Leaders of the Bible: Deborah

Judges 4&5

At no point in the passage is Deborah or her actions described as faithful, but the story throughout chapters four and five are filled with moments where her faith in the Lord leads herself and Israel closer to victory and proper orientation to God. 

Twenty years of brutal treatment from the Canaanites had been going on when the story picked up. Deborah seemingly knew no different than to do her job as a judge of Israel. Describing her as a prophetess means that the Lord also gave her words to share with the people. She is one of five prophetesses mentioned throughout the Bible. It is clear that her role was important and that she served in it obediently. The first moment where her faith goes beyond that of the men of Israel at the time is when she shares a prophecy with Barak, where God directed him to lead 10000 people in battle against Sisera and the Canaanites. While Barak’s lack of faith shows in rejecting this call, Deborah’s shines as she willingly steps in to lead these warriors into battle as God had directed. Again on the day of the battle she stirs Barak to lead the people into battle that eventually results in victory. 

Her response is to write chapter 5, the Song of Deborah & Barak. Verse seven notes her as a mother in Israel. The significance of this is that often the deliverer figure of stories in the Old Testament were men that God raised up. But in this period of time it is clear that the men of Israel were faithless and turning to other things. God uses the faith of Deborah and raises her up to be a judge, prophetess, and commander of the Israelite people. And as we can see her faith goes a long way. 

To compare the status of the Israelite people at the beginning of chapter 4 to the end of chapter 5, they went from very few pursuing the things of God to now the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, Machir, Zebulun, Issachar, and Naphtali participating in the battle against the Canaanites and end the battle by worshiping God for his hand of deliverance. While some of the tribes were not part of it and the nation of Israel is still somewhat divided, this was a huge step. 

Deborah’s faith led to the deliverance of her people and their eyes being turned to glorify the Lord their God. Deborah stepped up and trusted God when few else were. God moves through faithfulness, it is clear. Praise God for Deborah’s faithfulness and biblical example to us all.