Warrior Women

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time. (Judges 4:4)

What a fantastic story!  In chapter four, we meet a new enemy Canaan and discover a new and unexpected judge-saviour, the prophet Deborah.  The only things that remain the same is the desperately unoriginal sin of Israel, mirrored by the steadfast faithfulness of God. 

Deborah is the supreme politcal and religious leader of Israel in her generation.  A person is a leader if, and only if people are willing to follow, and clearly Israel followed Deborah.  Like Esther, Deborah witnesses to the fact that God calls men and women alike into leadership.  Centuries later, God promises through the prophet Joel that he will pour out his spirit on all flesh, women and men.  I am so thankful to serve in a tradition and church where the leadership of called and equipped women is honored and respected.

Like Deborah, Jael the Kenite is a strong and resourceful woman.  With an economy of words, the writer of Judges narrates Jael's cold-blooded assassination of Israel's number one enemy.  Jael is not awe-struck by his reputation or it seems fearful for her own life.  She uses what is at hand to do what needs to be done.  Sisera is not the first man who in his arrogance underestimated the courage, strength and resourcefulness of a determined woman.  He paid for such a miscalculation with his life.

Finally there is Barak.  At first glance Barak appears to be a weak man.  After all he refuses to go up against Sisera and his chariots unless Deborah goes with him (v.8).  But are things as they seem?  In refusing to go without Deborah, Barak ensures that any glory is deflected from him and to God.  Deborah is the embodiment of God's presence with Israel.  Barak knows that any victory won against Sisera is not his, but God's.  Deborah's presence in the midst of battle will ensure that God alone gets the glory.  Like Barak and Israel, God has gone before us into battle (v.14).  And so we can live in the confidence that the battle is won and the victory, and all associated glory, is Gods.