8. Deborah
Ehud the judge is now dead and once again, Israel is doing evil in God’s eyes. God then allows them to be conquered by Jabin, the king of Canaan. The commander of the Canaanite army was Sisera.
Deborah was a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, she was leading Israel during this time. At the Palm of Deborah in the hill country of Ephraim, the Israelites went to see her to have their disputes settled. “She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”
Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.” “Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him.” (Judges 4:6-10)
So when Sisera learns that Barak had gone up to Mount Tabor, Sisera calls for his army and they go to Mount Tabor. A great battle ensues but with The Lord on their side, Israel prevails, but Sisera escapes. Picking up with verse 17: “Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite. Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up.
“Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’” But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died. Just then Barak came by in pursuit of Sisera, and Jael went out to meet him. “Come,” she said, “I will show you the man you’re looking for.” So he went in with her, and there lay Sisera with the tent peg through his temple—dead.” (Judges 4:17-22)
As usual, when God says this is going to happen, it happens. Barak’s half cooperation gets the job done, but his lack of faith cost him the opportunity to eliminate the enemy commander. After that day, the Israelites continued attacking King Jabin until he was destroyed.
So a couple things here that are unusual for the time, Deborah, a woman in a male dominated culture was a judge and prophet. Today, we would think nothing of it, why not a woman in an important role in society? There have and continue to be many women in such roles now. Remember though, several thousand years ago, women were more or less “property”. When we read the New Testament accounts of Jesus feeding the 5000, remember that was 5000 adult (adult meaning 12 years old or older) men. Women and girls present were not included in that count. While this point is important on its own, I want to focus on the fact that Barak’s lack of faith had consequences. This should be a strong reminder to all of us. God is faithful to us and in return, we should be faithful to God. In Paul’s letter to the Romans, he says if God is with us, who can stand against us? No one is too strong that God can’t defeat them. When I am offering prayers of the people at church, after people in the congregation name prayer concerns and praise reports, I call on God. My God can do anything. Nothing is too hard or too trivial for God. Remember that in your life. If something is going on, call on The Lord. He is loving, faithful and all powerful, and anything we ask in His name will be heard.
Lord, I pray that those who read this take to heart that you are a loving and compassionate God and that nothing is too hard or too trivial for you. In Jesus’ Holy Name, Amen.