Deborah-Judge of Israel

Deborah and Barak

Before the monarchy came into Israel, they were ruled by people that were called Judges. They were people that were anointed by the Lord to be their protector. Since possessing the land of Canaan, the Israelites were told by God through Moses and Joshua not to worship foreign gods. But the Israelites didn't heed God's word and came to worship foreign gods   In turn, God gave them to be subject to foreign kingdoms. When they cry out to God, they were delivered out of the hand of their oppressors.

The most famous Judges of  Israel are Gideon and Samson. One from being a coward to redeeming his people and the other for his great feats of strength. The bible however, mentions of only one female Judge: Deborah.

When the Canaanite King Jabin, king of Hazor and Sisera his captain who oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried out to the Lord God. Deborah, the wife of Lapidoth was a prophetess and the Judge of Israel at that time. The Israelites came to her for judgement. She then sent for Barak, son of Abinoam, to take ten thousand men from the children of the tribes of Napthali and Zebulun, and go to Mount Tabor. They will meet Sisera in the bank of the river Kishon. Barak only agreed if she will accompany them, and she did, but she told Barak that the victory over Sisera will be in the hands of a woman. Thus they went. Sisera and his chariots and men met Barak and his men in the Kishon river. God then delivered Sisera and his men to Barak, all of them falling by the sword, with only Sisera escaping,only to be killed by Jael, wife of Heber when he fled from the battlefield. The combined armies of Israel was able to subdue King Jabin, and thus peace reigned in the land for forty years.The Song of Deborah and Barak tells of such events.
Judges ( 4-5)

The story of Deborah shows that women have the capacity to lead and become leaders not just in times of peace but even in times of war. Leaders like Elizabeth I (England), Golda Meir (Israel) and Margaret Thatcher (UK) all lead their countries at the time they are at war. It just showed women can be like Deborah, who was granted victory by God and made the land peaceful for forty years. She is the only female judge. May this post remind us that it is not in gender but in his graces that we can do many great wonders.

MAY JESUS BLESS YOU

BRIAN LUCIANO
NOVEMBER 10,2016