Deborah Warrior Princess ∙∙

Deborah Warrior Princess ∙∙

Barak said to her [Deborah], “If you will go with me, I will go, but if you will not go with me, I will not go.” – Judges 4:8

Judges 4:3-14

 3 Then the people of Israel cried out to the LORD for help.

 4 Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time.

 5 . . . the Israelites would go to her for judgment.

 6 One day, she sent for Barak . . . She said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: Call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor.

 7 And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There, I will give you victory over him.”

 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.” So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh.

 14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the LORD will give you victory over Sisera, for the LORD is marching ahead of you.”

The archaeological world was rocked by the revelation that a reputed Viking warrior, long presumed to be male, was actually a woman. This unexpected discovery, akin to unearthing a real-life Xena Warrior Princess, has challenged traditional gender roles associated with the Vikings.

This female war leader was laid to rest in the mid-10th century, her grave replete with lethal weapons and two horses – elements typically associated with male burials. This led historians and archaeologists to initially identify the remains as male. However, a study published in the American Journal of Physical Anthropology has debunked this assumption. They were wrong!

In fact, the remains belonged to a woman aged over 30 and of considerable height for the period, standing around 5 feet 6 inches tall, according to archaeologist Charlotte Hedenstierna-Jonson from Uppsala University, who led the study.

The grave artifacts provide compelling evidence of her warrior status. She was buried with a full arsenal, including a sword, an ax, a spear, armor-piercing arrows, a battle knife, shields, and two horses. Intriguingly, she also had a war-planning game in her lap. It may have been used to develop battle tactics and strategies, indicating she was a powerful military leader. Hedenstierna-Jonson asserted, “She’s most likely planned, led, and taken part in battles.”

The discovery marks the first genetic proof that women were Viking warriors. Osteologist Anna Kjellström of Stockholm University noticed that the skeleton had delicate cheekbones and feminine hip bones. They conducted DNA analysis and confirmed it was a woman, forever altering our understanding of Viking society and women’s roles within it.

“This image of the male warrior in a patriarchal society was reinforced by research traditions and contemporary preconceptions. Hence, the biological sex of the individual was taken for granted,” said Hedenstierna-Jonson. The Stockholm and Uppsala universities led the research. (https://phys.org/news/2017-09-genetic-proof-women-viking-warriors.html)

The book of Judges covers the period between Joshua and David. During this period, 15 judges or leaders ruled over the nation of Israel. It was a truly topsy-turvy time. The judges were often a combination of civic administrators, civil judges, and spiritual leaders. One of those judges was Deborah. As a judge, she held a position of authority that commanded respect.

Deborah was not merely an administrator and judge but also a prophet. She frequently received messages from the Father. She then spoke on His behalf.

Judges 4:4-5

 4 Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time.

 5 . . . the Israelites would go to her for judgment.

How did Deborah see herself (Judges 5:7)? She was “merely a mother in Israel, not a great warrior or even a prophetess, though she filled both of those roles. A mother is an unlikely leader of a successful revolutionary war” (Constable). Yet she becomes a reluctant warrior princess.

REFLECT & PRAY

There is a profound and important lesson here that is seen throughout the Scriptures. When men are unwilling or unable to do the task that the Father has in mind, He will prepare and raise up a woman in their place. This should inspire women of all ages to be faithful, loyal, and available to carry out any assignment the Father has for them. Consider Esther, Ruth, and Mary.

Father thank You that when You have a task to be done, You will rise up and choose the perfect person to get the job done. May each child of the King aspire to be that person.

INSIGHT

Barak was the commander-in-chief of Israel’s army at the time. Once Deborah received the message from the Father, she took the initiative and sent for Barak. She lays out the Father’s battle plan and promises ultimate victory.

Judges 4:6-7

 6 One day, she sent for Barak, son of Abinoam, who lived in Kedesh in the land of Naphtali. She said to him, “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, commands you: call out 10,000 warriors from the tribes of Naphtali and Zebulun at Mount Tabor.

 7 And I will call out Sisera, commander of Jabin’s army, along with his chariots and warriors, to the Kishon River. There I will give you victory over him.”

