“When God is going to do something wonderful,” author Anne Lamott claims, “God always starts with a hardship; when God is going to do something amazing, God starts with an impossibility.” All of those ingredients are present in our lesson from the book of Judges. The people were experiencing a crisis, a time of great stress thinking doom was all but inevitable.  The situation appeared hopeless and impossible until God raised up the right person to meet the challenge head on.  It just so happens that person was a woman!

   Last time I wrote about one of the bad girls, Jezebel, now I want to switch gears and talk about one of the good girls, Deborah. Deborah provides a picture of leadership that wasn’t normally seen in the society of her time. In the Bible, women are sometimes portrayed as men’s equals and other times, as men’s subordinates or property.

   Very few women in scripture rose to positions of national leadership. Deborah stands out due to both her spiritual and civil leadership. She was the only woman who served as a judge during those extended years of turmoil. From the book of Judges, let’s take a look at this amazing woman, a woman I’ve heard someone call ‘God’s Leading Lady’, a woman after God’s own heart!  Deborah is an excellent example to all, that He can use any of us if we are willing and obedient to His call.

   Judges 4.1, “When Ehud was dead, the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the Lord.” The old saying is true, “Sin will take your further than you want to go, cost you more than you want to pay, keep you longer than you want to stay.”

   The natural tendency for us is to frown upon the ancient Israelites who kept falling into the same old trap. It’s easy to see this pattern when we look back, however it is more difficult to realize the problem when we are in the midst of a troubling situation. While we may not want to admit it, there are times when we, too, fail the Lord, and do what is evil in God’s sight. We may have the best intentions but for some reason we sometimes fall short of what God requires from us.

   Perhaps there was a time in your life when you wouldn’t think of missing church, were bold in sharing your faith, were quick to respond to Holy Spirit’s small voice in your life…yet now, it’s no big deal to miss church. It’s ok to watch ungodly shows, (Garbage in, garbage out!) it’s ok to spread a little gossip; it’s ok to betray a trust! Can I tell you something, you can’t dance with the devil and wonder why your life is hell. You can’t have one hand in the hand of Jesus and holding hands with the devil with the other hand

   We may not take sin seriously, but God does. Why? Because sin robs us of God’s purpose for our lives (Judges 4.2) “So the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor.” God takes sin so seriously in the life of His children, in the life of His church that if not dealt with, God’s people can miss out on God’s purpose. God allowed His people to be placed in the hands of Jabin.  Jabin was king who reigned inside Canaan, the ‘Promised Land’!  That’s where sin starts most of the time, isn’t it?  Not on the outside, but the inside!

    The people did what was evil and then cried out for God’s help. And God in turn responded.  Have you ever noticed that God has a way of choosing people that we might never pick?  Throughout the pages of the Bible, we have discovered that God never called the qualified but rather qualified the called.  God knew exactly what or in this case who was needed at any given moment.

The time had come for God to act in judgment upon Jabin and Sisera and to deal with Jabin’s dreaded nine hundred chariots of iron. It says something for the deplorable spiritual condition of God’s people that, not only was there no man in the country willing to strike a blow for God in this oppression, but there was no man either with whom God was on speaking terms. The only person in touch with God was a woman named Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of an unsung man named Lapidoth.

   Deborah was a mother to Israel, by diligently promoting the salvation of their souls.  She calls on those who shared the advantages of this great salvation, to give thanks to God for it.  Let those who are restored, not only to their freedom as other Israelites, but to their rank, sing God’s praises. This is the Lord’s doing!  In these acts of His, justice was executed on His enemies. Notice God’s kindness to His trembling people. It is the glory of God to protect those who are most vulnerable, and to help the weakest.  

    Deborah was a judge in this time before the monarchy was established. She was the first woman judge.  Her job was to settle disputes for the people. Let’s pause for a moment to look specifically at her ‘job’.  In the Hebrew language the title judge indicates someone who will bring others into a right relationship.  Deborah was a woman of eminent holiness, and knowledge of the holy scriptures, by which she was exclusively qualified for judging the people according to the laws of God. This points to the spiritual aspect even though the specific tasks were of a civil nature.  The three basic functions were administration, the settlement of disputes, and military leadership. 

   On most days, Deborah could be found under a palm tree “in the hill country” and it was there that “the Israelites came to her for judgment.”  The cultural customs of the time prohibited women from meeting with men indoors so Deborah had to move her office out under a palm tree to conduct business. 

