Deborah – superhero of Israel ∙∙
In those days, there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. – Judges 21:25
Judges 2:18-19
18 Whenever the LORD raised up a judge over Israel, he was with that judge and rescued the people from their enemies throughout the judge’s lifetime. For the LORD took pity on his people, who were burdened by oppression and suffering.
19 But when the judge died, the people returned to their corrupt ways, behaving worse than those who had lived before them. They went after other gods, serving and worshiping them. And they refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways.
Superheroes possess abilities beyond those of ordinary folks. They use their powers to help people in times of danger.
The antecedents of modern fanciful superheroes are found in real history, myth, and legend. Superheroes perform feats of incredible strength, fighting prowess, and cunning. They are reminiscent of the tales of Hercules, Jason, Achilles, or the Amazon warriors. Some Old Testament Biblical superheroes are Samson, Deborah, and David.
When difficult challenges arise, and others freeze and shrink back, superheroes plow ahead and face them. The same is true of real-life heroes. There are numerous examples of individuals who consistently live heroic lives, such as firefighters and other first responders.
Medical personnel such as nurses who regularly comfort the sick and dying are heroes. Their selfless response to the COVID-19 pandemic showcased their loyalty. Ubiquitous signs proclaimed, “Real heroes work here!” Nurses embody certain personality traits or qualities that distinguish them from others. They uphold a strong ethical code and personal values, showing empathy and providing care. They lead their lives guided by these values and are prepared to face the personal risks upholding them.
The Book of Judges was written circa 1045 BC. It covers the period from just after the Conquest of Canaan, circa 1300 BC, to the time of Solomon, circa 1000 BC (1 Kings 6:1). The book of Judges chronicles the tragic story of Israel’s cycle of disobedience, rebellion, and idolatry. Repeatedly, the people of Israel went from short periods of righteous living to failure and sin. Eventually, they would repent and ask the Father for help.
The Father honored His covenant promises to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. The Father would send a leader, a judge, to save His people from their oppressors.
During a particularly difficult period, Deborah, the prophet, appeared. She was a “force of nature” to contend with. However, rather than being a physically imposing warrior, like Wonder Woman or a female WWF superstar.
1 Corinthians 1:26-29
26 Remember, dear brothers and sisters, that few of you were wise in the world’s eyes or powerful or wealthy when God called you.
27 Instead, God chose things the world considers foolish in order to shame those who think they are wise. And he chose things that are powerless to shame those who are powerful.
28 God chose things despised by the world, things counted as nothing at all, and used them to bring to nothing what the world considers important.
29 As a result, no one can ever boast in the presence of God.
Use your imagination and picture her as a small, petite woman, perhaps only 5’ 2”. Her strength came from within, resting upon her character and integrity. She was robust, resourceful, and resilient. She was taken seriously and had great personal resolve, courage, and influence. Deborah was steadfast and devoted to the Father. She was one of His servants. She inspired the army of Israel to be confident and win.
In addition to her natural strengths, Deborah was also a prophet. She heard directly from the Father (Judges 4:6-7). The Father would give her the military strategy to defeat the enemies of Israel. She would, in turn, pass it on to Barak, leader of Israel’s army. When Barak carried out her instructions, victory was certain. The Father’s intervention and battle plan brought success.
REFLECT & PRAY
Proverbs 21:31 The horse is prepared for the day of battle, but the victory belongs to the LORD.
Father in so many ways, we are ordinary people like Deborah. Encourage us to seek to have the spirit of Deborah.
INSIGHT
The Father has only two simple criteria for service: availability and willingness. Only Deborah was suited for the task at hand. No man was willing to man up.
Ancient armies were not coed. The leaders were most often strong, dominant male warriors. Consider Agamemnon, Alexander, Caesar, or Hannibal. The fact that Israel’s all-male army would not go to war without Deborah was a slap in their face. There was no honor for these men.
Deborah did not seek personal acclaim. Ultimately, the praise and glory were directed towards the Father. He was the unseen leader of Israel’s army. She was only His mouthpiece.
Judges 4:8-9
8 Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.”
9 “Very well,” she replied, “I will go with you. But you will receive no honor in this venture, for the LORD’s victory over Sisera will be at the hands of a woman.”
When it comes to battles, the honor and glory of the victory go to the victorious commander. Barak forfeits the honor of being the commanding general. Deborah accepts the leadership position. Deborah’s words in the original Hebrew could well be rendered, “Into the hand of a woman the Lord will sell” the opposition. The emphasis here is that not only will Barak lose the honor of victory, but he will lose it to a woman.
In their patriarchal society, the men of Israel reluctantly followed a housewife and mom. It was totally counter-cultural. Yet, with Deborah at the helm, the men were certain that God was with them and would ensure their victory. The logic is simple: Wherever the Lord sends His prophet, He is with His prophet. The men had only two choices: follow a woman into battle and win, or go it alone and lose.
“When God wants to glorify Himself through His people, He always has a perfect plan for us to follow. God chose the leader of His army, the place for the battle, and the plan for His army to follow. God also guaranteed the victory.” (Wiersbe)!
Is it possible to have Deborah’s spirit today? Can we be full of faith and courage and energized by the Father’s zeal? Yes, absolutely, yes!
Every child of the King has a purpose, abilities, and gifts. Each child of the King can hear from the Father, take Him at His Word, trust, and take action. Each of us can have the spirit of Deborah.
In the 21st century, our war is frequently not with flesh and blood enemies. Instead, our enemies are internal: fear of failure, feelings of inferiority, concerns over what others think, low self-esteem, and often even stubbornness. The Father wants to free us from our internal foes!
Philippians 2:13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
There is a somewhat humorous back story, an oddity of science. For many years, despite the apparent evidence to the contrary, it was thought that bumblebees should not be able to fly because of their short and stubby wings. Their bodies are body too heavy for their wings. In the 1930s, French entomologist August Magnan concluded that the insect’s flight was impossible, a notion that has stuck in popular consciousness since then.
Thus, the bumblebee flight was considered a violation of the law of aerodynamics. Apparently, bumblebees skipped their science, mechanics, and physics classes and were not burdened by this information.
The enigma of bumblebee flight was solved in 2005 by Dr. Michael Dickinson, a professor of biology and insect flight expert at the University of Washington. He used high-speed photography to capture the wing movement of flying bees.
It turns out that bumblebees do not flap their wings up and down. This is a common misconception. Instead, they flap their wings back and forth. This has been dubbed a “bug flap.” Such movements provide sufficient lift to allow the bumblebees to fly. Who would have guessed? Perhaps while skipping class, they were outside watching hummingbirds, dragonflies, or even helicopters.
“Aerodynamically, the bumblebee shouldn’t be able to fly, but the bumblebee doesn’t know it, so it goes on flying anyway” (Mary Kay Ash).
What is the connection? The name Deborah means bumblebee. Perhaps Deborah was simply unaware that men would not follow women’s leadership. So she led them anyway.
Deborah’s supernatural influence and power demonstrate that the impossible can undoubtedly come to pass. The spirit of Deborah, a spirit of vibrant faith and trust, is available to every child of the King. As the Father exposes what needs to be done in our lives, we should not shrink back from these internal enemies. Instead, we must forge ahead, relying on the Holy Spirit, who is actively at work within us.
Mark 10:27 Humanly speaking, it is impossible. But not with God. Everything is possible with God.
It is past time to stop doubting our faith and believing our doubts. Instead, doubt our doubts and believe our faith.
¯\_(ツ)_/¯ 9-06-0
© Dr. H 2024
Dr H Reflections 