Deborah: Leading with Courage
Women in Faith 004
Often when we picture a leader we imagine someone forceful or dominating. Scripture shows another way. God raised up Deborah as prophetess and judge in Israel. Judges 4:4–5 “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.” “And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.” She held court, spoke the word of the Lord, summoned Barak, and went with the army when he refused to go without her. Judges 4:6–9 “And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of Zebulun?” “And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.” “And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with me, then I will not go.” “And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.” The victory and the peace that followed (forty years, Judges 5:31) came under her leadership, yet the narrative never portrays her as harsh or self-exalting. In the Song of Deborah she gives glory to the Lord, not to herself (Judges 5).
Deborah was the wife of Lappidoth. The Bible does not record any conflict between her public calling and her marriage, nor does it use her story to overturn the created order of husband and wife. Her authority was real and God-given for that moment in Israel’s history; it was not presented as her seizing headship in the home. God can call and gift a woman for significant leadership without requiring her to become severe, and without the text needing to erase her identity as a wife or as a women.
When looking at the outward appearance Deborah seems like a normal leader but when digging deeper you see how her role was more complex. Deborah was called to be a prohetess and a judge. Judges 4:4 “And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.” Deborah was not a manly tyrant but a lady called of God. This is especially interesting because Deborah did not replace Barak. God gave Barak the military assignment, and Deborah communicated God's command and accompanied him. Barak's dependence on Deborah also doesn't make Deborah domineering. Instead, she encouraged him to fulfill the responsibility God had given him.