    Deborah was also a prophet who spoke the word of God.  She held a unique position as both judge and prophet.

   Out of her great love for God, Deborah was driven to do what was pleasing in God’s sight.  There is no telling how God might use our lives when we open ourselves to Him. When we pray the Lord’s Prayer we pray, “Thy will be done.”  The problem is that frequently we insist on doing things our own way, and when we do, we close ourselves off to God. (Some of us need to just step outta’ God’s way and let Him do what He needs to do.) Deborah’s desire was to please God and allow God to use her in a mighty way. ( Some of us pray, “Use me Lord” and then balk when He calls us out of our comfort zones.) People respected this independent, strong willed, and spirit filled woman who spoke the word of the Lord without fear.

   Deborah called on her own heart to be true.  He that will set the hearts of other men/women on fire with the love of Christ, must himself/herself burn with love. Praising God is a work we should awake to, and awake ourselves unto.  She notices who fought against Israel, who fought for them, and who kept away. Who fought against them. They were obstinate enemies to God’s people, therefore the more dangerous. Who fought for them. The several tribes that helped are here spoken of with honor; although God is above all to be glorified, those who are employed must have their due praise, to encourage others. But the whole creation is at war with those to whom God is an enemy.  The river of Kishon fought against their enemies.  At most times it was shallow, yet now, probably by the great rain that fell, it was so swelled, and the stream so deep and strong, that those who attempted to pass, were drowned.  Deborah’s own soul fought against them. When one is called into the army of God, through the grace of God, the strength of our spiritual enemies will be trodden down, and will fall before us.  She observes who kept away, and did not side with Israel, as might have been expected. Thus many are kept from doing their duty by the fear of trouble, the love of ease, and undue affection to their worldly business and advantage.  Narrow, selfish spirits don’t care what becomes of God’s church, all they care about is what they can get and making money, keeping it and saving it, even if they have to use God’s people to do it.  All seek their own, (Philippians 2:22). 

   The ranking military commander of the time was a man named Barak. Evidently he didn’t have a problem with a woman judge or taking orders from one, for he went immediately to see Deborah after she sent for him.  Deborah instructed him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun.’ The Lord God was about to act once again on behalf of the people. God was clearly in control of the situation. Deborah explained how God would draw out the enemy, Sisera, and promised, “I will give him into your hand.” God promised to lure Sisera into a ravine thus giving the victory to the Israelites.

   With such clear direction and promise of victory, one might have thought that Barak would set out without a second thought.  And perhaps he might have; however, he had one request for Deborah. He asked that she accompany him and the troops. This indeed was an unusual request but  Deborah went along with Barak’s weak faith. Weak faith was better than no faith.  God had revealed Himself.  He had pledged His word that Sisera would be delivered into Barak’s hand.  He had spoken in His character of “the Lord God of Israel” as Jehovah-Elohim of Israel.  He was the God of covenant and the God of creation.  He was the God of all promise and of all power.  He was a God who was willing to pledge both His Word and His infinite resources to Barak. Barak shrank back, he was afraid  Barak said to Deborah, “I will go if you will come too.”  No wonder God diminished Barak’s honor.  Why can we not just take our stand on the Word of God alone?  How often we grieve the Lord our God with our feeble faith!  How often the Lord takes the brightest jewels from our crown and gives them to someone else.

   Deborah instantly gave him an additional word from God.  His lack of trust was dishonoring to God.  (God said, “Hath not the God of Israel commanded…?  And I will draw…. I will deliver…” 4:6-7 )  So, God would deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman instead of into his hands.   So much for Barak’s male ego! *smile*

     But Deborah was not afraid to lead by example.  She teaches us that leaders should be on the frontline, getting their hands dirty, not secluded in a safe place, sitting in our living rooms in front of our computers.  Her love and trust of God was so great that she was willing to place her life on the line when needed.  I have to wonder, how many of us would be so brave and loyal to the God we serve.  I hate to say it but I believe in the near future our loyalty may be put to the test.  I can only pray…Lord give me the strength of Stephen and the courage of Deborah.

   Deborah’s presence inspired the soldiers and the victory played out exactly as she had foretold.  The menacing enemy was soundly defeated.  Deborah composed and sang a hymn telling of this significant victory that is found in the next chapter, Judges 5.  It is a poetic song of celebration commemorating this victory in rather graphic detail.  Deborah, the Israelites’ first woman judge, remained in her position for forty years and according to scripture, “The land had rest forty years.” Deborah had accomplished the seemingly impossible.

