Everything was supposed to be GREAT once the Israelite entered into the Promised Land after Moses led them through the wilderness for 40 years and Joshua led them to victory and conquest.

Unfortunately, it was anything but great. It was a trial, it was a struggle, it was full of suffering…   and most of it was caused by the Israelites themselves: “they did what was evil in the sight of the Lord and worshiped the Baals;  and they abandoned the Lord…   So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he gave them over to plunderers who plundered them, and he sold them into the power of their enemies all around, so that they could no longer withstand their enemies. Then the Lord raised up judges, who delivered them out of the power of those who plundered them. Whenever the Lord raised up judges for them, the Lord was with the judge, and he delivered them from the hand of their enemies all the days of the judge; for the Lord would be moved to pity by their groaning because of those who persecuted and oppressed them.  But whenever the judge died, they would relapse and behave worse. (Judges 2:11-18 excerpts)

This cycle lasted for approximately 180 years! And although it was a dark time in the history of Israel, there were heroic stories of faith and faithfulness in the lives of the judges.

As we might imagine, judges commanded much awe and respect. Their courage, wisdom, and faith had to be equal to the task of inspiring, leading, commanding, and holding accountable the people of Israel. In the male-dominated culture of the Israelites it would have been unthinkable that a woman would have risen to judge. Yet here is Deborah, introduced in Judges 4 without apology or explanation, Judge of Israel.

⁴ At that time Deborah, a prophetess, wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel. ⁵ She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim; and the Israelites came up to her for judgment. ⁶ She sent and summoned Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, “The Lord, the God of Israel, commands you, ‘Go, take position at Mount Tabor, bringing ten thousand from the tribe of Naphtali and the tribe of Zebulun. ⁷ I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the Wadi Kishon with his chariots and his troops; and I will give him into your hand.’” ⁸ Barak said to her, “If you will go with me, I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” ⁹ And she said, “I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the road on which you are going will not lead to your glory, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.” Then Deborah got up and went with Barak to Kedesh. (Judges 4:4-9)

What’s even more striking is her action here in this passage: she summons and commands a great war hero of the Israelites, Barak. She commands him, in the name of the Lord, to do battle with a feared and much superior enemy (Sisera General of King Jabin’s Canaanite army). And, Barak defers to her! Even though she wouldn’t have had any hardened battle experience or real practice in military strategy. And, even though he himself, Barak, will receive none of the glory of the victory.

This is amazing! And, it shows us clearly that God is not the God of the status quo. God really does raise up leaders for challenging times. Culture and society try and lock doors, build walls, and construct glass ceilings…   but when the Lord our God is with us, none of those obstacles can keep us from our calling and mission.

Deborah, the Judge, had the Lord with her for courage and wisdom and faith. Quite literally, she was a woman in a man’s world, yet she commanded great respect. Such was her reputation and respect that even the customary gender expectations dissolved without a word of protest.

The conclusion of Deborah’s story is a wow-finish. Deborah and Barak led the Israelite army to victory!

What kind of wow-finish victory is God doing in our midst today? And through which unexpected people?

 Pastor Erik