During the historical period of the Judges, Israel often turned to idolatry; and as a result, God punished them by causing them to suffer under harsh rulership of neighboring nations. One such time was when King Jabin, ruling in Hazor of Canaan, harshly oppressed Israel for 20 years. The Israelites finally cried out to God for deliverance (Judges 4:3).
It was during this time of King Jabin’s oppressive rule that we first read of Deborah. Judges 4:4-5 simply states: *“Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, was judging Israel at that time.* … And the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.”
In the next two verses, we read that Deborah “sent and called for Barak …, and said to him, ‘Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, ‘Go and deploy troops at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun; and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand’?”
She called for Barak to lead Israel in a war against the mighty armies of Jabin and his general Sisera, by utilizing only a very small army of Israelites to do so. God was planning to defeat these foreign armies and deliver Israel.
It is important to note that Barak is listed in the Faith Chapter (Hebrews 11:32). Yet we see that it was Deborah who called upon him to act in faith. It is also interesting to note that Barak said he would only go against the enemy if Deborah went with him (Judges 4:8).
Deborah saw Barak’s less-than-confident attitude, and she reassured him that she would surely go with him. Then she also prophesied that the glory of killing Sisera, God’s enemy, would not go to Barak, but “the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman” (verse 9).
Because of Deborah’s strong, confident, commanding words to Barak and her presence with him, Barak did take 10,000 Israelite troops down from Mount Tabor as commanded. “And the LORD routed Sisera and all his chariots and all his army with the edge of the sword before Barak” (Judges 4:15). Barak then pursued the fleeing chariots and army of Sisera and killed them all.
But Sisera fled away and ended up being killed by a woman named Jael. God’s prophecy had come to pass, as He had spoken through Deborah.
Deborah’s faith in God and her decisive leadership and service to God were undeniable. This was at a time when faith was seriously lacking in Israel.
*What Should I Know/Do?*
Deborah is a shining example of a woman with faith in God who arose as a light to her people. She turned many of her countrymen to service to God and faith at a time when it was sorely needed. How much faith and commitment do we have in serving God as she did?
Sisters use marriage as a basis to stay impotent, unuseful to their calling and destiny. Some even quit their marriage in career pursuit believing that marriage is a drawback in fulfilling destiny. Look at Deborah, she was a family woman well respected also as a judge, filled with the Spirit of God! Thou art inexcusable oh woman.
She then recounted the difficulties Israel was facing, the highways were deserted, village life had ceased—“until I, Deborah, arose, arose a mother in Israel” (Judges 5:7). She was valued as a “mother in Israel”, a title of honor and renown. Her actions helped to save Israel from further oppression.
*Lifting Prayers*
Dear Lord, I thank you for your word to me today, I bless your most Holy name! I ask for your hands in my Life, I ask for your Spirit for without you I can do nothing. Increase my faith in You, make me a judge as Deborah, filled with faith and power to help those who are oppressed both physically and spiritually. Help me to be successful family man/woman, also a successful child. Increase my strength daily in you and make me realize it's not late seeking you no matter how old I am or what I have lost. Give me grace to recover all like Deborah did. Blessed be your holy name. Amen
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