those yet unconvinced

Judges 5:10-18 (JDV)

Judges 5:10 You who ride on white donkeys, who sit on saddle blankets, and who travel on the road, give praise!
Judges 5:11 Let them tell the righteous acts of Yahveh, the righteous deeds of his warriors in Israel, with the voices of the singers at the watering places. Then Yahveh’s people went down to the city gates.
Judges 5:12 “Wake up! Wake up, Deborah! Wake up! Wake up, sing a song! Get up, Barak, and take your prisoners, son of Abinoam!”
Judges 5:13 Then the survivors came down to the nobles; Yahveh’s people came down to me with the warriors.
Judges 5:14 Those with their roots in Amalek came from Ephraim; Benjamin came with your people after you. The leaders came down from Machir, and those who carry a marshal’s staff came from Zebulun.
Judges 5:15 The princes of Issachar were with Deborah; Issachar was with Barak; they were under his leadership in the valley. There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben.
Judges 5:16 Why did you sit among the sheep pens listening to the playing of pipes for the flocks? There was great searching of heart among the clans of Reuben.
Judges 5:17 Gilead remained beyond the Jordan. Dan, why did you stay rowing the ships? Asher remained at the seashore and stayed in his harbors.
Judges 5:18 The people of Zebulun didn’t care about their throats, even if they died. Naphtali also, on the heights of the battlefield.

those yet unconvinced

This part of Deborah’s song celebrates the courage of those who fought, and also spoke of those who stayed behind and searched their hearts. God was in this, but not everyone was convinced.

That reality has been replayed in history many times. We can confidently assert that God was in something, if it turned out to be the case afterward. We can even look down on those who did not share our post-event enlightenment.

God is calling us to step out in faith and answer his call. He is also calling us to be patient and considerate of those who are not yet ready to sign on.

LORD, thank you for your call and commission. Give us patience and grace toward those yet unconvinced.