Read Deborah’s story in Judges 4:1–17; 5:1–31.
Women in the ancient world didn’t normally become political leaders, but Deborah was God’s choice to serve as judge over Israel. At that time a judge was like a king.
Two hundred years had passed since Rahab had helped the spies escape Jericho, since Joshua and his men marched around the walls of Jericho, and since the walls crumbled. The Canaanites’ King Jabin now dominated the Israelites. The Israelites had fallen from God again and worshiped the Canaanites’ false gods and idols.
As God’s leader of the Israelites, Deborah held court under a palm tree called the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. Listening to her people, she judged fairly and settled their arguments. Deborah’s relationship with God shaped her worldview—the way she looked at the circumstances in the world. God knew she listened to his voice so he called her to deliver his people from the Canaanites.
When God told Deborah his plan, she sent for Barak, one of her military leaders, and gave him God’s battle plan. “Take ten thousand men and lead them to Mount Tabor. God will lure Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.”
Barak said, “I’ll go, if you’ll go with me.”
Deborah must have had quite a reputation as a strong military leader and warrior since Barak would only go to battle if she went with him.
Deborah agreed to go with Barak and his army, but because he insisted she go with him, she said he wouldn’t receive the honor for the victory. The honor would go to a woman. That was God’s choice, and he used Deborah, the prophetess and judge, to announce it.
When Sisera heard that Barak and his army had gone up to Mount Tabor, he gathered his men and his nine hundred iron chariots in the Valley of Jezreel, along the Kishon River.
Deborah gave Barak the order to go, saying, “This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands.” Barak and his ten thousand men charged down Mount Tabor. Sisera’s men had nine hundred chariots. Barak’s men had none.
God sent a storm and flooded the area. Sisera left his chariot and took off on foot. Barak’s army chased Sisera’s chariots and army. All of Sisera’s troops died.
Sisera ran like a coward. But just as Deborah had prophesied, God used a woman to hand Sisera over to Barak. (More details about that in Jael’s chapter.)
On that day, the day of victory, Deborah and Barak sang a song of praise to God and thanks to the warriors who fought against the enemies of the Lord.
God requires a willing believer with a servant’s heart to listen and lead according to his will. He used a humble and wise woman—Deborah—to direct the battle.
Are you a follower or a leader? If you’re a follower, are you following the right person? Do you ever feel as if there’s no godly person in your life to follow? Maybe your friends aren’t the kind of leaders you should let lead you.
Are you a leader? Are you leading the people who follow you in the right direction? Are you leading them toward God or away from God?
Like Deborah, you can be a leader who loves God, listens to him, and leads others in his ways.
If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
—James 1:5
I will seek God’s wisdom so I can serve him well.
Father God, I want to lead others to you, to show them that you are worthy to be followed. Help me grow in wisdom to lead others according to your will. Amen.
There were six major judges in Israel’s history: Othniel, Ehud, Deborah, Gideon, Jephthah, and Samson; and six minor judges: Shamgar, Tola, Jair, Ibzan, Elon, and Abdon. Deborah was the only female judge over Israel.
The name Deborah means “bee.” That description fits this Deborah well. As a wife, leader of Israel, judge who settled arguments, and a prophetess who delivered God’s truth, Deborah must have felt like a bee buzzing from one person and one place to another.
During Deborah’s time, it was common practice to celebrate a national victory with songs. Deborah’s song in Judges 5:2–31 is an early example of Hebrew poetry.