Presenter: Rev. Dr. JoAnne P. King
Date: June 2, 2024
Good Morning and Praise the Lord. Welcome to the Series: “God’s Heroines in the Old Testament.”
Our next two females come from the book of Judges. The book of Judges covers a lot of apostasies on Israel’s part and the judgment that ensued. As long as Israel had faithful kings or judges that did the right thing, they adhered to the commandments of God but once the faithful leader died, they would revert back to their old ways of worshipping and partaking of the ways of the people amongst whom they lived.
At this time, the Lord sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan that reigned in Hazor. The captain of his army was Sisera who lived in Harosheth of the Gentiles. For twenty years he oppressed the Israelites with his nine hundred chariots of iron.
Then, the Israelites cried out to God and being the merciful God that He is, selected the only female judge in the Bible to help them. Her name was Deborah. Deborah was married to Lapidoth, and was not only a judge but a prophetess as well. She dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in Mount Ephraim. The children of Israel would come up to her for judgment.
Now, it was time to deal with Sisera, captain of the host of Canaan. So, Deborah sent and called Barak, the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-Naphtali, and said unto him: “Hath not the Lord God of Israel commanded saying, Go, and draw toward Mount Tabor and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulon? “And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
“And Barak said unto her, if thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go. “And she said, I will surely go with thee: not-withstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honor; for the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh” (Judges 4:6-9). So, Barak assembled his ten thousand men from Zebulin and Naphtali and went up to Kedesh. Deborah went with them.
Now Heber, the Kenite who was a descendent of Jethro the Midianite, the father-in-law of Moses separated himself and Jael from the Kenites and pitched his tent in the plain of Zaanaim, which is by Kedesh. They showed Sisera that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor.
As a result, Sisera gathered together all 900 chariots of iron and all the people that were with him from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon. One commentator said Sisera had 100 thousand men in addition to the 900 iron chariots–outnumbering the Israelites 10 to 1! Not only were they outnumbered 10 to 1 but the Israelites were unarmed as well!
How could an unarmed army of 10 thousand men defeat a well-armed one with 900 chariots of iron and 100 thousand men? The Vulgate offers an interesting translation for this verse? “The Lord chose a new species of war, and himself subverted the gates of the enemy.” What was this new species of war? In the first place, a woman gave the orders and directed the war by prophecy (4:6-14). Then God put it into the hearts of 10,000 men to have faith without arms to overcome a greater company well-armed. This was a greater miracle in itself, for in Gideon’s time, a little later, there were only 300 who showed evidence of this kind of faith (7:5-25).
“Barak retired to Mount Tabor with the 10,000 men and they were attacked by the well-armed army of Sisera. Suddenly Barak and his men rushed upon them and God began to act, causing terror and confusion throughout the Canaanite army who threw down their arms to flee. The routing was instantaneous and complete, the Israelites picking up the arms of their enemies and slaying them as they ran away. Even Sisera, being no longer safe in a chariot, fled on foot. The entire army was slain by men and the Captain by a woman. This was the new species of war that brought deliverance in Israel.”
To make what happened a little clearer, the Vulgate didn’t mention some of the following: Barack and his army were in a very good position being stationed at the top of Mount Tabor and Sisera and his army in their 900 chariots of iron were located in the valley. Deborah said to Barack, “Up, for this is the day in which the Lord hath delivered Sisera into thine hand: is not the Lord gone out before thee? So, Barak went down from Mount Tabor with the 10,000 men following him. The Lord discomforted Sisera and all his chariots and all his hosts with rain making it difficult to navigate their chariots of iron in the mud. Sisera’s army and host got out of the chariots of iron, dropping their weapons and fleeing for their lives. Barack and his army pursuing on foot picked up the weapons and slew Sisera’s army and host killing all but Sisera” (Judges 4:14-16).
This left the Canaanite army without their leader, and so they were easily followed and destroyed by Barak and his men. No doubt the angel of the Lord so confused the enemy that many ran into each other and their chariots were overthrown, as the remnant fled toward Harosheth. This indicates the total destruction of the Canaanite’s army and chariots.
“Sisera was fleeing on foot to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite for there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said unto him, turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle (robe)” (Judges 4:17-18).
Since Jael and her husband had warned Sisera of the mobilization of Israel, he no doubt thought he would be safe with her. He trusted Jael so completely that he relaxed and went to sleep in her tent. “Sisera preferred the woman’s tent to that of Heber because of secrecy and supposed safety there. Eastern custom was that no man was allowed into a woman’s tent or the apartments of women; and to do so meant the death penalty. Thus, Sisera was brought under the death penalty and it was permitted of God to fulfill the prophecy of v. 9.
