Ch5: Episode 4: Deborah's Bold Faith, Leadership and Unwavering Call

0:00 Welcome back to the Chapter 5, Gifts of No Return, Embracing God's Unchanging Call, where we explore the timeless and unchanging nature of God's call in our lives. I'm your host, Connie Morris, and I'm glad that you're back. And today, we're diving into a story of Deborah's leadership, as recorded in Judges Chapters 4 and 5, with the theme, Boldness and Authority in God's Calling. We'll look at Deborah's role as a prophetess and as a judge, her leadership in a male-dominated society, and the victory over Cicero's army.

0:46 Deborah's story reminds us that God's call can defy cultural and societal norms. It highlights the importance of bold faith and leadership. So let's explore Deborah's remarkable leadership together. So let's start out by understanding the context of Deborah's story. I like the word Deborah, it sounds more mm. And after the death of Ehud, the Israelites once again did evil in the eyes of the Lord, And they were oppressed by King Jabin of Canaan and his commander Sisera.

1:28 That's found in Judges 4, verses 1-3. And let's describe the situation. So let's read from Judges 4, verses 1-3. It says, Again Israelites did evil in the eyes of the Lord, now that Ehud was dead. So the Lord sold them into the hands of Jabin, king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazar. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in this place. I can't spell it. I can't read it either. Hazarus Hagagim. Find that in Judges chapter 4, 1 through 3. because he had 900 chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for 20 years.

2:19 And they cry for the Lord for help. So let's just take a backdrop. If we had a movie here, we can kind of check out and see what was the Israelites doing again here to get in the situation to cause Deborah to emerge on the scene. So the story of Deborah is found in Judges 4. It is set during a turbulent period in Israel's history where the cycle of sin, oppression, repentance, and deliverance was repeating itself. Understanding the why behind Deborah's emergence as a leader provides insight into God's response to Israel's circumstances and the role Deborah was destined to play.

3:12 So we know that Israel had a cycle of crying out for help and then God rescuing them, sinning, crying out for help, and then getting rescued by God. So let's see about the cycle of sin that they had themselves in again. But we see here that this cycle of sin lasted 20 years. So that 20 years is a mighty long time. And so here, there's what was going on with their sin and oppression. Number one, it was disobedience and idolatry. Sounds familiar? The book of Judges described a reoccurring cycle in which the Israelites repeatedly fell into idolatry and disobedience after the death of Joshua.

3:54 Each time they returned away, turned away from God and follow the pagan practices of the surrounding nations. They face oppression as a consequence of their unfaithfulness. So what was their oppression this time? Oppression by the Canaanite King Jabin. At the time of Deborah's emergence, Israel had once again fallen into idolatry. As a result, they were oppressed by King Jabin of Canaan, who ruled from Hazar. His military commander, Sisera, led a mighty army equipped with 900 iron chariots, a formidable force that terrorized the Israelites.

4:38 That's found in Judges chapter 4, verses 2 through 3, which we read. Crying out to the Lord, the oppression lasted for 20 years, during which the Israelites were harshly oppressed and significantly weakened. In their desperation, they cried out to the Lord for help, acknowledging their need for deliverance. This cry for help set the stage for God's intervention through Deborah. So why did Deborah, why did God choose Deborah, a female at this time? So God responds to Israel's cry. God's pattern throughout the book of Judges is to raise up a deliverer in response to the Israelites' cry for help.

5:28 Deborah's emergence, he raised up a woman, is directly linked to this divine response. Despite Israel's disobedience, God heard their cries and chose to act by raising up Deborah, a prophetess and a judge. Come on now. She was, she really rose up a prophetess and a judge. And so we realize that God raises up a female, a prophetess, come on now y'all, and a judge. So this female was doing a job of a prophetess and a judge.

6:09 In the Bible, a female, come on, let's hear it, to lead and deliver them from their oppression. Deborah had a unique role. Deborah's role as a prophetess and a judge was unique for several reasons. Number one, spiritual leadership. Unlike other judges who were primarily military leaders, Deborah, Deborah, let me get it right. I like it. Deborah was first and foremost a spiritual leader, a prophetess. As a prophetess, she had a direct line of communication with God, receiving divine guidance and delivering God's messages to the people.

