Courage and Fortitude: Lessons from the Life and Ministry of Deborah the Prophetess

COURAGE AND FORTITUDE: LESSONS FROM THE LIFE AND MINISTRY OF DEBORAH THE PROPHETESS: 

[An Exposition of Judges 4-5]

By Ezekiel Kimosop

INTRODUCTION

Deborah is first introduced to the Bible reader in Judges 4:4 where she is described as a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth and that she judged Israel at that time.  She lived between Ramah and Bethel in Mt Ephraim, suggesting that she may have been a Benjamite. 

A palm tree is named in her honor, showing her prominence as a respected judge and spiritual leader. Deborah served after Ehud and between them the people of Israel suffered 20 years of oppression under Jabin, a Canaanite King into whose hand God gave Israel for their sinful disobedience. Deborah served when Israel was probably paying tribute to Jabin as a captive nation until God raised Barak to mobilize the resistance.

BACKGROUND ANALYSIS 

Deborah received a message from God which was directed to Barak the son of Abinoam, whose leadership and military background is unknown. It appears that he was in charge of the fighting troop largely made up of warriors from Zebulun and Naphtali, two minor tribes of Israel. It is not clear why no mention was made of the major tribes of Judah and Levi at the time. It is possible that they were all steeped in moral apostasy and evil and God may have chosen to ignore them. Notice the lament of the angel of the Lord in Judges 2:1-4. 

The use of an angel to convey God’s message was perhaps evidence that the society was given to wickedness and apostasy. It is instructive that prophecy was rare in those days [cf.1 Samuel 3:1].

Some scholars say that the phrase "The Angel of the LORD" as used in Judges 2:1 refers to a theophany of the pre-incarnate Christ. Some disagree with this view. 

WHY DID GOD USE THE TWO MINOR TRIBES?

Two possible reasons can be advanced in response to this question. 

First, it may have been a strategic military plan to use the two for the reason that Naphtali and Zebulun bordered the Canaanite territory and it was easier for them to wedge the rebellion on behalf of Israel. 

It is however not expressly clear why the major tribes did not mobilize their support for these two tribes during this military campaign. Did they perhaps despise the two tribes?

The Reubenites were mentioned in passing and so were the sons of Issachar, both of who can equally be classified as minor tribes. Nothing is heard of the major tribes such as Judah, Benjamin and Simeon. The second reason may have to do with God's divine purposes in that God chose to use the least of the tribes to bring the greatest of victories to Israel. This would demonstrate that the glory belonged to God alone. 

Notice that God later used another minor tribe of Dan under Gideon to bring a major victory for Israel with only 300 men! (see Judges 6). God does not require numbers to accomplish His divine purposes! He will use those who are committed and willing to obey His voice.

GOD'S MESSAGE TO BARAK AND HIS REACTION 

God spoke through Deborah directing Barack to assemble a 10,000 strong army against Jabin the King of Hazor. This was an unusual move because the Israelites had been totally subdued by this heathen king for two decades and had apparently lost hope of redemption from his iron rule. Jabin’s army must have been much larger and equipped with better weaponry and this gave the Canaanites a strategic military advantage over Israel.

Barack’s initial reaction demonstrates that he had little faith in the prophetic words spoken by Deborah and this could perhaps explain his insistence that Deborah goes with him to battle. This was an open sign of unbelief contrary to Hebrews 11:1, 6. 

Deborah explained to Barack that if she went to war with him, then she would take the honor from him. It would be utterly shameful in the Hebrew patriarchal society that that the credit for the war effort goes to a woman! 

Deborah agreed to go to war with Barack and they jointly received victory by God's grace.

Barak’s initial reaction of fear and doubt was not without legitimacy. He knew that he was about to face a king who had 900 chariots of iron when Israel was not in possession of even one chariot for the reason that they were forbidden by the Canaanites from making any iron weapons! 

Secondly,  God’s voice was rarely heard in those days because the people had walked away from God. A society that abandons God's ways can no longer discern His voice! 

Besides, Israel’s men of war were not used to military warfare given the oppression that kept them in check for 20 years. They had been completely subdued. Satan deceives people into thinking that their circumstances will never change! 

