Redeemed Woman

Though there are many faith-filled women in the Bible, in my opinion, among the top is a woman we find in the book of Judges named Deborah. No more information is given about this exceptional woman except that she is the wife of Lappidoth and a prophetess who God raised up as Israel’s fourth Judge (Judges 4:4).

The significance of Deborah’s story must be understood in its context found in Judges 1-5. God had given clear instructions to His people concerning the surrounding nations as they entered into the Promised Land (Judges 2:1-5). However, because of their disobedience, God raised up judges to proclaim the LORD’s commandments and judgments to the people and to save them from the hands of their enemies (Judges 2:16-19).

It wasn’t soon after the death of Ehud, Israel’s second Judge, that Israel returned to its evil ways (Judges 4:1). God’s righteous anger burned against His adulterous people, so He sold them into the hands of the Canaanite king named Jabin who oppressed them heavily for twenty years (Judges 3:1-5; 4:2-3). The oppression was so bad that, in God’s providence, the heart of Jael, a Gentile woman, was moved by what she saw and heard (Judges 5:6-7). It so happened that the Canaanite army general, Sisera, sought refuge in her home during battle with the Israelites. She saw an opportunity to assisted against the inhumane treatment of the Israelite people and killed Sisera (Judges 4:17-22).

Given this context we can see that Deborah was fighting two fronts, one against the Canaanites and one against the rebellious nation of Israel. I will share in this blog post the observations I made about her faith and how it is a litmus test for us today as Christian women fighting “the good fight of the faith” (1 Timothy 6:12).

true Faith is rooted in God’s word

She sent and summoned Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh-naphtali and said to him, “Has not the Lord, the God of Israel, commanded you, ‘Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun.  And I will draw out Sisera, the general of Jabin’s army, to meet you by the river Kishon with his chariots and his troops, and I will give him into your hand’?”

Judges 4:6-7 (ESV)

By faith, Deborah exhorted Barak, God’s chosen military general who was to lead the Israelites onto the battlefield. It may seem as though God was sending Barak on a suicide mission given that Sisera had at his disposal 900 iron chariots compared to the few shields and spears found among the Israelites (Judges 5:8). But, God’s words were “I will give him into your hand” (Judges 4:7).

Not only that, but due to twenty years of miserable living conditions, the Israelite people was in no condition to be in combat in their state of total despair (Judges 4:3). By faith, Deborah accompanied Barak in gathering men for war from the people of Israel (Judges 4:8-9). If the military leader Barak was hesitant to war against Sisera, there was no way that a militia would be easily gathered from among the people (Deuteronomy 20:1-4, 8). In fact, not all of Israel’s tribes came to fight against Sisera (Judges 5:14-18). Nonetheless, the LORD granted 10,000 Israelite men ready for battle under Barak’s leadership (Judges 4:14). God took out all of Sisera’s iron chariots and troops using the Kishon river and the Israelite army (Judges 4:13, 16; Judges 5:4-5, 21-22).

Deborah upheld the sufficiency and certainty of God’s words. As far as Deborah was concerned, her God spoke what He meant and meant what He spoke. And He spoke exactly what was needed to be known (Proverbs 30:5-6; 2 Timothy 3:16).

true faith desires righteousness and obedience in the sight of the lord

By faith, Deborah did not take things into her own hands. She did not assume commander role to get things done since Barak had such little faith; she understood that Barak was God’s chosen vessel (Judges 4:6, 14). She did not negotiate a better battle plan; Barak was to stay on God’s course (Judges 4:6-7, 10, 12-14, 16). God ordained the outcome, and He also ordained the means to that outcome. In other words, obedience required that only authorized means were taken to achieve the promised outcome. (Deuteronomy 4:1-8; Matthew 7:21-23).

Moreover, there is no doubt that Deborah wanted her people to be saved from the oppressive hand of Jabin. But more importantly, her heart was crying out to her own people as a mother for her children to end their idolatrous worship and evil ways (Judges 4:1; Judges 5:7-9). Deborah longed for her people to once again proclaim themselves as “the people of the LORD” by giving to Him their undivided devotion, highest praise, and sincere obedience (Judges 5:2-3, 11, 13).

true faith seeks for God’s glory

Deborah never sought her own glory as evidenced by her song of praise in Judges 5. Glory was taken from Barak as it would be a woman who would kill Sisera (Judges 4:9). Glory was taken from Israel as it was a gentile who killed Sisera while Israelites cowered at home (Judges 4:17, 21; Judges 5:16-17). Glory was taken from the powerful Jabin as God subdued him before the people of Israel (Judges 4:23). This victory was not to be for the glory of any man or woman, nation, or ruler. On the contrary, God did all things for His glory, for the sake of His Name, and for the sake of His steadfast love and mercy (Exodus 6:2-8; Judges 4:9, 23; Judges 5:3-5, 20-22). He made Himself known that day to both the Israelites and surrounding nations that He alone is the Almighty God, the Deliverer, worthy to be worshipped and feared.

The only glory that concerned Deborah was the LORD’s. In the end, it was all about God as exclaimed in her song:

“So may all your enemies perish, O Lord!
    But your friends be like the sun as he rises in his might.”

-Deborah (Judges 5:31 ESV)

conclusion

Did you pass Deborah’s litmus test of true faith? When you are faced with the everyday battles of your life, does your faith stay true? Often the battles are within us. How do I handle a difficult marriage for which I see no hope? Do I follow popular culture, or do I hold unto the words of God? Do I forgive someone from church who has offended me? Do I repay evil for evil, or do I obey the Lord’s instruction to forgive as He has forgiven me? Is my life bringing glory to God, or am I seeking my own selfish happiness?

God indeed delivered His people from Jabin’s oppression, but not because of their merits. They were far from being worthy of saving. But God, in His great mercy and steadfast love, destroyed Jabin’s dominion and gave His people rest (Judges 5:31). The story of Deborah foreshadows and points us to the greater redemption story of Jesus Christ (Ephesians 2:1-9). The dominion of sin and darkness has been destroyed, and we rest in the finished work of Christ.

True faith is found in a Person. We must keep our eyes on Jesus as the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Hebrews 11:33-12:2). He is the secret to true faith, as seen in Deborah’s story. Jesus is the Living Word of God (Matthew 5:17; Luke 24:44-45; John 1:1, 14; John 5:39-40, 46-47; Hebrews 1:1-2). He is our Sanctifier who gives us a hunger for righteousness and obedience for the glory of God (Romans 6; 1 Thessalonians 5:23; Hebrews 13:12; Philippians 1:10-11).

My dear sisters, the battles are all around us today in our marriages, with our children, in our families, at our workplaces, and in our churches. We must fight “the good fight of the faith” by keeping our eyes on Jesus, our Blessed Savior.

LORD, open our eyes to Your ways! Help us to hold fast to Your Word, desire righteousness, walk in obedience, and seek Your glory. Keep our eyes on You and lift our burdens!