6:55 This was crucial for a nation that has lost its way spiritually. God knows how to get a person trained up and put them in the right position. I love it. Second thing about Deborah's new unique role was she was in judicial authority. Deborah's role as a judge meant she was a leader who settled disputes and provided guidance to the Israelites. She sat under the palm of Deborah, where people came to her for And that's found in Judge 4, verse 5.

7:36 We'll get to that one, that verse. This position of authority made her a respected, trusted figure in a time of a national crisis. And number three, she was military leadership. Although Deborah was not a warrior herself, she played a pivotal role in the military deliverance of Israel. God used her to summon Barak and command him to lead an army against Caesarea. Judges 4, 6-7, we'll get to those. Deborah's presence in the battle and her leadership inspired Barak and the Israelites' forces to take action against their oppressors.

8:24 She got more. She was a symbol of God's power. Deborah Emergence as a leader also demonstrated God's power and sovereignty. In a patriotical society where male leadership was the norm, God raised a woman to lead his people, showing that he can use anyone, regardless of gender, to accomplish his purpose. Deborah's leadership was a reminder that human expectation or social norms do not confine God's strength and wisdom. And finally, fulfillment of divine justice.

9:05 The oppressor of Israel under Jabin and Cicero was a consequence of their disobedience. Obedience, but Deborah's leadership brought about divine justice, the subsequent victory over Cicero's forces. With the final blow dealt by another woman, J.L., highlights God's ability to deliver justice in unexpected ways, as found in Judges 4, 21-22. Deborah's role was central in orchestrating this deliverance. The why behind Deborah's emergence in Judges 4 is rooted in God's response to his people's desperate cry.

9:53 Despite their disobedience, God showed mercy and raised up Deborah as a leader who would bring spiritual guidance, judicial wisdom, military strategy to deliver Israel from their oppression. Deborah's leadership was a testament to God's faithfulness, his ability to work through unexpected means and his commitment to deliver his people, even when they stray from his commands. That's powerful. What was the good and bad and ugly about this Deborah with all that power? I mean, she has spiritual leadership, judicial leadership, military leadership.

10:46 She was a symbol of God's power and a fulfillment of divine judgment. She was raised up for just a time as this. We talk a lot about Esther, but we need to talk about this lady right here, Deborah. Deborah is one of the most prominent female figures in the Bible. Known for her role as a prophetess, a judge, and a military leader in Israel during the time of oppression by the Canaanites. Her story is primarily found in Judges 4 and 5. You get a chance, you got to read it through. It's so, so good. Like many biblical characters, her life and leadership reflects a mix of strength and challenges.

11:33 Advantages so let's explore the good the bad and the ugly aspects of Deborah's story so number one we know she has strong leadership God chose her she held you know we already talked about that so we she had strong leadership she had prophetic insight she had courage and initiative initiative mean that she had the goal in her you know she had that goal she had that warrior in her. Right? And she had that song of victory after they won. So she had that in her. Come on, women. Come on, come on. Strong leadership, prophetic insight, courage and initiative, and a song of victory.

12:14 After the victory, we'll talk to that about the victory. We'll walk through the story. But after the victory over Caesarea and Canaanites, Deborah composed a song of praise known as the Song of Deborah found in Judges 5. This song not only celebrated the military victory, but also praised God for his deliverance. It highlights the importance of unity among the tribe of Israel and the courage of those who answer the call to fight. This lady was talented. And I know there's a lot of ladies out there that have the same strength, strong leadership, prophetic insight, courage, and initiative.

12:56 That she was a warrior, that she even had a songstress so she could write a song and sing a song. Come on. God anointed this lady for that particular time. What was the bad about this situation? So the bad wasn't even about the borrower. Bad started with Barack. Barack, that sounds familiar, but we ain't talking about that president. We're talking about this Bible character, Barack reliance on the board while not directly fought on the board. The narrative revealed that Barack, the military leader was hesitant to go into battle without the board's presence. That's found in Judges 4.8. This reliance on Deborah's leadership, while understandable, might suggest a lack of confidence in his own calling or dependency on Deborah's authority rather than fully trusting in God's command.

