Woman of the Month: Deborah

Deborah sat in the cool of palm trees

Better Late, Than Never

This lesson of wisdom was instilled into the Israelites, through Deborah, the prophetess, as she was directed by the hand of God. Israel had turned against God and were forced to endure much hardship. Only then did they cry out to the Lord for help. Much like we do when we entertain our idols, like money, prosperity and possessions, and then find they don’t last long, nor are they at all satisfying.

Deborah was an honored judge and the only woman on record to hold this leadership position over Israel. She would often sit under palm trees north of Jerusalem and there conduct business and settle disputes among the nation’s leaders. Deborah’s judgment was considered Divine and, thus, highly trusted.

Strong Role Model

By God’s direction, Deborah ordered an army to take on Jabin and his general, Sisera, who had oppressed Israel for years. But she didn’t just stay home in her comfortable home. No, she wouldn’t ask the men to go where she would not. Deborah went with them to give her authoritative support.

If we have ever been in a leadership role at work or in the community and have issued instructions or a directive to be carried out, but didn’t lend our support of the project, we may have lost the respect of those under our direction. As each new project began and we did the same thing, eventually, no one wanted to work for us. And we wondered why. Better late than never learning such lessons.

The Lord Walks Ahead of Each of Us

Sisera’s confidence was in his 900 iron chariots. He believed he had the power to overcome any enemy with such power. We might say, “His head got a little too big for his ego.” This kind of immense, overwhelming pride becomes a burden quickly. Deborah trusted God. She said to her military leader, “Go! This is the day the LORD has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the LORD gone ahead of you?” (Judges 4:14 NIV).

With Deborah’s insight from the LORD, “. . . All the troops of Sisera fell by the sword; not a man was left.” The coward Sisera didn’t stay with his army, he fled on foot. Would God let him go? Oh, no! God would yet use another woman. Sisera arrived at the tent of a woman, Jael. She invited him in and gave him something to drink. While he was asleep, quietly she “picked up a tent peg and a hammer and. . . drove the peg through his temple into the ground and he died.”

“. . . Then the land had peace forty years.”

Whoa! Don’t ever think Hollywood murder mysteries have anything on the Old Testament stories.   

Why Did We Have to Hear This Story?

We need to know when God goes before us by His grace, our conflicts, problems, and dilemmas are defeated. He gives us victory over our enemies. So, let’s never forget, all our associations with God’s enemies must be broken once and for all.

Deborah understood this.

Deborah’s complete story can be found in the Holy Bible, the Book of Judges, Chapter 4. And if you love poetry, the story is retold in Chapter 5, titled, The Song of Deborah.