Following the when the odds are against you is not easy. Have you had to depend on the Lord when the odds were against you? How did the Lord help you through that situation? How did this strengthen your faith?
Sometimes when we follow the Lord’s plan for our life, our family and friends don’t understand. Jesus’ earthly siblings did not understand what His heavenly Father was doing in His life until after His resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit.
Trusting the Lord in Persecution
The Israelites had been persecuted for twenty years by the Canaanites who were led by King Jabin. The commander of the army was Sisera who had 900 iron chariots and who had ruthlessly oppressed the Israelites. The Israelites finally humbled themselves and the Lord responded to their prayers. The Lord would raise up Barak who would defeat their enemy.
Judges 4:4 Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. 5 She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment. 6 One day she sent for Barak son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor. 7 And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.” [1]
The Odds may be Against Us, but God Goes Before Us
As we walk by faith and not by sight, we begin to realize the Lord is going before us. When we begin to recognize the Lord going before us, it strengthens our faith. You begin to realize that following the Lord when the odds are against you is possible. This is what happened when the Lord empowered Barak to confront a much more powerful people called the Canaanites. The Lord was with him and confused the enemy.
Judges 4:14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the Lord will give you victory over Sisera, for the Lord is marching ahead of you.” So Barak led his 10,000 warriors down the slopes of Mount Tabor into battle. 15 When Barak attacked, the Lord threw Sisera and all his chariots and warriors into a panic. Sisera leaped down from his chariot and escaped on foot. 16 Then Barak chased the chariots and the enemy army all the way to Harosheth-haggoyim, killing all of Sisera’s warriors. Not a single one was left alive. [2]
The Odds may be Against Us, but God will never Abandon Us
Deuteronomy 31:8 Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you; he will neither fail you nor abandon you. [3] Like small children, we continually need to know the Lord is not only with us but will stay with us. Deut. 31:8 speaks directly to that fear. This is the same reassurance that Barak needed.
God’s plans are often bold because it forces us to rely on Him. Barak had to rely on the Lord for success and it is the same for us. Hebrews 11:32 refers to Barak as a person of great faith. He trusted God and freed his nation from tyranny.
Prayer for Unwavering Trust
O God, my Strength, I put my trust in You. You have never forsaken those who seek You. You have never let me down. I know that You never will let me down because my life so far has been a testimony of Your greatness. Mold me into Your image and hold me close to You. Show me how to mature as a Christian and improve on my walk of faith. Steady my trust in You so that it never wavers, no matter what battles I face on this earth. I declare that my faithfulness to You will be strong at all times. Amen.[4]
To hear more about following the Lord when the odds are against you, listen here: https://podpoint.com/light-of-christ-church-podcast/faith-makes-a-difference-barak
[1-3] Tyndale House Publishers. (2015). Holy Bible: New Living Translation . Carol Stream, IL: Tyndale House Publishers.
[4] https://connectusfund.org/9-powerful-prayers-for-faith-and-trust-in-god