A Woman Who Knows What’s What!

Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth. She was judge over Israel at that time. She held court under Deborah’s Palm between Judges 4:5 (MSG)

The other day I heard a moving piece entitled Deborah Arise, and I thought of another one of my favorite women in the Bible is Deborah. Deborah was a judge at a time when few people wanted to hear the truth. She courageously served the people, judging with righteous judgement. During this time, the sins of the children of Israel had caught up with them and they were brought under oppression:

^1-3 The People of Israel kept right on doing evil in God’s sight. With Ehud dead, God sold them off to Jabin king of Canaan who ruled from Hazor. Sisera, who lived in Harosheth Haggoyim, was the commander of his army. The People of Israel cried out to God because he had cruelly oppressed them with his nine hundred iron chariots for twenty years Judges 4:1-3 (MSG)\

Deborah sent for Barak, a commander in the army and told him to assemble forces to go against Sisera. Barak agreed to go, but only if Deborah would go with him:

⁸ Barak said, “If you go with me, I’ll go. But if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

^9-10 She said, “Of course I’ll go with you. But understand that with an attitude like that, there’ll be no glory in it for you. God will use a woman’s hand to take care of Sisera.”

Deborah got ready and went with Barak to Kedesh. Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali together at Kedesh. Ten companies of men followed him. And Deborah was with him. Judges 4:8-10 (MSG)

It was not at Deborah’s hand that Sisera met his death, but another courageous young woman, Jael. Jael lured Sisera into her tent and fed him milk. He soon fell asleep and Jael took a hammer and peg and nailed his head to the floor.

Moral of the story – there have always been women of conviction and courage who were willing to risk their lives in behalf of their families and communities. If you are interested in hearing a message to the Deborah of today see The Mantle of Deborah on you tube.

Maria