Deborah - Life Lessons in Believing God
Cycle of Bondage and Oppression
Judges chapter 4 opens with the Israelites in trouble once again. They had been delivered from one oppressive enemy only to forget God and again do what was evil in his sight. God has now sent another oppressive enemy to discipline Israel until they repent and return to him. Jabin, king of Canaan oppressed the Israelites harshly for 20 years. Finally the people began to repent and call out to God.
Judges chapters 4 - 5 provide some very interesting reading material. They also provide some important life lessons in believing God. These are my thoughts on several of these lessons.
God Uses Those Who Will Be Used
God uses those who will be used - not those we think should be used (Judges 4.4-5). Here we are introduced to Deborah, a woman, serving as prophet and judge among the Israelites. This may not seem significant to modern readers, but in that culture women had very little social standing and almost no legal standing. A woman serving as prophet and judge is quite amazing. Verse 5 tells us Deborah was a woman and a wife; Chapter 5.7 tells us Deborah was also a mother. Deborah is not who you would expect God to use as prophet, judge and courageous military leader.
The Bible is full of examples of God calling unqualified people to his work. Remember, God often does not call the qualified; rather, God qualifies those he calls. God chooses people who will allow him to use them and then to glorify himself through it.
Extraordinary Courage
Extraordinary courage belongs to those who believe God (Judges 4.6-10). God had already commanded Barak to assemble an army on Mount Tabor. However, Barak was afraid to carry through on God’s order to him. He was intimidated by the enemy. How often do we find ourselves afraid to follow through on God’s leading in our lives because we fear an enemy?
Barak was only willing to obey God if Deborah went with him. Deborah possessed great courage because she believed God. Deborah chose to believe God when he promised to deliver them if they obeyed. Barak did not believe God. If Barak had believed God he would have obeyed God. Deborah chastised Barak for his lack of courage, telling him that he would receive no honor because the enemy would fall into a woman’s hand.
Waiting for Belief
God waits to give blessings and answer prayer until people believe he will answer (Judges 4.12-16). Deborah reminds Barak “Hasn’t the Lord gone before you?” The overwhelming might of the Canaanite army could not stand against the Israelites because their God fought for them. God threw the enemy army into confusion and delivered them to the Israelites. Not a single enemy soldier survived the battle. God waited until someone would take him at his word to deliver them. It is faith that pleases God.
Honor Belongs to the Willing
Honor belongs to those who are willing to be used by God (Judges 4.17-24). Jael exhibited tremendous courage - more courage than Barak. She killed the enemy while he slept in her tent by hammering a stake through his temple (v. 21-22). It took a lot of courage to kill someone much stronger that she was in that manner. She also showed no signs of changing her mind - she hammered the stake right through into the ground. Jael acted without regard for her own safety or security. As word of her heroism spread Jael was celebrated and honored for her courageous role in bringing deliverance to the Israelites (5.24-27) The honor could have gone to Barak but he was too afraid to believe God.
Blessing Benefits Others
God’s blessing on those who serve him also benefits others around them (Judges 5.31-6.1). Israel enjoyed 40 years of peace because of a Godly leader. Once again though, after a few years of peace, they forgot God and returned to wickedness. Each of us should pay heed to this principle - we can bless those that follow us or we can curse those that follow us. Time and again the Scriptures tell of a generation that knew God but the generation that followed did not know God or follow him. The Scriptures bear witness to the fact that God will bring judgment on any people that forgets him. The Scriptures tell of one mighty nation after another being used of God and then being destroyed by God in their arrogance. Each time Israel was disciplined for their evil against God the scourge lasted until people repented and called out to God again. We are not immune from the discipline of a heavenly father who loves us - as a nation, as a church, as a family…
Willing to be Used of God
We can learn a lot from Deborah. She was willing to be used of God and ended up being recorded forever in the history of God’s people. The life of Deborah is a celebration of believing God despite the circumstances we find ourselves in. God can be trusted to deliver what he promised.
There is certainly much more we can learn from Deborah. What are some other life lessons you see in her story?
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