who was the wife of Lappidoth (though some translations think it could also mean she came from a place called Lappidoth). She calls for a man named Barak, who is the son of Abinoam, from Kedesh, in Naphtali. She tells him to mount an army of 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun and to then gather at Mount Tabor. The Israelites are then to move to the river Kishon to draw out King Jabin’s General. In the end, the Israelites are victorious and they are able to subdue all of King Jabin’s forces.
Importance of Names:
In this story there are several names worth noting and translating. Names give a different picture of what is actually going on and names are not something coincidental but intentional. Here is a list of characters and places with their Hebrew translations. To get these translations I referred to Abarim Publications. I find they provide (in my opinion) accurate translations, research and in-depth analysis of Hebrew words. You can view their resources here.
Characters:
King Jabin of Canaan: In Hebrew, the word Jabin comes from the verb bin which means “to distinguish and thus to discern, contemplate and understand”.
Commander Sisera: name translates roughly to “meditation” from Hittite etymology but to a Hebrew audience it may translate to “keen and swift” or “see the horse”.
Deborah: Deborah and the Hebrew word דבורה have an identical meaning which translates to “bee” but both have the same root word dabar which means to formalize or to deliberately establish by pronouncing something's name or definition. It’s what causes something to become “real” like how God spoke His Word and created things into existence.
Barak son of Abinoam: name comes from the verb baraq which means “to cast forth” like that of light and lightning. So, essentially his name means lightning.
Jael: A name that translates to either mountain goat or someone who is profitable and useful. Jael comes from the Hebrew verb ya'al which means to profit, benefit or be of any practical use. However, the nouns ya'al and ya'ala describe a male and female mountain goat.
Place Names:
Harosheth-hagoyim: Sisera came from and lived in the city/area Harosheth-hagoyim which are two words often translated together. Harosheth comes from the feminine noun haroshet which means to engrave or cut into something like an engraver. The later part, hagoyim means “of the nations” or “of the gentiles”. Jabin swiftly came and conquered the Israelites and tried in an effort to engrave or carve into the Israelite people for 20 years.
Ramah: Ramah translates typically as height or lofty place.
Bethel: Bethel translates to house of God.
Mount Tabor: a physical location where its name means “to purify or clarify”.
Kedesh: the verb for Kadesh is qadash which means to be holy, permanent and unalterable.
Kishon: Snarer or Place of the Snaring. The Kishon is a river that meets the Mediterranean Sea on the north side of mount Carmel, which is present day Haifa.
We first begin with Israel’s subjugation to King Jabin. It is interesting how, when Israel rebelled, the “Lord sold [Israel] into the hand of Jabin” (Judges 4:2 AMP) or sold them into discernment since that is what Jabin roughly translates to. Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, swiftly came and conquered the Israelites. Like the place in which he came and lived in, Harosheth-hagoyim, he tried to carve and cut into Israel through military might and suppression. Israel was under King Jabin’s choking grip for 20 years.
Now our story progresses when we are introduced to Deborah who is a prophetess and judge over Israel. The Bible says, “she sat under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim” (Judges 4:5 AMP). It’s interesting how Deborah resides under this palm tree between a “high place” and the “house of God”. Her relationship with God in gaining prophetic insight allowed her to see things from a higher, clearer perspective. This was coupled with her closeness in being in the house of God or in His presence. When the Israelites come to her for judgement she calls for Barak, son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali. Deborah says:
Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you. Go gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 men from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun? And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you at the river Kishon with his chariots and his multitude, and I will deliver him into your hand?” (Judges 4:6-7 AMP).
What happens next is very profound. Barak replies to Deborah, “If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go” (Judges 4:8 AMP). Barak insists on Deborah coming with him to aid the Israelites in commanding and directing the armies alongside him. Barak valued this prophetess and he knew she was a mouthpiece of God. He did not want to depart from this especially, during battle. This situation puts me in mind of the scripture which reads, “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall read [and meditate on] it day and night, so that you may be careful to do [everything] in accordance with all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will be successful” (Joshua 1:8 AMP). Barak did not want God’s Word departing from him. He wanted Deborah there helping in directing and guiding them in the battle. In response, Deborah makes it clear that she will come with them but that “the trip you take will not be for your glory” (Judges 4:9 AMP). God was going to show up in a mighty way!
The Battle and Military Strategy
Oftentimes, when we read bible stories like this we tend to skip over or maybe not understand some of the details the biblical writers are giving. Military strategies are very important and they give us insight into how God is a great strategist. He’s always infinitely ahead of what we see and know.
