Fearlessly CourageousDesk of Dennis Piller3 31 2023Click for Audio Version
Delivered by the Hand of a Woman!
We have all heard stories of how God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things but today we somehow fail to take up the courage to apply that to our own lives. I did a little study on the story in Judges 4 and 5 that explores what we can learn from Deborah about calling on the power of the Holy Spirit during difficult times. Even at a time when Israel had no regard for a women's perspective in leadership, Deborah's rare leadership quality and the value of her advice, through not just hearing but obeying God's word, is a great example for every woman and every man even today.Backdrop: Judges 4 begins with the death of Ehud, (the 2nd Judge of Israel). He was the assassin-leader of chapter 3, who freed Israel from the Moabites. (it's amazing the people God can and will use for his purposes). There seems to be this recurring spiral after a judge dies that the Israelite people returned to their wicked ways and God will again give them over to their enemies in this case to Jabin and the Canaanites. Twenty years later, Deborah recruited General Barak, to stand by her side, telling him God wanted the armies of Israel to attack the Canaanites who were persecuting the highland tribes.She is the only female judge, the only one to be called a prophetess, and the only woman described in the Bible as also being a judge. (Miriam was the first female prophetess Deut 34:10) Judges were regional leaders who arbitrated cases between people, helped the people follow God in ways of righteousness, and occasionally fought battles against their enemies.
As in biblical times God is calling today's women to a purpose greater than themselves. The Deborah Anointing shows you that although you may have been trapped in tradition and locked into captivity by cultural and gender prejudices, God desires for you to break through these barriers.
Normally, God would raise up a judge to lead the people in a military victory over the enemy. But God doesn’t see that as something appropriate for a woman — to be a military commander. So, look at how God uses Deborah.
God gave Deborah a prophetic word to approach Barak to gather an army of 10,000 Israelites to fight against the Canaanites. The Canaanite army had many soldiers and chariots, and the Israelite army was afraid, but not Deborah. She knew the Lord would help them.
General Barak was afraid to battle without Deborah. Some scholars say he was spinless, while others see it as a smart decision since she was the mediator between Israel and God himself. Others say it’s similar to the language that Moses had told God at Mount Sinai, that Moses asked for his brother Aaron to go with him. “‘Very well,’ Deborah said, ‘I will go with you. But because of the way you are going about this, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will hand them over to a woman.'” 4:9 (That other woman was Jael who killed their leader while he slept).
Deborah is used by God as a mother figure when you have a nation of spiritual children. She’s used by God to call Barak to lead. She even takes the initiative and shows courage in doing that. But really, that is something Barak should have done. And it seems the whole point here is that once Deborah urged him to step up and lead, he didn’t quite do this. He ends up a bit ashamed in the whole situation because he wasn't a man of couragethe Lord had called him to be. Add to this, only two tribes of Israel fought. Where were the other men who were supposed to step up and fightand lead their families to freedom?
But today, we as Christ’s church, fight a spiritual battle. But it is still a battle and we still have Christ leading the way. That’s why we are called in Ephesians 6 to be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Even though God mightily uses women to take on extraordinary roles at times, too many of our women today are forced to lead because their husbands will not…and do not.In conclusion, I’d like to appeal to both the men and the women here separately. To the men, I urge you all, to be Christ-like leaders in your homes and in your church, and in your community. We will suffer if the men will not rise up and be leaders. And you don’t have to be an ordained officer in the church to provide leadership. Show courage, take initiative, take a stand for Christ, and bring others along with you. Lead in prayer. Lead in studying the Scriptures. Lead with humility. Lead with love. And make sure you do not lead out of pride, or arrogance. Don’t lead harshly. And very important: don’t lead ignorantly. If you are going to lead, then you need to be leading with wisdom and knowledge. That will mean you will need to know those times and areas where you are not equipped to lead and you will have to be silent. But then endeavor to grow so that next time you can rise to the challenge. As for the women. The encouragement of this passage is that God can and does use women in amazing ways and in varying circumstances. Seek out the ways God has especially gifted you, and look at the needs that are present in the church, and look to use your gifts in accordance with God’s will. God highly values you and has amazing plans to use you. In the New Testament, the church’s warfare is not physical, but spiritual. That means there are frontline jobs for both men and women. Find your role, and do it with all your heart!Let me encourage you in your fast between now and Easter. Let His Holy Spirit Speak to you. What Mercy Did For Me [feat. Crystal Yates Micah Tyler Joshua Sherman]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-GRU5K3UFmE&list=PLCd-wh1hNZpQRQZ73gnTCeUYflnkLMF_S&index=6
