The story of Deborah is not well known.  However, she was a person who did great things through faith.  We will study her story to see what we can find from her life that will help us serve God better.  Here are some highlights from her story:

 

1.  Deborah lived in the time when the children of Israel were greatly oppressed by the Canaanites.

   1. However, the Bible shows us that they brought their suffering upon themselves because they started being sinful in God’s eyes.

      1. So as a punishment for their sins, God sent Jabin, King of Canaan, to punishment them.

         1. Jabin had a mean, harsh commander named Sisera.

            1. The Bible says the children of Israel were under the cruel treatment of the Canaanites for 20 years.

            2. However, the mercy of God was there for them.

            3. He heard their cry, which means their agony and decided to deliver them from the wickedness the Canaanites were doing to them for 20 years at this point in Bible history (Judges 4:1-3).

   2. What do we learn from the suffering of the children of Israel?

      1. Well, not all suffering is created by sin, but some is.

      2. Sometimes, God does punish us in this life to stop us from sinning (Hebrews 12:5-13).

         1. For example, sometimes, we develop health problems from the use of drugs and alcohol.

            1. We cannot get mad at God when our health fails, because it is our own sinful ways that created our bad health situation.

         2. Another example can be gambling.

            1. We also cannot get mad at God when we lose all of our money and have to suffer because of our own sinful ways.

         3. Even another example is that when we will not work like we are supposed to.

            1. We can easily be fired from a job if our attendance is bad or we are always late.

            2. This is another situation where we cannot blame God, because we are doing things to our self to create suffering in our lives.

            3. Thus, we must repent (i.e. change) and ask God to forgive us in these situations for things to get better in our lives (Acts 8:22; 1 John 1:7-10).

2. Moving on, the Bible describes Deborah as a spiritual and political leader of the people.

   1. The Bible speaks of her being a prophet, which means God would speak to her and then she would relay the message from God to the children of Israel.

   2. The Bible also shows us that she was a judge.

      1. A judge made decisions for all the people in a leadership capacity.

      2. Part of her responsibility was just like judges today.

         1. She would decide what was right when two people were disputing something.

         2. In other words, she would have the final word during court cases among the people (Judges 4:4-5).

         3. Also, she, ultimately, was in charge of the military in the country as well.

      3. What do we learn from Deborah’s life so far?

         1. Since Deborah was a prophet and political leader, it shows us that God can use women to do powerful things.

         2. Today, God wants Christian women to be both spiritual teachers among themselves and leaders in the home among the children (Titus 2:3-5; Ephesians 6:1-3).

         3. God always wants older Christian women to teach younger Christian women how to serve God and their families (Titus 2:3-5; Ephesians 5:23).

         4. If she is so inclined, she can also work outside of the home to earn money for the home (Acts 16:14-15; Proverbs 31:10-31).

         5. So, young Christian women, take inspiration for Deborah.

         6. You can be strong Christian women and leaders where God wants you to lead!

         7. Let no one discourage you, but be encouraged through the story of Deborah!

3. Moving forward, the Bible says that God commanded her to tell Barak to go and fight the Canaanites.

   1. Barak was her military general.

   2. She delivered God’s message to Barak and he accepted the command to go on one condition.

      1. That condition was that she had to go with him.

      2. Deborah agreed to go with him (Judges 4:6-11).

4. Unfortunately, Sisera, just like any good military commander, saw the children of Israel’s military forces coming to oppose him (Judges 4:12-23).

   1. Sisera organized all of his soldiers and his nine hundred iron chariots.

      1. This was a large army fitted with what would be considered the tanks of the time.

      2. Chariots were the heavy artillery of the time and to this author’s knowledge, the children of Israel did not have this type of equipment.

      3. They did not have chariots.

         1. So, they were at a huge disadvantage!

         2. Thus, the children of Israel were as we would say, “over-matched.”

         3. It seems that they could not win, but with God on their side, they would be victorious!

      4. Look at what happened during the battle as told to us in Judges 4:14-21, “14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” So Barak went down Mount Tabor, with ten thousand men following him. 15 At Barak’s advance, the Lord routed Sisera and all his chariots and army by the sword, and Sisera got down from his chariot and fled on foot. 16 Barak pursued the chariots and army as far as Harosheth Haggoyim, and all Sisera’s troops fell by the sword; not a man was left. 17 Sisera, meanwhile, fled on foot to the tent of Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, because there was an alliance between Jabin king of Hazor and the family of Heber the Kenite. 18 Jael went out to meet Sisera and said to him, “Come, my lord, come right in. Don’t be afraid.” So he entered her tent, and she covered him with a blanket. 19 “I’m thirsty,” he said. “Please give me some water.” She opened a skin of milk, gave him a drink, and covered him up. 20 “Stand in the doorway of the tent,” he told her. “If someone comes by and asks you, ‘Is anyone in there?’ say ‘No.’” 21 But Jael, Heber’s wife, picked up a tent peg and a hammer and went quietly to him while he lay fast asleep, exhausted. She drove the peg through his temple into the ground, and he died” (New International Version).

         1. The children of Israel continued to fight Jabin, King of the Canaanites, until God destroyed the Canaanites and the children of Israel were freed from their oppression (Judges 4:23).

      5. What do we learn from the battle outcome?

         1. First, we learn that even today, problems in our lives seem more powerful than we are.

            1. Well, notice, that God’s power was the real power behind the children of Israel’s victory.

            2. It was the Lord that caused them to win.

            3. So, it is today.

            4. There are many problems that are bigger than us that we need help with.

            5. This is why God tells us to pray about these things, because He wants to help us (Philippians 4:6-7).

            6. So, instead of worrying, you must pray so you have peace and God’s power can deliver you after that.

            7. Remember, nothing is impossible for God (Luke 1:37).

         2. Deborah’s and Barak’s battle proves that God is more powerful than any one and anything in this world!

            1. Always, believe that God can do anything for you and is bigger than your problems and you will see a difference in your life!

         3. Second, we learn to encourage each other to be brave in the Lord.

            1. Look at what Deborah said to Barak before the battle with Sisera.

            2. She said, “…Go! This is the day the Lord has given Sisera into your hands. Has not the Lord gone ahead of you?” (Judges 4:14 New International Version).

            3. We are always to encourage other children of God to remain faithful to God and to keep fighting the good fight of faith (2 Corinthians 1:3-4).

            4. When you are strong in this area, make sure you have enough compassion in your heart to care about others who are weak.

               1. Call them.

               2. Pray with them.

               3. Always tell them to trust in God as Deborah did with Barak!

               4. Be a good influence on other children of God!

5. In Judges 5, we see a whole chapter of the Bible devoted to the victory song sung by Deborah and Barak.

   1. They retold the story of the battle with Sisera in the song, but they also praised God out of a thankful heart for Him granting the victory.

      1. You will see that praising God and giving thanks for His blessings is repeated throughout the Bible.

      2. This is because God wants us to give Him thanks for everything He does for us (1 Thessalonians 5:18).

         1. So, do not be shy.

   2. Always give Him thanks in song (Hebrews 13:15).

   3. Always give Him thanks in prayer (Philippians 4:6-7).

      1. Never forgot to praise and thank Him, when He blesses you.

      2. These things are the least things we can do for Him for all the love and kindness He shows us each day of our lives!

 

In summary, we have learned a lot from the short story of Deborah in the Bible.  God can use godly women to do powerful things from a spiritual perspective and things in the world.  Whether you are male or female, always know that when God’s plans are in motion, nothing or no one can stop them.  He is all powerful.  Have faith in the power of God no matter what obstacles present themselves in your life!