Deborah was not asleep, she got up each day and faithfully obeyed the Lord. It would have been frustrating watching Israelites suffer, knowing they were not ready to repent. When they finally woke up to their situation, they cried out to the Lord, and came to Deborah crying, “wake up, wake up Deborah, wake up and start singing a song of war.” If I had been Deborah I would have knocked them upside their heads and told them, “I have been awake, it is you that has been asleep.” Deborah was a better person that I am, she just went about doing God’s work. She sent for her commander, and they began to rally the troops for an army.

Just as many had been asleep, some were content to remain asleep. They did not want to know about the up coming fight and they did not want to be a part of it. They wanted the blessings that come from being God’s children but they did not want to shoulder any of the responsibility, or the risk. In her song Deborah names names. She calls out the Israelites who failed to respond to God’s call. Some stayed to safeguard their sheep. Some stayed beyond the Jordan where they were safe. Some did not come because they were so far away they felt no sense of urgency. The city of Meroz was in the center of the oppression but still refused to fight, so God placed a curse upon that city. Deborah also called out by name those people who stood tall, stepped forward, and risked it all.

Not a single one of the men who volunteered could be certain of victory. It was only faith, hope, and desperation that caused them to respond. Their faith and hope was well-founded and God tore open the heavens and washed away the advantage of their enemy. They still had to fight, but they had seen the hand of God. It’s still true today; after we see God, faith comes easy.