“Sisera asked Jael to give him a drink of water because he was thirsty. She gave him a drink of milk and covered him. “He asked Jael to stand in the door of the tent and when any man should come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? You shall say, No.
“Then, Jael Heber’s wife took a nail of the tent, and took a hammer in her hand and went softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was fast asleep and weary. So, he died.
“…as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him, Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent, behold, Sisera lay dead and the nail was in his temples.
“So, God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel. And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan” (Judges 4:19-24).
The whole 5th chapter of Judges is a song of Deborah and Barak: “A Praise to God for victory” that covers:
- Rise of Deborah and Barak when Israel was oppressed.
- Conduct of the other tribes in war on the Canaanites.
- Battle on Mount Tabor.
- Blessing on Jael for killing Sisera.
- Anxiety and presumption of Sisera’s mother and maids.
- Curse and blessing upon the enemies and friends of God.
Under Deborah, the prophetess, judge and warrior, the land had rest for forty years.
Today, what messages can we take away from the lives of prophetess, judge and warrior Deborah and Jael.
We will look at Deborah and what we can glean from her life and ministry. Deborah set up her office under a palm tree between Ramah and Bethel where the people of Israel visited her to have her resolve their disputes. The people had confidence in her judgments and trusted her. This is important because there were so few women called to this level of leadership. This lets us know that the people we minister to, have to have confidence in us as well.
Deborah took the people’s trust seriously and she, in turn, respected them. From this, we learn that when God calls us to serve others, we should take it seriously, especially when we know it’s an uncommon call.
Deborah was a powerful prayer warrior and spiritual leader. She heard God’s voice the way she heard humans talk to her. As a Judge, she had open communication with God. Through prayer, she heard from God what to do about each case she judged. From this, we know that in whatever gift(s) that God assigns us, we should have open communication as well, allowing God to direct us in what we should do or say.
As a prophetess, she was God’s mouthpiece to the people of Israel. When Deborah calls Barak to war against the Canaanites, she was only confirming what God had already told Barak. It is apparent that Barak didn’t have confidence in what God had told him to do and relied only on what Deborah said that God said. It appears that God spoke to Deborah separately and she was obedient to His voice. When God gives us an assignment, we are not to question whether an impossible looking situation can succeed, but have faith and proceed.
Another lesson from Deborah is that leaders who have been called by God don’t have the luxury of having a lukewarm spiritual life. A leader like Deborah needs to be on fire and they need to have a fervent prayer life.
Deborah was courageous—to go up against an army with more military strength than the army of Israel could not have been easy. Sisera’s army had the latest technology in army equipment, and a larger number of men to fight. Israel’s army was only 10,000 strong. The Canaanite army was 100,000 strong plus 900 chariots. Who goes up against an army 10 times their size? But Deborah was not troubled by this. She was ready to move forward with Barak with much bravery.
We can learn from Deborah’s courageousness that whatever odds we may face in doing God’s assignment, we too can move forward in faith. Knowing that if God has given us this assignment than we are more than well able to take care of the situation. As the Bible says: “If God be for us, who can be against us?”
Her ability to face difficult situations without flinching is definitely a hallmark of a heroic leader. Deborah was a woman of faith in God and this faith allowed her to move forward with such courage. She reminded Barak two times that God would deliver the army into their hands.
Deborah took God at His Word; trusted Him with her whole heart and every battle decision was made based on this faith in God. God expects no less from us when we are given assignments from Him! In fact, in His Word it states: “When the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on earth?” (Luke 18:8)
Deborah had a heart for other leaders and those who follow. In fact, in Judges 5:9 (NIV), she declared: “My heart is with Israel’s princes, with the willing volunteers among the people. Praise the Lord!” She was concerned not only about her leadership role in Israel but she cared about the other Israelite leaders. She made it her business to note whether the other Israelite leaders showed up for their people. In the battle with the Canaanites with Sisera as general, not all the Israelite tribes showed up for battle and she names them in Judges 5. This shows us that in our roles of what God has given us to do that we should have a heart for those who are laboring in the field for God.
There are so many other things I could say about Deborah but I will give 5 final lessons on Deborah, the prophetess, judge and warrior.
- Women are called by God as well.
