Judges 4:1-10 – God uses woman in leadership too

The deliverance brought by Ehud did not bring lasting commitment. When he died, the people of Israel again reneged and did evil in God’s sight. They only fell in line because of the oppression of the external forces that God had allowed to come upon them. When the oppression was relieved, they returned to their apostate state again. Hence a time of reckoning was needed. God once again sold them into the hand of Jabin, a Canaanite king from Hazor. This king had a commander by the name of Sisera who was located at Haroseth-hagoyim. He was in command of a strong army with 900 iron chariots. Verse 3 tells us that Sisera controlled and oppressed the Israelites for 20 years.

Judges 4:4-11 describe for us the judge whom God used to start their deliverance. She was a woman by the name of Deborah, the wife of an unknown person by the name of Lappidoth. In our previous reflection, we said that God could use anyone and everyone to fulfill His purpose, and that would include any gender. So, we see God using a woman to deliver Israel. It was rare in those days to see a woman in spiritual and political leadership. But we know that God is no respecter of persons. He uses both capable men and women. Deborah was already serving God as a Prophetess long before the oppression of Sisera. Verse 5 tells us that she was located “…between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim...” where she would sit under the palm tree and the sons of Israel would come to her for judgment.

In verse 6 we are told that she summoned for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-Naphtali and gave him a prophetic direction to take 10,000 men from the sons of Naphtali and Zebulun and march to Mount Tabor.  God promised to give Sisera into his hand. However, Barak only consented to go if Deborah would accompany him in this mission. This request was not an indication that he was a coward. For he was already told that Sisera would be given into his hand. Hence, it was more likely that he valued the prophetic vision given by Deborah. Besides, Deborah was quite willing to accompany him. She, however, forewarned him that if she went with him, he would not be honored for the victory. So, in verse 10, he gathered the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun in Kadesh and raised the 10,000 men needed. Deborah kept her word and went with him to Kadesh.  

The mention of the oppressive forces of Jabin led by Sisera who had 900 iron chariots suggest that the enemy Barak was coming up against was intimidating. The notion of such a foreboding force would have frightened anyone. However, no army, no matter how great, will be able to withstand the plan of God. In any spiritual battle, we need not fear who we are up against, we need to stay confident in the God who will fight for us. With God, we always form the majority. Praise His name!