“Deborah sent for Barak and said to him, 'The Lord commands you ... Go, take ten thousand men and lead the way to Mount Tabor ... I will lure Sisera to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.'

Judges 4:4-7
Deborah, a wise judge, dispensed justice among the Israelites who were weak and downtrodden. We don’t read much of women leaders in Bible times, though there surely were some. You had to be a pretty unusual woman to make it to that position. Deborah definitely was!

The Lord Himself gave Deborah a battle plan to overthrow the Canaanite oppressors. She ordered Barak to lead the Lord’s people into battle against Sisera, a much-feared enemy commander. Barak accepted the challenge, but said, “If you go with me, I will go” (v. 8). Barak respected Deborah and knew of her relationship with the Lord. He wanted her near, so she agreed.

As the Lord had promised, He delivered the Canaanites into Barak’s hand. God chose the location and gave His plan to a woman. She, in turn, enlisted a man to lead an attack against an army of 900 iron chariots. Then God sent a heavy rainstorm to turn the valley to mud, disabling those chariots. The timing, the plan, and the victory all belonged to the Lord. He used Deborah not for her glory, but for His.



Scripture Focus

Judges 4:1-16

Insight

The Bible says again and again in variously worded ways that “the battle belongs to the Lord.” Hang onto this truth!

Bible In A Year

  • Genesis 10-11
  • Psalm 5
  • Matthew 8-9

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