Are you aware that the Bible is filled with many lessons of the lives of women that we can learn from? Well, there are many of them – Eve, Sarah, Mary, Elizabeth, Rahab, Esther, Deborah, Dorcas, Jochebed, Rachel, Leah, Miriam, Jehosheba, Rebekah, Jael, Lydia, Hannah, Abigail, Ruth, Naomi, Martha, Lois and Eunice, just to name a few. They were heroic women who were recorded in the Bible’s “Faith Hall of Fame” because of their faith. These women and their stories stand out to encourage us and to challenge our faith.
Jesus was close to women while He was here on earth. He used women in great ways. Women were the first people to show up and to be an eyewitness to the empty tomb. Each woman holds the fate of generations in her hands. All it takes is one woman who elects to make a good choice and follow the Lord, and it can change the future for generations upon generations. Unfortunately, the opposite is also true, that it only takes one woman who chooses to turn away from the gospel and from the Lord for generations to wander in darkness, until another person emerges and chooses to embrace the light again. Therefore, it is very important that we, the women, remember that we are tied to future generations, and that the choices we make, for good or bad, will impact lives!
Today, we will take a peek into the life of one such woman, Deborah. Her life story is recorded in the Book of Judges. She was a powerful woman of God who demonstrated great faith in her time. Deborah was one of the female leaders in the Old Testament. She was the only named female judge that we know of in the history of Israel. Her leadership was critical during a time when Israel was in bondage to the Canaanites. By her faith in God, she successfully led Israel during that critical time. What made Deborah unique was that she had a twofold role. She was both a judge and she was a prophetess. She spoke the truth, she was someone who spoke from her gut and she was someone of strength in the way that she would lead.
You see, Deborah was not only known for her wisdom. Deborah was also known for her courage. She is the only woman of the Hebrew Bible who gained renown on her own merit, not because of her relationship to a man. She was truly remarkable: a judge, a military strategist, a poet, and a prophetess. Deborah was only one of four women designated as a prophet in the Hebrew Bible and, as such, she was said to transmit the word and the will of God – therefore she is worth emulating.
Deborah was indeed a strong leader. Deborah was known for her wisdom, courage and compassionate zeal for justice. She provided an example of leadership that was not normally seen in society during her time. Many women in the Bible did not rise to positions of national leadership, but Deborah did. One of the reasons she stood out was because of both her spiritual and civil leadership. She was an example of a woman with faith in God who arose as a light to her people. Deborah turned many of her countrymen to service to God and faith during a period where it was so needed.
You see, everything rises and falls on leadership. Leadership makes a big difference. leadership matters in the home. Leadership matters in the church. Leadership matters in organizations. Leadership matters in businesses. Leadership matters in the Courts and Leadership matters in the nation. Leadership matters everywhere. One cannot minimize how important leadership is, and that we must have good leadership in place. We just cannot minimize its importance. We see this throughout Scripture. When leaders lose sight of God, the people lose sight of God as well.
Deborah served in a time where everyone did what was right in his or her own eyes. That was the key phrase of the book of Judges. The people wanted to be like the surrounding nations. They wanted to be like everyone else. They wanted to fit in, so they did the things the other nations did. And then they essentially rejected God. They rejected God’s ways, and God allowed them to go their own way. Then they ended up experiencing consequences in their lives as a result. And after enough consequences they cried out to God, and God delivered them again and again.
We need to remember that God never called us to fit in and do as other nations did. God has called us to be a city on a hill. God has called us to be the salt and light of the earth. Deborah demonstrated just that. She was a wise and discerning leader. She helped the people solve their problems and she pointed them to God.
Here are some of the lessons we can learn from Deborah’s life of faith:
1. Deborah trusted God and in his Word. She understood that God alone is able to do what he says he will do. She did not need to have her trust in God confirmed by the responses of others. Forming a tenacious trust in the Word of God is one key way to follow Deborah’s example.
2. Deborah was Courageous. She was not only fearless in battle, but she was also wise. Deborah obeyed the Lord and insisted his will – not hers – be done.
3. Deborah demonstrated that God can accomplish great things through people who are willing to be led by him. She also showed us that wise leaders should surround themselves with the right people – people who fear God.
4. Deborah was not a selfish person. She was concerned about people – not just her success. Deborah used her abilities to serve. She focused on helping the people of Israel improve their lives, honour God, and find freedom from their oppressors.
5. Deborah gave ALL the glory to God. Whenever people praised her, she acknowledged that all the glory belonged to God. She has truly taught us that – the next time life oppresses us, we must focus on the size of our God, not the size of our problems. The bigger our problems seem, the more we need to realize how big our God really is.
Deborah was a shining example of a woman with faith in God, who arose as a light to her people. She turned many of her countrymen to service to God and faith at a time when it was sorely needed. Deborah was truly remarkable: a judge, a military strategist, a poet, and a prophetess. She offers a bold and powerful role model for women today.
Remember: Faith is taking the first step even when you do not see the whole staircase. None of us knows what might happen even the next minute, yet still we go forward, because we trust, because we have Faith, we trust God.
About the Author: Mrs. Marilyn Hodge owns and operates the Wellness Centre in the Farrington, Anguilla. The Centre offers Counselling Services by Appointment Only and has now published Positive Living Volume 2. Contact information: 476-3517 or email: marilynb@anguillanet.com. www.facebook.com/axawellnesscentre
