EPIC Daily Reading

EPIC: The Story of God

Tuesday, March 3

Deborah

Judges 4-5

Summary:

The story of Deborah and Barak is one of the Old Testament accounts in which women take the leading, triumphant roles. Deborah is a prophetess—a spokeswoman for God—who commands Barak to muster and lead an army against their Canaanite oppressors. Barak, recognizing that God is with Deborah but failing to perceive that God is also with him, will only go if she goes with him. Deborah goes, but warns that the price of her presence will be that the victory will go to a woman. This comes true when the woman Jael drives a tent-peg through the enemy commander’s temple as he lies sleeping in her tent. The passage concludes with the Song of Deborah, in which the prophetess celebrates the heroes of the battle. She credits the victory ultimately to “the righteous acts of the Lord” (5:11) and prays a blessing on all who love God: “may they be lie the sun when it rises in its strength”—a life full of blessing (5:31).

Sample of Today’s Reading:Judges 4-51

After Ehud died, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the Lord. 2 So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin, a king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. 3 The commander of his army was Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoiyim. 4Because he had nine hundred iron chariots and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the Lord for help. 5 Deborah, a Prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.

To read today's full reading click here: Judges 4-5

Question of the Day:

Even more than with Barak, Jesus has promised to be with us in all that he commands us to do(see Hebrews 13:5-6). In what area of your life do you need a fresh sense of his powerful presence?

Prayer Focus:

Jesus, thank you for your promise that you will neverleave me nor forsake me. Give me grace to trust thatpromise in those areas of my life I fear to face on my own.