Friday

12-April

Judges 4-6; Eccl 7:1-13; John 17

Judges 4-5: Why did Deborah prophesy that Barak would not receive the glory for the victory over Jabin? Who was Jael and where was she from?

Judges 6: What did the Israelites do after the death of Deborah?  What did the Midianites do to the Israelites?  What was Gideon doing when the angel of the Lord approached him? Was Gideon a willing servant?

John 17:  What does Jesus pray for the disciples? Who else does Jesus include with them?

Journal Prompt:  In what way does the account of Gideon and his demand for a sign from God before following His command speak to you?

Answers:

Judges 4-5:  Barak was not willing to lead the army without the presence of Deborah, so Deborah prophesied that the glory would go to a woman.

Jael was the wife of a Kenite (remember Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law was a Kenite, and they settled in Canaan with the Israelites.  Her husbandf, Heber, had made peace with Jabin the King of Hazor, so Sisera sought a safe refuge in their tent.

Judges 6: After Deborah died, the Israelites “did what was evil in the sight of the Lord”.  The Midianites forced the Israelites into the hill country where they made dens or hideouts and tried to be productive, but the Midianites would take their crops and their livestock. Gideon was beating out wheat in a winepress – obviouslytrying to hide from the Midianites. Gideon was not only unwilling, he refused to do as commanded without a sign from God.  And even then he was fearful and so he did as he was commanded but only under the cover of night.  Then he asked for additional signs from God before agreeing to lead the army.

John 17: Jesus prays that God keep them from the evil one and sanctify them in the truth – the Word.  Jesus includes ” also for those who will believe in me through their word” (v. 20)