Women in the Bible - Deborah

A War was raging when the Israelites were sold into the hand of Jabin, a King of Canaan.  His army had continually oppressed the Israelites unmercifully for 20 years.  In their distress, they finally cried out to the Lord for help.  Who did God send?  A woman!  Deborah, a judge and prophetess, was led to intervene.  She moved mightily when her religious zeal and patriotic fervor armed her with remarkable strength.

   When Deborah held court, the Israelites came to her to have their arguments decided.  It was during one of these disputes that she called for one of Israel’s most capable military men, Barak.  Together, they worked out a plan to attack the enemy.  Deborah let Barak know she was not afraid of Sisera, the commanding officer in charge of Jabin’s army.  She made Barak realize that God, who had proved Himself to be mightier than Pharaoh, also was mightier than either Jabin or Sisera.

    “The Lord, the God of Israel, command you:  ‘Go, take with you 10,000 men…’ Judges 4:6 spoke Deborah positively to Barak.  She convinced Barak that the Lord would deliver Sisera and his chariots and multitudes into their hands.  Barak said to her, “if you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”  Judges 4:8

   Since Deborah was a patriotic woman, with courage and much confidence in God, she told Barak, “Very well, I will go with you.  But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will hand Sisera over to a woman.” Judges 4:9

   Deborah went with Barak into battle.  During this conflict, Sisera fled the field of battle and sought refuge in the tent of Jael, wife of Heber, the Kenite.  Since there was peace between King Jabin and Jael’s family, Sisera thought he would be safe.  However, as he slept, Jael killed him, thus fulfilling Deborah’s prophecy.

     
Deborah took no credit for herself.  She gave all the credit to God.  The final victory:  “The land had peace forty years.”  Judges 5:3    If God spoke to your heart today to go into a situation that called for a courageous spirit and the end result was peace of mind, would you take the risk?