Deborah
In Judges Chapter 4 we are introduced to a woman named Deborah, who is a prophetess, and the wife of Lapidoth.
Deborah lived during a time when the children of Israel had rebelled against the Lord. As a result, God allowed Jabin, the King of Canaan, to oppress them for twenty years.
During this time, Deborah would sit under a palm tree between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim. Over time the people would witness a stable woman rooted in the Lord. Her life showed evidence of having spent time with the Lord. The people trusted her and came to her for direction. The Lord had placed her in the right place at the right time.
Judges 4:6 reads: “Then [Deborah] sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, ‘Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, “Go and deploy [troops] at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun…”’”
We see Deborah sent for Barak. Deborah shared with Barak what the Lord had shown her about Barak overthrowing Jabin. This had to be a confirmation of what the Lord had already showed Barak, as Deborah asked Barak a question: “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded?”
Continuing through Judges 4:7, Deborah repeats what the Lord has already said to Barak: “and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand.”
This probably sounded so “out of this world” to Barak that he may have thought, “There is no way I can do this!” But it must have comforted and encouraged Barak to know that he was not alone and he really did hear correctly the first time.
Judges 4:8 reads, “And Barak said to her, ‘If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!’” We see Barak still needs reassurance. He asks Deborah to come along with him, and if she will not go then he will not go.
Going to war would have been a frightening thing because women did not usually go to war. I believe Deborah knew the Lord and the Lord had given her the strength and peace to carry out His will. Deborah was the only female out there with how many men….ten thousand or so? We have to look at that and know the Lord was truly in control!
“So she said, ‘I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’ Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh” (Judges 4:9).
So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. Deborah had a Guide larger than herself leading her to do things she would not be able to do otherwise. Also, I was wondering: if Barak had done what the Lord directed him to do in the first place (without the conformation of Deborah), would there have been a need for the Lord to sell Sisera into the hand of a woman? Interesting thought.
“Then Deborah said to Barak, ‘Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?’ So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him” (Judges 4:14).
Here we see Deborah reminding Barak that the Lord was giving him the victory. Barak and ten thousand men went out and defeated all of them except for Sisera, who fled away. If we read further we find that a woman named Jael (Heber’s wife) kills Sisera by hammering a nail into his temples. Deborah prophesied this in verse 9: “For the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.”
Deborah took no credit for herself. She and Barak began praising the Lord for the avenging of Israel. The rejoicing song goes on for 31 verses in Judges chapter 5. Deborah had done exactly what the Lord had prepared her to do. For her obedience, the land had peace for forty years.
When men are weak, the Lord will use a woman to encourage and guide. Nowhere did Deborah overpower Barak or make him to feel low or less of a man. Nor did she condemn him for not obeying God in the first place. Deborah only acted in the best interest of the Lord as the Lord led her to do. She did not take any glory for herself.
I want to make note that Deborah and Barak worked together and rejoiced together. Deborah did not lord or rule over Barak. We do not know why Barak doubted what the Lord had put in his heart, but we do know that the Lord prepared Deborah to come alongside and be the encouragement Barak needed.
Today society tells us that women are just as equal as men. I do believe we are equal in the Lord’s eyes, but I also know that the Lord made us male and female for a reason. God took one of Adam’s ribs to create Eve to be a helpmate for him – a partner, not a slave.
The Lord has given men certain strengths that women do not have and vice-versa. I do not believe that men should rule over women with a rod and make them feel inadequate. At the same time, a woman cannot take the man’s place. Since the beginning of time, men have been given the gifts and instincts of providing and protecting. Woman have been given the gifts and instincts of caring and nurturing. Both men and women are equally valuable, yet each have a unique calling. The weakness in one is compensated by the strength in the other.
The Lord wants men and women working together to fulfill His purpose. Religion has complicated this and taught men to lord over women and make sure their wives are submissive. The impression is that women are inferior to men. This is incorrect. But certain feminists believe men are inferior to women. This is also incorrect. The key is working together, not lording over one another.
A marriage is a wonderful relationship that reflects Christ and His Ekklesia. A marriage is made up of a man and a woman. A godly marriage is a man and a woman working together under the Lord’s leadership. They are lovingly submitted to the Lord first, and then they are lovingly submitted to each other.
Even though they were not married, the story of Deborah and Barak is a good example of how women and men can work together in harmony to accomplish God’s Will.
Deborah lived during a time when the children of Israel had rebelled against the Lord. As a result, God allowed Jabin, the King of Canaan, to oppress them for twenty years.
During this time, Deborah would sit under a palm tree between Ramah and Beth-el in mount Ephraim. Over time the people would witness a stable woman rooted in the Lord. Her life showed evidence of having spent time with the Lord. The people trusted her and came to her for direction. The Lord had placed her in the right place at the right time.
