Faith’s Hall of Fame: Barak (Part 3)

Faith’s Hall of Fame: Barak (Part 3)

Hebrews 11:32

“And what more shall I say? For time will fail me if I tell of … Barak …”

The story of Barak and Deborah highlights a man of faith who showed remarkable leadership. By studying the passage carefully, we can learn a lot about how faith works in our own lives and churches. Here’s what we can take away from Barak’s incredible faith:

• Bring the Word into your battles. Barak refused to go into battle without the prophetess. He understood that God gives the victory. The power is in His Word, not Barak’s sword.

• Choose obedience over optics. Deborah told Barak that the glory will go to a woman (4:9). He went anyway. In other words, Barak obeyed when he knew he wouldn’t get the credit. That’s rare leadership.

• Show up when others waver. Not everyone responded to the call to battle. The first step of faith is showing up.

• When God says, “Now”, go. Don’t count the cost or waste your time doing the math. There will never be perfect odds. Get moving and trust Him.

• Bring others along to share in the victory. A great leader creates other great leaders. Barak’s request pulled Deborah into the fight, and her presence galvanized Israel. In Judges 5 the victory song is a duet. Barak wanted Deborah along so she could grow, too. He made the nation stronger, not himself.

• Trust God. Sisera trusted technology while Barak trusted theology. Hebrews 11 consistently contrasts those who lean on seen power with those who lean on unseen promise.

• Seal your victories with worship. Judges 5 is not a press conference; it’s worship. Neither Barak nor Deborah took glory for what God did. They refused to seize the spotlight; instead, they sang God’s praise. Their worship gave Him the glory.

Barak is an overlooked hero of the faith. We could use a lot more like him nowadays!

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”