   God has an uncanny way of choosing the right person at the right time to bring about God’s desires. When we surrender ourselves to God, we will find both meaning and purpose. Henrietta Mears taught college age, single, young adults for decades at Hollywood Presbyterian Church.  She became increasingly frustrated at not being able to give her students first rate material, so she began a small publishing enterprise out of a garage. “The lessons were to be bold, challenging, and captivating as they underscored the principles of God’s Word,” Henrietta explained.  Soon her venture grew into Gospel Light Publishers.

   She searched for a retreat area where she could take her high school and college aged students. “If you place people in an atmosphere where they feel close to God and then challenge them with His Word,” she said, then “they will make decisions.” She founded a retreat center where people could go to speak with God.

   Frustrated at not having a good, single volume introduction to the Bible, Henrietta wrote one (What the Bible is All About) that sold hundreds of thousands of copies and continues to sell today decades after her death. Her words are still timely today, “God doesn’t call us to sit on the sidelines and watch.  He calls us to be on the field, playing the game.”  This remarkable, God filled woman accomplished these things at a time when many people thought a woman had no business doing such things.

   God is at work in our lives and in our world, working with ordinary people to accomplish extraordinary or seemingly impossible things.  God is at work even at those times when we are unaware of God’s presence.  You may think when you can’t hear or feel God, He has left you but that’s far from the truth. It’s during those times that Holy Spirit is working in your life preparing you for something He has called you to do.

   If only we knew in times of uncertainty which direction we should take. Unfortunately, we don’t always know, but we do know that God is with us. God has an uncanny way of calling people we would never expect, and through these people, God’s plan is accomplished.  God does not call the qualified but rather qualifies the called. The book of Judges challenges our stereotypes and reverses our expectations.  Our Lord Jesus calls us to follow Him.  At times we may not have a clear sense (vision) of where we are going, but we follow trusting the Lord to show us the right way.  We follow knowing that there are times when we have to step outta’ our comfort zone, in faith, into the unknown. We do so knowing that we do not go alone.  Amen?

   The Israelite warriors won the day, and General Sisera fled the battleground on foot. He escaped to the camp of the Kenites, a Bedouin tribe that traced its heritage back to Jethro, Moses’ father-in-law.  He asked for sanctuary in the tent of Jael (or Yael), wife of the clan leader. Thirsty, he asked for water, but she gave him milk and curds, a heavy meal that caused him to fall asleep.  Seizing her opportunity, Jael tiptoed into the tent and drove a tent peg through Sisera’s head with a mallet into the ground.  A fury of madness must have taken control of her. Once she started hammering she could hardly stop. We do not have to apologize for this deed. There were mitigating circumstances so far as Jael was concerned.  Moreover, the Holy Spirit calls her blessed, “Blessed above women shall Jael… be.”  The only other woman so addressed is the Virgin Mary.  With a sigh of relief at the death of this wicked man, Deborah, as the spokeswoman for all the women of Israel cried, “Blessed above women shall Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite be” (5:24).   God often brings ruin on His enemies when they are most puffed up. Thus Jael gained fame for killing Sisera, which diminished Barak’s fame for his victory over King Jabin’s army, as Deborah had predicted! 

 There is a spiritual side to all this.  Error is very largely an intellectual thing, something conceived in the mind.  The way to deal with error is not to make excuses for it, not to accommodate it, not to feed it.  It has to be nailed to the ground, and that takes courage and conviction.  If a man won’t do it, then sometimes God finds a woman to do it instead.

 We should waste no time in giving thanks to the Lord for His mercies; for our praises are more sweet, pleasant, and profitable, when they flow from a full heart.  Whatever Deborah, Barak, or the army had done, the Lord must have all the praise.  The will, the power, and the success all came from Him.  To Him the glory and honor forever and ever!  Amen! 

   The Bible does not describe what Deborah did after the military victory. Likely Deborah went back to the palm tree and continued to act as a Judge. Old Testament Chronology records that Deborah was a Judge for 40 years. 

   Judges Chapter 5 is known as the “Song of Deborah,” a text that exults in the victory over the Canaanites. Deborah’s courage and wisdom in calling up an army to break Hazor’s control gave the Israelites 40 years of peace. Now how awesome is that!  And a woman to boot! *smile*

   In His love,
Elizabeth