Recently the Lord has been speaking to me about the story of Deborah. Judges, Chapters 4 and 5 present us with an unusual situation in which a woman was Prophetess and Judge over Israel. This was a time of harsh oppression by the Canaanite King Jabin, whose army used a fleet of 900 iron chariots to subdue and oppress the children of Israel. The Lord gave Deborah a strategy to defeat this long time enemy of God’s people. She called on Barak, a known warrior, to muster up an army who would go to war against this enemy. Barak’s response was “I will go if you will go with me.”
The strategy that God gave her was to meet the enemy at a very specific location: a dry river bed. The River Kishon was sometimes dry and would turn to mud after flash floods. Iron chariots did not have any obvious weakness but the Lord knew what He was doing in order to defeat an unstoppable oppressor. It says in Judges 5 that “the earth trembled and the heavens poured, the clouds also poured water and the mountains gushed before the Lord.” And in verse 21 it says that the river swept King Jabin’s army away which gave the army of the Lord an advantage to overcome their enemy. This oppressor was defeated by the strategy, the presence and the power of God.
In this story, I believe that it is possible to view Deborah as a type of the Holy Spirit. The Comforter, another name for the Holy Spirit, is a word also meaning Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener and Standby. Deborah brought wisdom and comfort to Barak for his mission. Her presence was so effective that Barak refused to go to battle without her. Likewise, the Holy Spirit is available to us in every situation and in times of harsh oppression to bring strategy. He manifests His tangible presence and His power to heal, deliver and save us.
The words of my Pastor, Cameron Wright, are ringing in my ears when I hear this story: “Right now, there are approximately 200,000 people within a 20 minute drive of our church building who do not attend church and/or have any Christian experience.” Jesus Loves Kalamazoo is an “army” made up of the Church of Kalamazoo. We are joining as one with a strategy of love to reach those very people in our region. We need the wisdom and comfort of the Lord to work through us in order to touch the lives of those in spiritual need.
As Catalyst Week (July 6-12) is just around the corner, I believe that we are perfectly positioned to see Him come in power. The “rain” is going to pour out and give us an opportunity to see the oppressor defeated in the lives of the people that we are loving. I see love gushing out all over this city, sweeping away the enemy and bringing victory as people are touched. Nothing can stand in the way of God’s powerful love.
The Holy Spirit delivers people from sickness, pain, defeating thoughts, depression and addiction. In the story of Deborah, something that seemed so big and impossible was small and insignificant in comparison with our amazing God and His strategies.
I love the last verse of Judges 5:
“So let all Your enemies perish, O Lord! But let those who love Him be like the sun when it rises in its might. And the land had peace and rest for forty years.”
I believe that this is the destiny for Kalamazoo. If you would like to, join me in praying this prayer: God, thank you that you have the victory! Please use me and the whole JLK movement to see transforming love released through your strategy, your presence and your power in Jesus name! Amen!
— Sarah Gerber, New Day Community Church & JLK Vision Team