Justice and Submission - Deborah

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.  Judges 4:6-9

Sometimes as women, we can fall for the lie of the enemy that we are oppressed.  Now, don't get me wrong - in some cultures, women are definitely the lowest class of citizen.  But in America, women are strong, powerful, and vibrant.

Even in Christian cultures, woman can be perceived as less than equal.  We can sometimes read the Bible and, again, believe Satan's lie that God doesn't love us like He loves men.  Because He has allowed civilization to "hold women back," so to speak, it must mean that He doesn't value us.  Because He has commanded an attitude and lifestyle of submission, it must mean that He doesn't value us. 

But over and over again in His word we see how wrong that is.  I hope you've seen so far this month, the strengths - and very definitely, the weaknesses - of Biblical women.  But the key is that God still used them to further His kingdom, to advance His plans.  As fallible as they were - and as fallible as we are - God still used them, still has a plan for us.

Deborah is such a wonderful biblical example of female leadership.  Israel has been sold into the hands of the Canaanites, because they again did evil and turned away from God.  Deborah was a prophet, leader, and judge.  She was a wife and a mother - she had her hands full already!  And yet God had gifted her with wisdom and leadership abilities, and she used them to honor Him.

Women may be a discriminated class, but in this case, Deborah - under God's authority - was about to show men how God would use women.  Barak, the big strong warrior, was too afraid to go into battle without her.  Crazy, right?  What did Deborah have that Barak thought he needed?

Something about her projected confidence.  Something about her showed authority.  Something about her revealed confidence.

What was it?  Well, I'm going to tell you something you might not want to hear.  I believe Deborah possessed all the attributes of leadership because she was submissive.

She was submissive to God's plan for her and her family's life.  We know nothing about the relationship between her and her husband, but a woman of that time - any judge of Israel - would have had to have their family matters straight in order to be a good and pleasing example to the nation.  So I believe she was submissive to her husband.  She was even submissive to Barak - when he wanted her to go with him, she did.

She never forgets who she is.  In her song of victory in the next chapter, she says, "Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel."  (verse 7)

She was a wife.  She was a mother.  But most of all, she was a servant.  And her willingness to submit to God's holy plan for her life led to a great victory for her people, which led to forty years of peace for them.  All because this wife, this mother, led justice for her people.  A woman's justice.

We are each given many gifts, talents and abilities.  But these gifts will run amok if they are not submitted to the authority of God.  Great Christians have experienced great falls because of great egos.  If you are an extremely talented individual, you have an extraordinary need to submit yourself to God, so that He can keep your talents in line with His will.

I believe that is what Deborah did.  And I can't wait to meet her one day, and listen to her sing her song.