Judges 4:6 reads: “Then [Deborah] sent and called for Barak the son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali, and said to him, ‘Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded, “Go and deploy [troops] at Mount Tabor; take with you ten thousand men of the sons of Naphtali and of the sons of Zebulun…”’”
We see Deborah sent for Barak. Deborah shared with Barak what the Lord had shown her about Barak overthrowing Jabin. This had to be a confirmation of what the Lord had already showed Barak, as Deborah asked Barak a question: “Has not the LORD God of Israel commanded?”
Continuing through Judges 4:7, Deborah repeats what the Lord has already said to Barak: “and against you I will deploy Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his multitude at the River Kishon; and I will deliver him into your hand.”
This probably sounded so “out of this world” to Barak that he may have thought, “There is no way I can do this!” But it must have comforted and encouraged Barak to know that he was not alone and he really did hear correctly the first time.
Judges 4:8 reads, “And Barak said to her, ‘If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go!’” We see Barak still needs reassurance. He asks Deborah to come along with him, and if she will not go then he will not go.
Going to war would have been a frightening thing because women did not usually go to war. I believe Deborah knew the Lord and the Lord had given her the strength and peace to carry out His will. Deborah was the only female out there with how many men….ten thousand or so? We have to look at that and know the Lord was truly in control!
“So she said, ‘I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.’ Then Deborah arose and went with Barak to Kedesh” (Judges 4:9).
So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. Deborah had a Guide larger than herself leading her to do things she would not be able to do otherwise. Also, I was wondering: if Barak had done what the Lord directed him to do in the first place (without the conformation of Deborah), would there have been a need for the Lord to sell Sisera into the hand of a woman? Interesting thought.
“Then Deborah said to Barak, ‘Up! For this is the day in which the LORD has delivered Sisera into your hand. Has not the LORD gone out before you?’ So Barak went down from Mount Tabor with ten thousand men following him” (Judges 4:14).
Here we see Deborah reminding Barak that the Lord was giving him the victory. Barak and ten thousand men went out and defeated all of them except for Sisera, who fled away. If we read further we find that a woman named Jael (Heber’s wife) kills Sisera by hammering a nail into his temples. Deborah prophesied this in verse 9: “For the Lord shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman.”
Deborah took no credit for herself. She and Barak began praising the Lord for the avenging of Israel. The rejoicing song goes on for 31 verses in Judges chapter 5. Deborah had done exactly what the Lord had prepared her to do. For her obedience, the land had peace for forty years.
When men are weak, the Lord will use a woman to encourage and guide. Nowhere did Deborah overpower Barak or make him to feel low or less of a man. Nor did she condemn him for not obeying God in the first place. Deborah only acted in the best interest of the Lord as the Lord led her to do. She did not take any glory for herself.
I want to make note that Deborah and Barak worked together and rejoiced together. Deborah did not lord or rule over Barak. We do not know why Barak doubted what the Lord had put in his heart, but we do know that the Lord prepared Deborah to come alongside and be the encouragement Barak needed.
Today society tells us that women are just as equal as men. I do believe we are equal in the Lord’s eyes, but I also know that the Lord made us male and female for a reason. God took one of Adam’s ribs to create Eve to be a helpmate for him – a partner, not a slave.
The Lord has given men certain strengths that women do not have and vice-versa. I do not believe that men should rule over women with a rod and make them feel inadequate. At the same time, a woman cannot take the man’s place. Since the beginning of time, men have been given the gifts and instincts of providing and protecting. Woman have been given the gifts and instincts of caring and nurturing. Both men and women are equally valuable, yet each have a unique calling. The weakness in one is compensated by the strength in the other.
The Lord wants men and women working together to fulfill His purpose. Religion has complicated this and taught men to lord over women and make sure their wives are submissive. The impression is that women are inferior to men. This is incorrect. But certain feminists believe men are inferior to women. This is also incorrect. The key is working together, not lording over one another.
A marriage is a wonderful relationship that reflects Christ and His Ekklesia. A marriage is made up of a man and a woman. A godly marriage is a man and a woman working together under the Lord’s leadership. They are lovingly submitted to the Lord first, and then they are lovingly submitted to each other.
Even though they were not married, the story of Deborah and Barak is a good example of how women and men can work together in harmony to accomplish God’s Will.
About Author
Karla
and Chip left the religious system in 1999 to serve those who are
following Jesus outside of Organized Religion. Karla keeps the The
School of Christ running smoothly in the background. She is a certified
event planner and enjoys putting together tablescapes and drinking tea.
Tidak ada komentar:
Posting Komentar