Influential Women Of The Bible: Deborah

Influential Women Of The Bible: Deborah


Deborah’s story is found in Judges Chapters 4-5. The story takes place during a time of a great falling away from God in Israel. After God delivered Israel from Egypt and brought them into Canaan, they began to intermarry with the other tribes in the land and turned away from God into pagan practices. With each apostasy, Israel suffered oppression and war. But when they cried out to God, God would raise up a deliverer to rescue them from their oppressors. One of those deliverers was a woman by the name of Deborah.
Deborah was a prophetess and Judge of Israel, which was the equivalent of a king. She was the only woman to Judge Israel and her leadership was honored. She was known as the “Mother of Israel” (Judges 5:7). The entire nation would come to her for guidance. As Judge, she was also leader of the army of Israel. During the time of Deborah's rule, the nation had been under Canaanite domination for twenty years. They had suffered terrible atrocities and finally began to cry out to God for deliverance (Judges 4:3). The Canaanite army had 900 iron chariots and many more warriors. Israel had only 10,000 warriors. God told Deborah to instruct Barak, her general, to take their 10,000 soldiers up to the River Kishon on Mount Tabor. There they would meet Sisera, the leader of the Canaanite army and his soldiers. God told Deborah that the Israelites would win the battle (Judges 4:6-7). Barak says he’ll obey this command only if Deborah accompanies him. She agrees, and her presence comforts him and gives him confidence. Israel is delivered from its oppressor and defeats the enemy as Deborah predicted.
Deborah’s leadership, courage and humility should be a model for every woman. She kept her eyes focused on God and not the circumstances around her. Instead of trying to become a great leader, she saw herself as a “Mother to Israel”. As a mother would nurture their ailing child back to health, Deborah would nurture Israel. Deborah's understanding of Israel's potential for spiritual greatness came from her maternal love. She held hope for Israel and inspired a renewed sense of value as God’s chosen people. She was able as a woman to instill in the people rather than impose. She was able to motivate rather than use force. She had the unique ability to cultivate rather than command. She brought feminine sensibility to a male dominated office. She focused on the people rather than herself. Her natural gifts, appreciation and knowledge of the Word of God, and her prophetic gift was a great combination to bring leadership for a national revival.
Deborah understood how to utilize the full extent of her power as a woman to bring positive change. She never allowed the circumstances around her to interfere with her faith in God’s promises. She gave God the glory for the victory and she thanked Him specifically for what He did for her and her country. She reminds women everywhere that all women have the potential to do great things for God if they only listen, trust and obey.