The Undefeated God
Deborah
God has seen the oppression and heard the cries of the people in Egypt. The mighty empire has enslaved the 12 tribes of Israel. Moses and Aaron are used to bring the people out of that land into the promised land God has given to them across the Red sea in the land inhabited by the Canaanites, amidst other peoples. Moses dies and does not go into the promised land, Joshua and Caleb go out to search the land. Joshua successfully defeats the kings of the land and the 12 tribes begin to take the shares of the land given to them. God purposefully leaves some nations undefeated by Joshua and the Israelite army. They are not utterly cast out of the land but become tributaries to Israel.
The time has passed the people who once came out of Egypt and have seen the miracles of God have now died off. The generations who did not see the works of God have now married to the peoples surrounding them. They have disobeyed the commandments and have forsaken the God of Israel.
They have mingled and worshiped the idols and gods of the inhabitants of those lands. God punishes this by bringing in spoilers and enemies to Israel. The people are once again oppressed and in despair. God hears them and raises up judges in the land to deliver them.
The Spirit of God was with them whom he raised up to be a judge over the land.
The first judge was Othniel son of Kenaz, nephew to Caleb.
The second judge was Ehud son of Gera.
The third judge was Shamgar son of Anath.
The fourth judge was Deborah.
Deborah was a prophetess, married to Lappidoth, she became judge around 1204 to 1144 BC. She judged between Bethel and Ramah for about 60 years. During this time she was visited for judgement about King Jabin who reigned in Hazor, the captain of his host was Sisera.
It is written that she sent for Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedesh-naphtali to come and prepare to go to war with the host of Sisera and his 900 iron chariots. He goes to her and asks also that she will go with him. She says she will surely go! Deborah tells him to take 10,000 men out of the tribe of Zebulun and Naphtali and draw to Mt. Tabor. She prophesies that God will draw Sisera and his army to the Kishon river and there will deliver them unto Barak. Deborah tells Barak it isn't for his honor but that a woman will kill Sisera.
As Sisera was in Mt. Tabor, he was told of Barak and he gathered up all 900 iron chariots with the multitude and moved to the Kishon river, where there he found all 10,000 men and Barak ready with the sword. Sisera and his army was humiliated. All the men died that day and Sisera got of his chariot and fled to the house of Heber.
The House of Heber had peace with the king. His wife Jael saw Sisera looking for cover and took him into the house. Sisera asked for water, Jael gave him milk and he told her to tell no one he was there. As Sisera slept Jael took a tent peg and hammered it between his temples, Sisera died at her feet that day too. They destroyed King Jabin. The people were now stronger and had rest in the land for the next forty years.
Message:
God will place obstacles in our life to discipline and direct our attention back to Him.
Deborah was a woman in power amidst a nation in rebellion to God. She however received all her authority from God for a great purpose. Her victory was that she remembered and loved God enough to not be swayed to the idolatrous ways of those surrounding her.
Biblical foundation: God desires that we turn away from our wrongdoings, that we seek Him as the one we want to love and be loved by. We ought to live our lives remembering the commandments that God has given us and never turn away from his praise.
*You can read the Song of Deborah in the Bible in the book of Judges chapter 5
