Victory Against Great Odds

In the message given to Deborah, and passed on to Barak, they were told that the Lord would draw unto them “to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude.” But they were also told, “I will deliver him into thine hand.” Verse 7. Barak, it appears, was fearful because he looked at the mighty forces that would come against him, while Deborah was courageous; she looked at the promise of the mighty God that He would be on their side and deliver Sisera and his great multitude into their hand.AGP 60.5

When Sisera learned that Barak had come with ten thousand men for battle, he “gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all the people that were with him,AGP 60.6

from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river Kishon.” Verse 13.AGP 61.1

Here the armies met face to face. Human appearances indicated but one outcome,—the small, untrained, and poorly armed forces of Barak must surely go down in defeat before the superior and better equipped army of Sisera. So Barak had reasoned, and so Sisera now reasoned. But not thus did Deborah reason. She was in contact with God. She had held communion with Him. He had said to her, “I will deliver him into thine hand.” With this promise she knew full well what the issue would be—she knew that Sisera and all his chariots of iron and his great army were in reality already defeated.AGP 61.2