Faith to Overcomeნიმუში

Ready to Fight

Written by Linda Washington

Judges 4 verse 14 says, “Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?”

The battle lines were drawn on July 5, 1957, on a tennis court. By the end of the day, Althea Gibson became the first African American to win a tennis championship at Wimbledon. Previously, African Americans were not allowed in tennis clubs where national tennis championships took place. But in 1950, Alice Marble, a White tennis champion, wrote an editorial challenging segregation in the clubs. Althea was allowed access that year, and history was made seven years later at Wimbledon. This wasn’t just a win for Althea. It also allowed other Black athletes access to these competitions.

In Judges 4, a different sort of battle was waged during the time of the judges of Israel. Another pair of women were key players: Deborah and Jael. Like Althea Gibson, Deborah was a first—the first and only female judge. When Deborah told Barak, Israel’s general, to lead the men into battle against their Canaanite oppressors, Barak refused to go without her. Deborah agreed to go, knowing that God would give them the victory. But God would give the victory over Sisera, the Canaanite general, to a woman named Jael rather than to Barak.

God uses people in the fight against oppression in all forms. Courage and discernment are needed to know which battles to fight. But with God, every fight is fixed because He goes before us.

What battles are you willing to fight that seem bigger than you?

Let’s pray.

Heavenly Father, Give me the courage to fight the battles worth fighting and the patience to wait for Your marching orders.

Amen.