Deborah is not content simply to record the general principles of the response. In precise detail, she lists the tribes that came and characterised their response. Three tribes deserve special attention. The men of Issachar (Judges 5:15) rushed into battle at Barak's heels. Zebulun ″risked their very lives″ (v. 18). And Naphtali (v. 18) chose the most difficult part of the battle. We must measure ourselves against this kind of commitment-wholehearted, spontaneous, enthusiastic, and daring-which obeys God's command and marches into the teeth of the enemy. Do we see that kind of response to Jesus' call to be His disciples today-engaging in spiritual warfare, living for Him in the world, and serving Him in different ways? Or do we give only the spare parts of our lives to Jesus? If we are not careful, we may end up with much duty and little love in our service to the King.

Not all the tribes responded. Four-and-a-half tribes chose not to come, and represent different forms of the reluctant spirit that paralyses our Christian service.

The men of Reuben (vv. 15-16) were emotionally stirred, but their feet never proceeded. It is easy to have great ″searching of heart″, but harder to translate emotion into action and head off to battle.

Gilead (v. 17), which included Gad and half of Manasseh, had cut themselves off from active fellowship with the other tribes. Today, that would be like living outside of active church fellowship despite the Lord's exhortation to continue meeting (Hebrews 10:25). Love for fellow believers is an evidence of salvation (see 1 John 3:10, 14).

Dan lacked spiritual growth. They had never realised their potential under God. All they could see was their own situation, so they stayed where they were. A Christian who does not have a growing Christian life will not have a volunteering, eager spiritual experience.

The people of Asher were focused entirely on their work-their ships, docks, and trading. They had no vision for God's work, no sense of the significance they had in God's programme, and no understanding of the mission God had called them to.

None of these four-and-a-half tribes ever again made a significant contribution to the cause of God. Asher virtually vanished, Dan nosedived into apostasy (giving up on God), and the two-and-a-half tribes were repeatedly overrun. They lived for themselves, refusing to risk what they had, and, as a result, lost what they had. If we do not have an eager, giving heart for God, our reluctant spirit will affect fellow believers. But above all, it will injure us as we shrivel up inside our shell.