Judges 4:4-9 NIV
“Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’ ” Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.”
Through the prophet Deborah, God called Barak to lead the army to battle with the troop lead by Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army. “Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.” God had told Barak that it was a sure win battle. However, Barak did not want to go, unless the prophet Deborah went with him. Certainly Deborah could go with him, but it was not God’s will. Whatever God said would go, including the joy and the glory. Barak did not receive any of these. “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” Surely, the one who killed Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, was a woman named Jael.
God, with His own will and sovereignty, calls people to join His ministry, also God gives people the freedom to decide. Whether people obey His call or not, God’s will be done. We have to discipline ourselves to obey, partnership with God; not by our own ability, but by the the power of God, not by our own calculation, but by the the leading of the Holy Spirit. God said so, we take it by faith. May God’s power be demonstrated through our life journey and life experience, to enjoy the joy and glory of God as God has promised.