We will all be there

"Debora sang, that day, with Barak ..." Judges 5. 1

In chapter 15 of the book of Exodus, an immense crowd (600,000 men plus women and children) sings the song of deliverance to the glory of God. A few days before, it was a people of slaves under the oppression of Pharaoh, now it is a free people! They passed near annihilation, but God showed His power and mercy and destroyed their enemy. God had also shielded them from his own judgment by the blood of the paschal lamb. Now they are all here to sing the great salvation of God.

Can not we draw a parallel with the beginning of the Christian era ? They were all together, the first witnesses of the death and resurrection of Jesus. They had the certainty and faith that Jesus, the Crucified One, was alive now : "All believers were in the same place and they had everything in common ... They took their food with joy and simplicity of heart" (Act 2. 44 -46). "The multitude of those who believed was a heart and a soul ... and great grace was upon them all" (Acts 4:32, 33).

At the time of the Judges, many years have passed for Israel since leaving Egypt. On the promised land, the people forgot the God who saved them. The Israelites have become idolaters and oppressed by their enemies. When they are in distress, God gives them judges. Thus Debora, the prophetess, leads Barak into battle. And God gives the victory. Then they sing, as in the past, the song of deliverance, but they are no longer all there : certain tribes have remained behind ; too preoccupied with their own interests, they did not want to go to battle (Judgment 5. 15-17) ... What does it matter if they are only two : Deborah and Barak will still sing to the glory of God.

Here too, the parallel is easy with our time. Where are all the Christians in our neighborhood, in our city ? Divided into multiple groups ! But even in small numbers, even if all the Christians of the district are distributed in different places, where the Lord has placed us, sing to his glory. Jesus, the center of love and joy of the first Christians, is still today that of everyone.

One day, by grace, we will all be reunited, "of every tribe, and tongue, and people, and nation". All who believe God, his whole people, will sing the new song to the glory of the Lamb (Rev.5: 9).

Source (Pleasing the Lord)