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"So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh where he summoned Zebuleen and Naptali. Ten thousand men followed him and Deborah also went with him…Then Deborah said to Balak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead before you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor followed by ten thousand men. At Barak's advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword.” Judges 4: 9-10;14-15
Israel was in a dark time (familiar pattern) at the beginning of Judges 4. They did evil in the eyes of the Lord and the Lord gave them into the hands of the enemy. They cried for deliverance. And the Lord raised up a judge to lead them.
“Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.” Judges 4:4-6
Deborah was a leader in Israel. She listened and trusted God and He gave her wisdom and courage. She shared God’s wisdom with Israel and gave God the glory for all that He had shared with her. It was never about her but about God. She didn’t call herself a leader, a mighty warrior, or a deliverer. She called herself a mother.
“Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel.” Judges 5:7
Deborah means “bee” in Hebrew. It also means spirited or fiery woman. Perhaps “queen bee.” The queen bee is pivotal to everything that happens within a healthy bee hive. The queen bee does not necessarily control or call the shots in a colony. She produces pheromones that aid in colony communication. Just as we have the light of Jesus, Deborah had the light of God communicated through her.
Many commentaries focus on the fact that Deborah was the only woman female listed as a judge in the book of Judges. I initially wanted to wave the “woman power” banner but felt that God wanted something more. He made both male and female in his image. What matters is God. The story of Deborah is not so much about her but God’s faithfulness and His love. But Deborah is a great example of who God can use for His plans.
“For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Ephesians 2:10
First Deborah listened to God and communicated what God said to others. She sent for Barak, son of Abinoam, and told him what God had commanded him to do. Not what she wanted or felt. Israel had stopped listening to God. Deborah knew that listening to God and following what God said was the only way to bring Israel out of bondage.
“This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed is and established it – the Lord is His name. Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.” Jeremiah 33:2-3
The Message translation says “I’ll tell you marvelous and wondrous things that you could never figure out on your own.” This is exactly what God was doing through Deborah.
God was with Deborah and equipped her with what she needed to do His will. He is also with us so that we might know and do His will. Like Deborah, we must show our faith through our actions.
“Now may the God of Peace, who through the blood of the eternal covenant brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, equip you with everything good for doing His will and may He work in us what is pleasing to him through Jesus Christ to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen.” Hebrews 13:20-21
This Hebrew prayer is a request for submissive obedience to lay down our will for His.
“He is not an instrument in our hands. We are an instrument in His hands. We are not leading Him. He is teaching us. He is not a mere responder to us. We are being moved and led by Him.” John Piper
Deborah sang praises and gave glory to God. Her confidence was in God, not her own strength, and she worshiped and praised Him. She realized that no matter what she or the Israelite army had done, God deserved the credit.
“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1Thessalonians 5:18
I pray that, like Deborah, we will listen to God and act on what He leads us to do, giving Him the praise and glory for all that He does through us. We have the light of the world living in us and we need to let it shine so that others may know Him. We are in a dark time now and we get to be the light of Jesus. Is our home, church, city brighter because we are shining God’s light?
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in Heaven.” Matthew 5:14-16
Read the complete story of Deborah, Judge of Israel – Judges 4 and 5
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