When I was a child I loved the playground, especially the slide. We didn’t have parks full of fun equipment for children where I grew up. Instead, we children ventured onto school property after hours to play. In Atlas, Michigan, there was a dilapidated old one-room school building still standing in the 1970s. Out back was an old metal slide, the type which was rather steep and high up. Below was packed Michigan soil and grass. Though the swings had fallen apart, the slide was still usable, and just three houses down from my grandmother’s home.
One fall afternoon I played on that slide with a neighbor child. I climbed and slid, climbed and slid, and so did she. I was about eight-years-old, she was probably six. Somehow, I found myself at the top, looking down upon my little friend who had fallen, landing on her back, her head hit hard. I saw blood. Her head had cracked open.
There was no adult supervision.
Mount Tabor, Photo Credit: Felix Bonfils, 1890, National Photo Collection of Israel, Gov Press Office, CC Lic Wikipedia
Deborah was a prophetess and judge in Israel. She sat beneath a palm tree and gave wisdom and direction from the Lord. At that time Israel was under the oppression of the Canaanites. Deborah summoned Barak to lead the army to Mount Tabor and overcome the enemy. Barak wouldn’t go unless Deborah accompanied him into battle. She agreed.
Sisera, the Canaanite leader, came up against Israel’s army, but was routed away by the Lord with the edge of the sword wielded by Barak. All of Sisera’s army fell except for Sisera. He fled and was called into the tent of a woman named Jael to hide. Sisera felt safe doing so, there was peace between the Canaanites and Jael’s people. Sisera slept. While he was asleep, Jael drove a tent peg through the temple of his head, killing him. It was the duty of the wives to set up their tents, and so Jael was quite skilled with a tent peg and hammer. (Judges 4)
We live in a tumultuous time of newness. Chaotic even. Truth and lies are difficult to discern. Besides this, many of us are losing our work, our homes, our life’s savings. We cannot run away from problems through alcohol, drugs, porn, the occult, homosexuality, gambling, etc... These wrong doors lead us away, to slip and fall, as my little friend did. We become hurt worse than before as Sisera was when he ran from the conflict to hide. Instead run to Lord Jesus. He is the Way, the Truth, and Life. (John 14:6)
When bad lifestyle vices are being practiced, we are easily led away from Lord Jesus, by lies and persuasion, just as Jael persuaded Sisera. The outcome is death. We must be led by Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus, Who is Life. (Romans 8:14; Galatians 5:16-17)
Lord Jesus is the Light Who will lead you through this world’s darkness. Those without the Light of Lord Jesus within them will be overtaken by the darkness; those who walk in the darkness do not know where they go. (John 12:35-36)
They are even blinded by the enemy.
Who are you following? Yourself? The enemy? Or Lord Jesus?
(C) 2020 Kelly Jadon