Rev. Joel Haak, pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rochester, MN, joins host Rev. Timothy Appel to study Judges 4:1-24.

The cycle of rebellion and rescue starts again after Ehud’s death. The people of Israel turn away from the LORD into idolatry, and He sells them into the hands of an old enemy, the Canaanites. From an earthly perspective, the 900 chariots of the Canaanite general, Sisera, are far more powerful than any Israelite weapon. The key difference is that the LORD fights for His people; He commands both the army of the Israelites and the army of His enemies. The LORD sends His word of deliverance to Barak through the prophetess Deborah. Though Barak believes in weakness, the LORD shows His strength nonetheless. He leads the battle charge to defeat the Canaanites as Barak and the Israelite army follow behind. Though Sisera escapes for a time, he meets his gruesome end at the hands of a woman, Jael, just as the LORD had spoken beforehand. Even during these terrible times during Israel’s history, the LORD continues to show Himself faithful to deliver His people.

“Rebellion and Rescue” is a mini-series on Sharper Iron that goes through the book of Judges. This book is characterized by a familiar. As the generations after Joshua forget the LORD and what He has done for Israel, they fall into idolatry. The LORD gives them over into the hands of their enemies in order to bring them to their senses. When they cry out to Him in repentance, He sends a judge to rescue them and give them rest for a time, until they relapse into idolatry once more. In this cycle, we see a picture of our own Christian life. Daily, the old Adam in us is drowned in contrition and repentance, and the new man emerges in Baptismal forgiveness to live in righteousness and purity before God forever.