The children of Israel probably heard of Ehud’s exploits as part of oral folklore and many of the young men of fighting age could not comprehend ever rising against their Canaanite oppressors, let alone contemplating subduing the Canaanites in a single battle! The children of Israel understood the cost of a rebellion. They knew that the Canaanite reaction to any revolt would have been brutal and devastating. However, this was never to be for one simple reason....God had stepped into the picture and was determined to liberate His people from the Canaanites! Our matrix changes when God steps on our side in any situation of life. 

The difference between victory and defeat rests squarely in where God's divine hand lies.

Do you sometimes feel that your circumstances are beyond hope and that nothing will ever change? Be ye encouraged because no situation is too hard for God to reverse! Lift your faith to Him. Arise and shine for the glory of God shine upon you!

THE DEFEAT OF SISERA AND THE VICTORY SONG 

The song of Deborah and Barak recorded in Judges 5 conveys a beautiful description of the war effort and the sweet victory that God gave the Jewish pair. It honors the heroes of war including Jael the Kennite who lured Sisera into her tent and courageously drove a tent peg into the temple of his head, killing him instantly while he slept (Judges 5:24). 

Every contribution to the Lord's battle is significant, no matter how small it may appear in the eyes of men. Jael was a nobody but when she rose to the occasion in her own small way she made her vital contribution that changed the history of her people! He heroic act is indelibly written in the text of Scripture as an encouragement to God's people that they should never give up on God. 

Other war heroes mentioned in the tribute doxology included men of Issachar and the Reubenites. Their support is here acknowledged to the glory of God.

The beautiful poetry of the victory song ironically captured the thoughts and false expectations of Sisera’s mother who was worried about the long and unusual delay in seeing her son return from war. This appears to have been a premonition of sorts because Sisera was never to return alive! No matter how powerful the enemy of God's people may be, they will one day be destroyed by God. 

This song intermittently praises God for His great hand. Judges 5:2-5, 9,13 carries a beautiful doxology or praise on how God moved ahead of His people and shook the camps of the enemies of Israel giving them victory over Sisera, the captain of Jabin’s army who was their thorn in the flesh.  When God finally shows up for His people, His enemies shall be scattered! 

Never despair in waiting upon the LORD. Victory is coming at God's appointed time! 

LESSONS FROM THE VICTORY OF DEBORAH AND BARAK 

1) God can raise unusual people in times of crisis and use them for His glory. You and I could be numbered among such people if we arise and shine for God's glory. 

Esther, an orphan, was raised by God to deliver the Jews from annihilation under Haman, the enemy of God’s people. God also raised Joseph and Daniel from obscurity to prominence and used them to care for God’s people in foreign lands. We should not neglect the opportunities that God has placed at our disposal for reaching out to those in need and giving God glory! 

2) We ought to take God's word by faith (Hebrews 11:6). God is seeking men and women who take Him at His word. Do not doubt the voice of God when He speaks to you through His word and by His Spirit. 

Let us therefore tremble at God’s word and obey Him just as Caleb and Joshua did against the majority who gave a negative report. Notice that God honored the faith of these two brave men and they were privileged to be the only two people who made it into the Land of Canaan from among those who started the journey from Egypt.

Numbers 14:30 says “Except for Caleb the son of Jephunneh and Joshua the son of Nun, you shall by no means enter the land which I swore I would make you dwell in.”

3) God works through various actors or people He raises for His divine purposes. No covenant person is ever insignificant in God’s eyes. God can use the lowly and obscure people for His divine purposes. 

4) Those who act with courage and faith in the name of God will be honored by God. Do not fear to trust God and venture into the unknown by faith. We are not alone in our difficult moments for He promised not to leave us or forsake us [cf. Deuteronomy 4:30-31; Nehemiah 9:31; Hebrews 13:5-6].  

5) Whenever we achieve victory in our battles of life, we ought to be careful to glorify God for it. The battle is always the Lord’s and never ours (Exodus 14:14). Never take glory for your achievements. 

This is what Deborah and Barak did in their edifying song of praise. They made a special tribute to God, acknowledging His great hand in the battle.

Do you have a victory song?

Shalom

© Ezekiel Kimosop 2021