Deborah

Again the Israelites did evil in the eyes of the LORD, now that Ehud was dead.  So the LORD sold them into the hands of Jabin king of Canaan, who reigned in Hazor. Sisera, the commander of his army, was based in Harosheth Haggoyim.  Because he had nine hundred chariots fitted with iron and had cruelly oppressed the Israelites for twenty years, they cried to the LORD for help.

~Judges 4:1-3

Describe what you think conditions might have been like for a family in Isreal at the time.

• In their captivity in Canaan, an Isrealite family was probably not given a proper living space.  I am also thinking that thety were fed poorly.

How do you think you would have reacted to such conditions?  Like most of the Isrealites?  Like Deborah?

• possibly for the most part, I would be like most of teh Isrealites.  I probably would not have been happy to have been put through another period of captivity, but also I would have kept my faith and prayed that it would end soon.

Now Deborah, a prophet, the wife of Lappidoth, was leading Israel at that time.  She held court under the Palm of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites went up to her to have their disputes decided.  She sent for Barak son of Abinoam from Kedesh in Naphtali and said to him, “The LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: ‘Go, take with you ten thousand men of Naphtali and Zebulun and lead them up to Mount Tabor.  I will lead Sisera, the commander of Jabin’s army, with his chariots and his troops to the Kishon River and give him into your hands.’”

  Barak said to her, “If you go with me, I will go; but if you don’t go with me, I won’t go.”

~Judges 4:4-8

What was Barak afraid of?  Why would haveing Deborah along alleviate those fears?

• He probably was thinking that the job could not be fulfilled because she was a woman and how would listen to a woman leader, unless she would have to disguise herself as a man if she is to lead a foreig army.

Which of Deborah's characteristics would you most like to have?  What would you do if you had that characteristic?  What can you do to develope that characteristic?

• I would like to have her authoratitiveness.
• I could probably become a better discussion learder in a sense
• I would try to develope my assertiveness towards others

“Certainly I will go with you,” said Deborah. “But because of the course you are taking, the honor will not be yours, for the LORD will deliver Sisera into the hands of a woman.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.  There Barak summoned Zebulun and Naphtali, and ten thousand men went up under his command. Deborah also went up with him

~Judges 4:9-10

How do you think the Isrealite men felt about the honor for this victory going to Deborah and Jael?

• I'm thinking that they felt suprised that a woman could be just as strong a leader as a man could be

When a woman succeeds today, what are the reactions of the men around her?

• I think in most cases men today do praise a woman for being able what used to be known as a man's-only type of profession

Villagers in Israel would not fight;
   they held back until I, Deborah, arose,
   until I arose, a mother in Israel.

~Judges 5:7

What does Deborah call herself in this verse?  What does this tell you about Deborah?

• "a mother of Isreal"
• this means she cares for her people and wants to protect them

What lessons for your own life can you gain from this verse?

• Don't be a coward when it comes to something that you care about and need to fight for.