How did Barak respond? He thought the plan sounded great. But he was very reluctant to lead the army into battle. After all, the opposition had 900 iron chariots. Even though victory was guaranteed, he was intimidated. He was frightened, if not petrified. He made a rather peculiar and unusual request.

Judges 4:8 Barak told her, “I will go, but only if you go with me.”

Undoubtedly, Deborah was bemused and a tad shocked. At that time and place in history, going to war was man’s work. Women were not directly involved in battles. Israel was a male-dominated society.

Judges 4:9 “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.”

Deborah harshly confronts Barak for his cowardliness. His request not only brings dishonor to him but also shames the entire army of Israel. Today, she might say, “You are a disgrace and a wimp. But for the honor of the Father and the safety of Israel, I will do it.”

When the men of Israel act like children, the Father treats them like children. He literally puts a mom in charge. What classic irony. So Deborah went with Barak to Kedesh. And the rest is history.

Judges 4:14 Then Deborah said to Barak, “Get ready! This is the day the LORD will give you victory over Sisera, for the LORD is marching ahead of you.”

But there’s more.

The Hebrew word baraq is transliterated into English as Barak. Barak means lightning. At the same time, the Hebrew word devorah is transliterated into English as Deborah. Deborah means bee. The enemy was not struck by lightning, but instead, they were stung by a bee (apologies to Mohamed Ali).

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© Dr. H 2024

Here I am – Hineni ∙

Here I am – Hineni ∙

Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight.” – Exodus 3:3

Exodus 3:2-6

 2 There, the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.

 3 “This is amazing,” Moses said to himself. “Why isn’t that bush burning up? I must go see it.”

 4 When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.

 5 “Do lowercase that come any closer,” the LORD warned. “Take off your sandals, for you are standing on holy ground.”

 6 “I am the God of your father – the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob.” When Moses heard this, he covered his face because he was afraid to look at God.

For millennia, civilizations worldwide have constructed cities, palaces, monuments, graves, temples, churches, mosques, and other awe-inspiring structures. The Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, remarkable pieces of art and architecture, stand as a testament to human creativity, imagination, commitment, and hard labor.

They are inspiring and often take our breath away. They draw us in by their sheer majesty and uniqueness. Consider the following: Taj Mahal, India; Colosseum, Italy; Chichen Itza, Mexico; Machu Picchu, Peru; Christ the Redeemer, Brazil; Petra, Jordan; Great Wall of China, China.

How do people draw close to the Father? The Father’s assessment of humanity is pretty grim. Some people may strongly disagree. However, His assessment is accurate yet grievous.

Psalms 14:2-3

 2 The LORD looks down from heaven on the entire human race; he looks to see if anyone is truly wise if anyone seeks God.

 3 But no, all have turned away; all have become corrupt. No one does good, Not a single one!

Understanding the fallen state of humanity, “all have turned away and have become corrupt,” the Father seeks us. He sent His Son to seek and to save the lost.

Luke 19:10 The Son of Man came to seek and save those who are lost.

The Father frequently uses awe-inspiring means to get our attention and draw us closer to Him. As a result, we turn to Him. We embrace and begin an everlasting dance with the eternal.

REFLECT & PRAY

“God can take an insignificant bush, ignite it, and turn it into a miracle, and that’s what He wanted to do with Moses” (Wiersbe). The Father desires to do the same with each child of the King, no matter how small and inconsequential we see ourselves.

Father thank You for loving me and seeking me out. Thank you for never giving up and drawing me to Yourself.

INSIGHT

The Father uses many methods to seek us out and bring us to Himself. He performs miracles using natural phenomena to draw us: violent storms, whirlwinds, plagues and pestilence, the opening of the Red Sea, the burning bush, and ultimately, the resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ.

He attracts and calls out to us. He piques our curiosity and interest. We are fascinated, captivated, and strangely and oddly drawn. Marvelously, we pivot and begin to seek Him.

Jeremiah 29:13-14

 13 You will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart.

 14 I will be found by you, declares the LORD.

The story of the burning bush is well known. Yet many details are often overlooked. It wasn’t just a burning bush that got Moses’ attention. The angel of the Lord was there too. He was the source of fire that did not consume the bush. He was the one who spoke to Moses from the midst of the burning bush. The bush itself did not say a word to Moses. After all, bushes are not known for their great oratory.

