Deborah is one of the most fascinating women in the Bible. Her name means “bee,” and that seems fitting, as bees may be small, but they are remarkably fierce and purposeful. Deborah was not only a prophet but also a judge, a leader and a peacemaker. In fact, she is the only woman in scripture specifically described as both a judge and a prophet. Her story reminds us that strength, wisdom, courage and a heart for peace can go hand in hand.
Villagers in Israel would not fight; they held back until I, Deborah, arose, until I arose, a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7
THE HELPER
First, I want to go back to Genesis, and for good reason. In Genesis 2, the Lord provides a helper for Adam. Often, as women, we hear this story and want to let out a bit of a sigh, saying ‘yes I know we are referred to as the helper (eye roll)’. However, the word helper is so much more than what we have been led to believe!
Then the Lord God said, “It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper fit for him.” Genesis 2:18
Did you know that ‘helper’ is the same word used to refer to God in many scriptures in the Old Testament?
Our soul waits for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. Psalm 33:20
WORD MEANINGS
In the Old Testament, the Hebrew word for help is ezer. In the New Testament, this word is translated into Greek as boethos. There is some confusion that this word is the same word that is referred to as the Holy Spirit, but that is not correct. The Holy Spirit is referred to as parakletos in Greek. The word boethos is not seen much in the New Testament, however, here is an example of where it’s used:
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6
We can see from the scriptures used, that this is no light term. The Lord did not say He created an assistant or a slave for Adam but a helper. At times, we ladies can feel like we take the back burner on our authority in Christ, this could be from incorrect biblical interpretations (in my opinion).
AN EXCELLENT ROLE MODEL
Throughout history, women have played significant and influential roles in shaping humanity. Deborah’s role was no exception. Her leadership was crucial and her life gives us a beautiful picture of what it means to be a helper. She was someone who came alongside others with strength, wisdom and courage. What a beautiful example for us ladies!
When we abide under the authority of Jesus, we can face even the greatest challenges with confidence. We do not need to be afraid. The Lord has placed each of us in this particular moment in history for a reason. He has a purpose for where we are, and He may be inviting us to step into something greater than we imagined.
So let me ask you: Has something been stirring in your heart? Do you sense the Lord calling you to something more?
Perhaps now is the time to kneel before Jesus, quiet your heart and listen for His voice. Be still and allow Him to show you what He has in store. He may be preparing to open a door that you never expected. And when that door opens, you’ll want to be ready to walk through it.
A LEADER OF THE PEOPLE
Now Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lappidoth, was judging Israel at that time. She used to sit under the palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the people of Israel came up to her for judgment. Judges 4:4-5
A similar scripture was written about Moses.
The next day Moses sat to judge the people, and the people stood around Moses from morning till evening. Exodus 18:13
Granted Deborah was not Moses, however, the Lord put her in a position where she was judging the people and took on an authoritative role that feels similar. We can see another comparison with Moses in Deborah’s song that she sings in Judges 5. There are only a handful of individuals, in the Bible, who dedicate songs to the Lord, and she is one of them.
BRAVE WOMEN
Deborah is not the only brave woman in this story. Jael also risked her life to bring justice by inviting the enemy into her tent. My point is this – we as women have a big role in God’s story. Proverbs 31 is basically reserved for us, giving us a great example of our role:
She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. Proverbs 31:17
Let’s remember that Proverbs 31 was written by a mom to her son. Before she begins talking about the ideal woman for her son, she says this:
Open your mouth, judge righteously, defend the rights of the poor and needy. Proverbs 31:9
When we are strong in the Lord, we don’t have to live in fear of what others may do to us. We can stand confidently, knowing that the Lord is with us, for us and will strengthen and help us.
STAND FIRM
As ungodliness continues to increase in our society, many Christians are becoming weary. Some have grown tired of speaking up, while others have become discouraged and apathetic, wondering what difference their voice could possibly make. When the world around us feels increasingly hostile and overwhelming, it can be tempting to keep our heads down, stay quiet and simply avoid the conflict.
But we cannot run and hide. God has called us to stand firm in Him (Ephesians 6), even when things become difficult. We are not here by accident. We do not have to face these times in our own strength. The Lord has given us courage for this moment, and He calls us to remain faithful.
We can unite together and push for a better social atmosphere for our children and grandchildren. In the beginning of all the pandemic most of us were very concerned about the safety of our family, and rightfully so. But now that time has passed, many of us are now better educated and are looking behind the wizard of oz curtain that was being thrust before us.
ARISE
For many of us who are seeking truth and drawing closer to the Lord, something has been awakened in our hearts. Perhaps this is an invitation to slow down, pay attention and encourage one another as we navigate these challenging times together.
Our children and grandchildren are growing up in a world that is very different from the one many of us knew. They are surrounded by constant messages, images and influences through the device they carry with them every day. As parents, grandparents, mentors and believers, we may not always know exactly how to respond to everything they encounter. But we can pray. We can listen. We can be present. And most importantly, we can point them toward the truth and love of Jesus.
Let us learn from Deborah. She was a woman who was strong, courageous, wise and, above all, willing to be led by the Lord. May we ask God for that same wisdom, love and strength in our own lives. We may be tired, and many of us may feel weary, but we were never meant to walk this journey alone.
Now is the time to encourage one another, pray for one another and stand together in faith. Let’s be attentive to what the Lord is doing and willing to follow wherever He leads. We can trust that He is with us in this moment and that He will give us the strength we need for each day.
May the Lord strengthen you, encourage you and bless you as you seek Him. And may we continue to remind one another that there is always hope when we place our trust in Him.
The villagers ceased in Israel; they ceased to be until I arose; I, Deborah, arose as a mother in Israel. Judges 5:7
Leave a Reply