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Photo curtesy of God's War Plan |
In the beginning of chapter 4, in Judges, we are introduced to the Canaanite military power which was 900 chariots made of iron. In ancient times, this was a magnificent and formidable force indeed. Remember typical ways of transportation among common people were usually donkeys or journeying on foot. Horses and camels were rarer because of the cost of upkeep and so on. So chariots, MADE OF IRON, are equal to that of a military tank in our time. Typically, Canaanite military would often patrol military zones in the plains and low hill regions with their fast moving chariots.[i] This way of guarding would prevent Israel and other attackers from settling in the area and keep them from disrupting trade routes in the Jezreel Valley.[ii]
Deborah and Barak’s Strategy
Deborah and Barak rally Israelite troops from Zebulun and Naphtali to make a stand in Kadesh, a holy and unalterable army. Sisera takes the Canaanite army to meet the Israelites in Kadesh. The Israelites then feign a retreat to Mount Tabor.[iii] They look as if they are fleeing from the Canaanite army but they are leading them into a trap. Sisera takes the bait and pursues the Israelites eastward.[iv] Deborah and Barak lead their army up Mount Tabor. They have the best vantage point because not only can they see the enemy from above but they have the upper, hilly, ground which is not conducive for chariots.
It was also a terrible layout for Sisera’s army. As he pushed eastward towards Mount Tabor he neared closer to the river Kishon (the Place of Snaring) which the plains around this area are marshy and muddy, at best. The Israelites are upon Mount Tabor safe from the iron chariots and they wait for the best moment to mount an attack. When Sisera’s chariots began to near the Kishon River plains, they were met with God’s providence as a torrential rain occurred. This led to flooding in the river Kishon and it swept away most of the opposing army (Judges 5:21). It says in verse 14 that Deborah calls out to Barak, “Up! For this is the day when the Lord has given Sisera into your hand. Is not the Lord gone out before you?” (Judges 4:14 AMP). The Israelites descend upon the Canaanite army that is bogged down by mud and dazed with confusion. On foot, the Israelites were able to maneuver with ease on this muddy terrain.
Knowing his army had lost, Sisera abandons his troops, retreating to Heber the Kenite who was supposed to be an ally to King Jabin. Sisera meets Heber’s wife, Jael, who hides him in her tent from the Israelite army. When Sisera falls asleep from exhaustion, Jael kills him by lodging a tent peg into the temple of his head. Barak had pursued Sisera and came to Jael looking for him. When Barak shows up Jael shows him the dead body of Sisera, a tent peg lodged in his head.
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| Photo of Mount Tabor |
Canada’s Battle
The Israelites were victorious! By dismantling King Jabin’s great military force the suppression was lifted. However, like Deborah said this was not Barak or any man’s doing. It was all God.
I find it fascinating how this story is still relevant to us today. It still speaks and attests to God’s great strategy and wisdom. While it may seem Canada is under the suppression of a Godless government that is selling her out to foreign powers, God is assembling a great military counter-force. We are in a battle right now. The Ecclesia is assembling together and meeting in Kadesh. We feel as if we are falling back and that nothing is working out to our favour or advantage and the armies of censorship, mandates and court rulings are on our heels. The situation looks like God’s Canadian Church is retreating and running but we are running to a better vantage point. We are running to Mount Tabor, the place of purification, where God is removing things that have hindered His church like apathy, compromise, spirits of religion and legalism etc. We stand on this mountain, seeing everything from a higher vantage point and safe from the enemy’s rolling chariots. And we wait…we wait on the mountain and watch as God’s strategy comes together. All of a sudden, the prey becomes the pursuer as the enemy is trapped in a great muddy snare. Their wheels are lodged deep in mud, they cannot move, confusion and panic begin to set in and then a storm comes. Rain pours down and the river Kishon floods over in a great torrent. “The torrent Kishon swept [the foe] away, the onrushing torrent, the torrent Kishon. O my soul, march on with strength” (Judges 5:21). The enemy’s army is completely dismantled. Even the leader, Sisera runs away terrified that all his men were destroyed. However, this fearful, selfish commander does not get away. Justice does not let him away as he meets a “useful” woman. The Israelite people overcame the tyranny that had suppressed them. God’s strategy, wisdom and planning accomplished this. Just as He planned redemption for the Israelites, He has executed a plan in the works for us. A Great Shift has occurred and now we are going to watch from the high places as the enemy is ensnared in a trap. While things may look like we are in retreat especially, with regards to certain court rulings and government bills, God’s military strategy is just playing out as it should. We are the victors because God has delivered them into our hand. To God be all the Glory when we see everything come to pass and our nation free once again. MARCH ON CANADA WITH STRENGTH!
[i] Andy. “Bible Battles: KISHON RIVER: Deborah and Barak; Sisera; Judges 4.” Gods War Plan | Best Bible Battles & War Strategy. SEO Prophets, April 4, 2020. https://godswarplan.com/bible-battles-kishon-river-deborah-and-barak-sisera-king-jabin-hazor-tent-peg-judges-4.
[ii] Andy. “Bible Battles: KISHON RIVER: Deborah and Barak; Sisera; Judges 4.”
[iii] Andy. “Bible Battles: KISHON RIVER: Deborah and Barak; Sisera; Judges 4.”
[iv] Andy. “Bible Battles: KISHON RIVER: Deborah and Barak; Sisera; Judges 4.”
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