13:51 So the lack, not in Deborah's ability, but a lack in his ability in trusting in God. We also see here the bad about, it wasn't about Deborah, division among the tribe. In the Song of Deborah, she highlights not all the tribes of Israel join in the fight against the Canaanites. The tribe of Reuben, Gilead, Dan, and Asher are mentioned as having stayed away from the battle as found in Judges 5, 15 to 17. This division among the tribe could be seen as a challenge to her leadership or reflection of disunity in Israel at the time.

14:32 Come on, the cause of confusion and division. She's standing up for God, helping you out of your oppression and you can't stick together. Come on, don't that sound like some things going on today? Let's move on. What was the ugly about this as Deborah and leadership? The aftermath of the victory, while Deborah's leadership led to a significant victory, the period of peace that followed did not last indefinitely. The cyclical nature of Israel's unfaithfulness and disobedience, as seen throughout the book of Judges, suggests that despite her successful leadership, the underlying issue of Israel's spiritual unfaithfulness remained unresolved.

15:19 This reoccurring pattern of sin and deliverance reflects the broader ugly reality of Israel's spiritual condition during this period. And the second part of the ugly was that off this jewel, brutal jail, brutal act, also not directly Deborah's doing the story of JL, who kills Cicero by driving a tent peg through his head while he slept. Judges 421, we'll get to that, is a gruesome part of the narrative. Deborah had prophesied that the honor of killing Cicero would go to a woman. Still, the brutality of JL's act added a dark and violent twist to the story.

16:03 While it fulfilled the prophecy and brought victory, it also highlights a brutal reality of the time. Deborah's story is overwhelmingly positive, showcasing her as a strong, courageous, wise leader who played a crucial role in Israel's deliverance from Canaan's oppression. Her prophetic gifts, her decisive leadership, and her ability to inspire others make her one of the most remarkable figures in the Bible. However, the narrative also includes challenges such as the partial participation of Israel's tribes in the battle and the brutal methods used to secure victory, which reflects the complexity and harsh realities of the period in which she lived.

16:52 The royal leadership served as an example of how God can use individuals, regardless of gender. To accomplish, to accomplish his purpose and how robust and faithful leadership can bring about significant change, even under challenging circumstances. Okay, let's get back to the script here. So now here in verses four and five, let's see, after this oppression, we know all about the good stuff that Deborah did with her leadership and all her gifting that she had. Let's see her in action here so verses four and five now the boy a prophet and the wife so now she is a wife so she's a wife she probably got some children this lady is still talented okay was lee was the and his wife of lab lapidoth was the leading was i can't even say it i'm all this lady got more gifts now deborah a prophet the wife of lapidoth was leading israel at the the time.

17:55 She held court under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim. And the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided. We heard that already. So Deborah's role as a prophetess and judge is significant, especially in a male dominant society. Her leadership was recognized and respected by the people of Israel, illustrating that God's call can transcend cultural norms and expectation. So let's keep going. Deborah's leadership is further highlighted when she sends for Barak to deliver God's command.

18:37 So God tells this lady, Deborah, go get Barak. Let's read Judges 4 and 6. She sent for Barak, son of Ammonam from Kadesh and Naphtali. I'm probably messing up these names, so please forgive me. and said to him, the Lord, the God of Israel commands you. Look at that. This lady, Deborah telling Barak, go take with you 10,000 men of Naphtali, I'm sorry, Zebulon and lead them up to Mount Tabor. I will lead, I will lead Sessera, the commander of Jabin army.

19:17 You go that way, I'll go this way. and his chariots and his troops into the Kishon River and give him into your hands. Deborah's confidence in delivering God's command to Barak demonstrates her bold faithfulness and authority. She speaks with the assurance that God will fulfill his promise, showing us the importance of trusting in God's guidance and wisdom. That's why we said, you go that way, I'm going to go this way. Barak responds in agreement to accompany him into battle, further emphasizes her leadership. Let's go to verse eight and nine. Barak said to her, if you go with me, I will go.

