The Leadership of Deborah
The story of Deborah has always been an inspiration to me. She is portrayed as a woman who is very calm, cool, and collected – sitting under a palm tree, listening to Israelites bicker with each other, and arbitrating their disputes. When Barak requested that she go to battle with him, she gently states, “I will gladly go with you.”[1] She also appears to be very straightforward, confident, and unflinching when she delivers a message from God. Deborah takes a stand for what she believes and knows is right, and persistently nudges Barak until he finally completes the task that God had told him to do in the first place. These are qualities that all Christian women need to have, and Deborah’s story is a learning opportunity and motivator for women as they minister to people around them.
Deborah is a woman of high esteem – a prophetess, a wife, and a judge. People must have trusted her because they came to her for help resolving their disputes. She had all faith in God to deliver the Israelites out of the hands of King Jaban of Canaan because she would “gladly” accompany Barak to the battle. Evidently, she was not afraid to go because she knew God’s plan would bring her home safe. In this time period, women were considered second-class citizens with strict rules as to what they were to do and not do in public and with men. She lived in a male-dominant patriarchal culture in which women were considered inferior to men. However, God can and will use anyone to accomplish His will. Deborah is one of only nine women worthy of being mentioned in the book of Judges, and the only woman to be in a leadership role as a judge.[2]
When we are introduced to Deborah, we are given a powerful image: “Deborah, a prophetess and the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to settle disputes.”[3] Although not directly given the title of Judge, we do read that Deborah is acting the part of a judge. Even her location lends to an understanding of her critical role. She sat under a palm tree that was named after her which can grow as tall as 80 feet with fronds as long as 12 feet. This allowed the people traveling to Ephram to easily find her. When the wind blew, it would be as if the palm tree was waving at people. Additionally, the branches represented victory. Her faith, far above that of Barak’s faith, contributed to the Israelite army claiming victory over King Jabin and his army.
Undoubtedly, Deborah did what she had to do because of her tremendous faith in God. God used to her to accomplish a great feat of destroying King Jabin and the Canaanite army. As a result, the people lived in peace for 40 years, a sign “of a judge who had carried out her duties well and in accordance with God’s will… [for] effected peace in Israel.”[4]
God included women in so many of His stories throughout the Bible, with Deborah being one of many role models. I see how Jesus used women to further His ministry…. A woman was the first to know Jesus was coming. Women were the first to see the empty tomb. Women have played a pivotal role in the church for thousands of years. Let us follow in the footsteps of Deborah to be the leader needed when God calls.
[1] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jdg 4:9.
[2] M.J. Evans. “Women.” p. 989.
[3] Christian Standard Bible (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2020), Jdg 4:4–5.
[4] Carol Blessing. "Judge, Prophet, Mother.” p. 35.
