Let's continue with our main scripture found in Judges 4 and read verses 15 & 16.
Verse 15: And the Lord discomfited (confused and terrified) Sisera and all his chariots, and all his host with the edge of the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot and fled away on his feet.
Verse 16: But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Haroshet of the gentiles: and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
Remember back in verse 14 when Deborah told Barak that "This is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand"
Barak had no idea at that moment in time how God would deliver the enemy into their hands. Israel's destiny and future was dependent on God's perfect plan to defeat the Canaanites. But in order for that to be carried out, Barak and the army of Israel had to act in faith and trust that God would go before them.
As I was studying and gathering information for this message I came across a statement that Josephus (who was a scholar and writer of the life and times of Israel) said about Sisera and his army: He claims that a violent storm of hail beat on the face of Sisera and his army that drove them back from Mount Tablor making them easy pray for the army of Israel to be able to attack them.
Other writers of the time said that it rained so hard and so much that their chariots stuck in the mud and they were unable to move. This act of nature brought them into a state of confusion, therefore their mighty weapons were useless to them and they fled from the army of Israel.
I guess we will never really know exactly what happened that day, but one thing I do know is that God performed a miracle for Israel once more.
And as Barak pursued the scattered the enemy's forces, even to their general headquarters at Heroseth, it was there that he destroyed all of the enemy's army except Sisera.
But what happened to Sisera? The remainder of the story tells us that Sisera ran from the battle in utter defeat seeking refuge and a place to hide. And where did he run to? He ran to a tent to hide and ended up running right into God's hands. Here we see a clear picture of how the enemy reacts when he knows he has been defeated. Like Sisera, who was prideful, intimidating, oppressive, and cruel, fled like a coward once his power and stronghold over Israel was taken from him.
And so Sisera was the last of the enemy to be destroyed. But when Barak, the captain of Israel's army pursued and found Sisera already dead by the hand of a woman, he know that God had kept His word. And not only had God shook off the yoke of oppression from Israel that day, but had completely delivered Israel out of the hands of their enemy.
And the word of the Lord given unto Deborah came to pass just as she had prophesied.
That prophecy forever changed the course of history for Israel, because that day God restored peace in the land, encouraged the army of the Lord and brought deliverance to a once defeated people.
Beloved, this is exactly what's happens to the enemy when you stand in your authority that Christ has given you. When you use the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God against him, He cannot stand nor can he resist it, because it's God fighting the battle for you.
"It's not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the Lord"
Church, you can be a mighty weapon in the hands of God when you make yourself available to Him like Deborah, Barak and Jael did. You can be a prophetic voice to those who need to be encouraged, restored, delivered and set free from the hands of the enemy. God's plan for dentiny and purpose is waiting for you. Time is short and we all have work to do that will help usher in the Kingdom of God into the lives of those He has purposed for us to touch. Be encourage, God is in control.
Blessings,
Elma Garlock
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