20:03 But if you don't go with me, I won't go. Certainly I will go with you, said Deborah. But because of this course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the Lord will deliver Cicero to the the hands of a woman. So Deborah went with Barak to Kadesh. Like we got to go together. We can cover two spaces, two lands, more space. But you want me to go with you? I'll go with you. Barak requests to Deborah to accompany him into the battle, reflects the respect and trust he has for her leadership. Deborah's willingness to go shows her courage and commitment to God's call. Her statement that the Lord would deliver Cicero into the hands of a woman also foreshadows the unconventional means by which God will bring victory.

20:52 So the battle unfolds as Deborah predicted and the Israelites achieve great victory. Let's go to verse 14 through 16. Then Deborah said to Barak, go, go. This is the day that the Lord has given Cicero to your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you? So Barak went down Mount Tabar with 10,000 men following him. At Barak's advance, the Lord routed Caesarea and all his chariots and army by the sword. Caesarea got down from his chariots and fled on foot. Barak pursued the chariots and the army as far as the Harash Hagein, and all Caesarea's troops fell by the sword. not a man was left.

21:42 The victory over Cesar's army is a testament to God's faithfulness and fulfillment of his promise. Deborah's leadership and Barak's obedience resulted in a decisive victory, demonstrating that when we act in faith and follow God's guidance, he brings success. The story concludes with the song of Deborah and Barak praising God for the the victory. Judges 5, 1, 2, 3 is that song. So on that day, Deborah and Brock, son of Abanon, sang the song. When the prince of Israel take the lead, when the people willfully offer themselves, praise the Lord.

22:26 Hear this, you kings, listen, you rulers. I, even I, will sing to the Lord. The song of Deborah and Barak is a celebration of God's deliverance and a reminder of his sovereignty. It highlights the importance of giving. God the glory for victories and recognizing his hand in our successes. Deborah's story teaches us that God can defy cultural norms, cultural and social norms, societal norms. Her bold faith and leadership in a male-dominant society serves as an inspiration for us to embrace our own calling with courage.

23:13 It also emphasizes the importance of trusting in God's guidance and wisdom. So how do we apply this to our daily life? So when Deborah said yes to God, she accepted her role as a prophetess, a judge, and a leader in a time when Israel was in need of deliverance. Unlike many other biblical figures, there was no record of Deborah hesitating or needing to be convinced to take on her responsibility. Her yes is evident in the way she faithfully carried out the task God set before her.

23:55 Here's how her yes is reflected in her action. She said yes to prophetic leadership. She said yes when delivering her commands to Bari. rock. She said yes with her courageous actions. She said yes with her bold prophecy. She said yes in her bold song of victory. So Deborah, our yes to God was her acceptance to her multiple roles. Her yes to God, we can be used mightily to accomplish his purposes, even in challenging and unconventional circumstances. So how can we be bold like Deborah in our life?

24:37 I want that. Number one, we embrace leadership roles with courage. How do we do that? We step into leadership positions with confidence, knowing that God equips those he calls. Reflect on Deborah's example and be willing to lead even when it challenged societal norms. We see Deborah had many different hats that she wore and she wore them with pride, not with pride, with courage and with honor and with respect. And she seemed like she had a balance with each one and she knew which one to use when needed, you know?

25:21 And so she was written in the Bible and Judges 4 and 5. So when to step in that position with confidence. And then she was a wife. And so she was a wife. She probably has children. And so let's reflect on her example, how to have that balance as a wife, a leadership, a prophetic, a judge, a prophetess, a judge, have courage. She was even a songstress. Number two, trust in God's guidance and wisdom. Spend time in prayer, seeking God's direction for your life. Meditate on scripture that reminds you of God's faithfulness and guidance, such as Proverbs 3, 5 through 6.

26:02 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, submit to him and he will make your path straight. And throughout these past podcasts, past episodes and devotionals, we're finding the same theme, like not lean on your own understanding. Just follow his instructions and he has a way of victory for you. He has a way of victory for you. Act bold in faith. Take decisive actions. Take decisive actions based on God's directions, even when faced with uncertainty.