In some Christian places, the lesson of Deborah in the Bible is very controversial. In many churches today, there is a struggle concerning women in ministry. In these churches, they feel that women are only called to be wives, mothers, and hospitality managers at home.As you have seen in the Bible that God can, does, and will continue to raise up women to be spiritual leaders and spiritual warriors. Why? Because God the Holy Spirit chooses whom He will give spiritual gifts to. All gifts are spiritual and every single person receives at least one. “All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and He distributes them to each one, just as He determines” (I Cor. 12:2).
You know from this series that there are more women who God has chosen to do great exploits for Him both in the Old Testament and the New Testament.
- Faith without action is pointless.
If you say that you have faith in something that God has told you to do, then it requires action. Deborah trusted God with everything within her. When God said He was going to deliver Israel from Sisera’s army, she believed that Word. Because she believed that Word, she took action and ran into battle with Barak holding nothing back. Because faith without action is dead. God cannot help you win the battle, if you never actually get into the fight. If you want your faith to work for you, take action. - Understand the role you are supposed to play in the life of others.
Deborah was a leader, but she understood the kind of leadership she needed to provide. Barak was the clear leader of the Israelite army. She never took that from him. She understood that was not what the army needed from her. What they needed was to be encouraged and reassured that they had what it would take to work with God in winning the battle.
It is important for each of us to know our role that we are to play in the assignments that God has given each one of us. Stick to your assignment and not trespass into someone else’s assignment or position.
- Don’t be afraid to celebrate when God comes through. As soon as Deborah and Barak knew the battle had been won, they burst into song, which was also poetry. They praised God and celebrated as if there were no tomorrow. When God fulfills His promise(s) to us, we should sing, praise and worship Him. The song they put together was a testimony of all the events they recalled of God showing up for them in battle.
- Leave a legacy of peace and faith.
The last lesson I want to leave about Deborah is legacy. Sometimes, people will ask you what legacy do you want to leave your loved ones? I believe that each one of us wants to leave a wonderful legacy for our loved ones. Remember, people will not always remember what you did, (I hope they do) but they are more likely to remember how you made them feel. Deborah is remembered because of the freedom the people experienced as a result of her involvement—40 years of peace. Deborah lived a faith-filled, purpose-driven life and we are benefitting from that today from studying her story.
Now, let’s look at the other heroine, while not as famous as her counterpart, Jael still holds a special place in biblical history. Jael’s story may seem gruesome, but it teaches valuable lessons about courage, faith and resourcefulness in challenging situations. In a time, when women were expected to be submissive and obedient to men, Jael stands out as a strong and fearless biblical figure who acted with courage and loyalty. From this we learn, that God can use anyone, regardless of their gender or social status, to accomplish His purposes. Jael’s life is a testament to the power of faith and trust in God to bring about deliverance and victory.
We have learned the following lessons from Jael’s life:
- Is a powerful reminder of the courage and resourcefulness of women in biblical times and the importance of obedience and trust in God’s plan for our lives.
- The importance of being loyal to our allies, even when it may be difficult or risky and the power of resourcefulness in solving problems.
- Her willingness to act boldly in faith and trust in God’s power to bring about deliverance.
- Her life demonstrates the power of God working through ordinary people to bring about extraordinary results. This reminds us that we too can play a role in God’s plan for deliverance and victory.
- Jael’s act of driving the tent peg through Sisera’s head showed her loyalty to the Israelites and her faith in God’s plan for deliverance.
- Since she could not wield a sword or spear in battle, she used what she had at her disposal to defeat her enemy—a simple tent peg.
- Jael’s life is an example of God using an unexpected person in unexpected ways to accomplish His plan. She was a woman, a non-combatant, and a person no one would view as a hero. Yet, God used her in a powerful way to deliver His people from their oppressors.
In closing, we may feel inadequate or unprepared for the challenges we face, but we can trust in God’s plan for our lives and use the skills and strengths we have to make a difference. We are reminded by Jael’s life that even the most unlikely of people can be used by God for his purposes and that our faith and obedience can lead to victory and deliverance.
Deborah’s story lifts our eyes to God. She was part of a bigger narrative—a seed of Abraham through whom God would bless the nations. Her life was intertwined with God’s redemptive plan. As we celebrate strong women, let’s remember that their strength is ultimately rooted in God’s work and His purposes.
Deborah’s unwavering faith, leadership and reliance on God makes her a powerful example for Christian women today. Her story encourages us to trust in God’s strength and play our part in His redemptive plan. Remember, God doesn’t call the qualified. He qualifies the called. Praise the Lord and Amen.