26:45 Remember that bold faith can lead to great victory, as seen in Deborah's story. Remember that bold faith can lead to great victories. So faith without action is dead, and so you have to move forward. Devorah just, he's not actually just stepped forth. Each person has a timing. There's always a timing when we step forth. I always, when you look in history, whether we step outside the Bible and we look in history, we always ask, why did this person step forth at this particular time? There's a space in time that when you are called to step forth, that's your space in time. and you step forth and you do do that thing.

27:33 And you ever notice when that person is done doing that thing, then they're done and they just fade out, right? And you ever notice if anybody tried to do that thing longer than they're supposed to, they still slowly kind of phase out in a way. So there's a timing and a purpose for what God has for you. Be ready to step into it, act in bold, you know, act bold and just do it. It's your time. The spotlight is on you. Number four, give God the glory. Give God the glory. God, give God the glory. Acknowledge that God's hand is in your successes and victory.

28:13 And remember, he's the one who has his hand on your back, holding you up there, right? He's holding your hand. He has his righteous hand in your hand. And so he's your support. And celebrate and share testimonies of God's faithfulness, just as Deborah and Barack did. Remember, they wrote a song about it. Put it in your journal. Sing a song about it. Tell others about what God has done for you. Matter of fact, they probably know because they said, you couldn't have did that without God. This is all about God. Just a real quick review here.

28:54 Practical applications, embrace leadership roles with with courage, when people say, you can do that. People are always humble. Say, no, I can't. Just stand up and toss it. I'm going to do it afraid. Keep it to yourself, though, and just do it. And you'll be surprised how when you step into that role, it's your time and it's your season, just like Deborah. It was her time and it was her season. She had prepared for that. She was a wife. She was a wife. She was a mother. So she's leading at home. She probably worked as a judge, then was called as a prophet. It was always a warrior you know and then just how god just kind of moved her up into that position of a military leader too you know so slowly moving her up and she just was just bold about her business trusting god's guidance and wisdom he has a direct path for you instructions for you so follow those instructions always spend time in prayer getting his wisdom getting his downloads so So you know exactly where you need to be, what you need to say, and how you need to do it.

30:02 Act bold in faith. When you get it, don't be wimpy. Just do it boldly. You know, this is something that someone said, fake it till you make it. Don't be faking it. Be real about it. Act like you know what you're doing until you know what you're doing. How about that? Act like you know what you're doing until you know what you're doing. I don't like the word fake it till you make it because then you keep faking it. And that's not a good feeling. Just act like you know what you're doing until you know what you're doing. How about that? And then give God the glory. Always give him the glory before, after, and during it. I even give him glory every day, every moment, because I'm just happy that he has chosen me for such a time as this and celebrate.

30:48 And sometimes we can, our songs may never get published, but we can sing a song to God from our heart and just sing it to him, just like they did, praising God for the victory. So let's close this out with some decrees. We're going to decree for bold leadership. Let's go. Decree for bold leadership. I decree that like Deborah, I will embrace my leadership roles with courage and faith. I trust that God equips and empowers me to lead according to his will. Decree for divine guidance. We always need divine guidance.

31:30 I decree that I will seek and follow God's guidance and wisdom in all aspects of my life. I believe that he will direct my path and lead me to success. Decree for bold faith. I decree that I will act in bold faith, trusting in God's promises and stepping out confidently in his calling for my life. Decree for giving God, giving glory to God. I decree that I will give God the glory for all my victories and successes, recognizing his hand is in every aspect of my life.

32:15 So as we conclude this episode, take some time to reflect on how God has called you to lead, no matter where that is or how little or how small, all and how you can embrace that calling with boldness and faith. Remember, God's call can defy societal norms and his guidance will lead you to success. Thank you for joining me on this next episode. The next episode, we'll discuss our gift and callings and how to get you ready for leadership. And so we will do that. Thank you for joining me on this episode of Gifts of No Return, Embracing God's Unchanging Call.

33:00 And if you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and share this with others who might benefit from this message. Thank you for listening and God bless. Until next time, Stay encouraged and keep embracing the gifts that God has placed within you. Remember God's gifts and callings are irrevocable. He doesn't take them back. And he has a unique and unchanging plan for your life. This is Diary of a Black Woman podcast. I'm your host, Connie Morris. Until we meet again, bye.