Exodus 3:2 There the angel of the LORD appeared to him in a blazing fire from the middle of a bush. Moses stared in amazement. Though the bush was engulfed in flames, it didn’t burn up.

Moses observed and was drawn to come closer because what he saw was impossible in the natural world. The Father initiated; Moses responded.

Exodus 3:3 Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight.”

Moses is the perfect prototype for every child of the King. The Father initiates contact, and we respond.

Exodus 3:4 When the LORD saw Moses coming to take a closer look, God called to him from the middle of the bush, “Moses! Moses!” “Here I am!” Moses replied.

The repetition of Moses’ name has special significance. In ancient Semitic culture, addressing someone by saying his or her name twice was a way of expressing endearment, affection, and friendship. Thus, Moses would have understood immediately that he was being addressed by someone who loved him and was concerned about him (Stuart).

Moses’ words are few, but they speak volumes: “Here I am!” In Hebrew, there is only one word, hineni, which literally means I am here. On one level, Moses is simply saying “yes.” But a simple yes can often be laden with profound implications. This is especially true when the summoner is Father God. Possibly, Moses isn’t just saying, “Present and accounted for” or “I am here and ready.” Instead, he is exclaiming, “What would you have your servant do?” The Father was not merely calling out to Moses; the Father was calling Moses into His service. Moses was to become the leader of Israel to bring them out of slavery in Egypt. Perhaps hineni is similar to the response of the Cylons, the robot troops from the 1970s TV series Battleship Galactica: “By Your Command.”

Contrary to Hollywood’s portrayal, Moses was no Charleston Heston. When he was at Sinai, he was filled with insecurities. He struggled with self-image issues and apparently some type of speech disorder (Exodus 4:10). Moses wasn’t being modest; he was frightened and ill-prepared for the monumental task that the Father assigned to him.

“What Moses thought of himself, or what others thought of Moses, really wasn’t important. God had spoken, and that was all Moses needed for assurance that he was the right man for the job” (Wiersbe).

Exodus 3:11 Moses said to God, “Who am I . . ..”

The Father’s response should give confidence to every child of the King down through the millennia.

Exodus 3:12 God answered, “I will be with you.”

“‘I will be with you’ is all the assurance God’s servants need in order to succeed” (Wiersbe).

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© Dr. H 2024

Obedience without honor is hypocrisy ∙

Obedience without honor is hypocrisy ∙

And so the Lord says, “These people say they are mine. They honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. And their worship of me is nothing but man-made rules learned by rote. Because of this, I will once again astound these hypocrites with amazing wonders. The wisdom of the wise will pass away, and the intelligence of the intelligent will disappear.” – Isaiah 29:13-14

2 Kings 23:2-25

 2 And the king went up to the Temple of the LORD with all the people of Judah and Jerusalem, along with the priests and the prophets – all the people from the least to the greatest. There, the king read to them the entire Book of the Covenant that had been found in the LORD’s Temple.

 3 The king took his place of authority beside the pillar and renewed the covenant in the LORD’s presence. He pledged to obey the LORD by keeping all his commands, laws, and decrees with all his heart and soul.

 24 Josiah also got rid of the mediums and psychics, the household gods, the idols, and every other kind of detestable practice, both in Jerusalem and throughout the land of Judah. He obeyed the laws written in the scroll that Hilkiah the priest had found in the LORD’s Temple.

 25 Never before had there been a king like Josiah, who turned to the LORD with all his heart and soul and strength, obeying all the laws of Moses. And there has never been a king like him since.

One hideous development of modern warfare is the IED (Improvised Explosive Device). IEDs have been in the news for years, particularly since their widespread use during the Iraq War that commenced in 2003. IEDs are essentially “homemade” bombs used to kill, maim, destroy, incapacitate, harass, or distract. Often referred to as roadside bombs, IEDs are assembled from military supplies or any other accessible materials.

The process of creating an IED lacks a standard procedure due to the diverse range of materials and explosives available in different regions. However, specific common characteristics can be identified, such as their deceptive design and inclusion of a detonation mechanism. They are usually placed near walkways or along thoroughfares.

Before the advent of the IED, the concealed weapon of choice was the time bomb. A time bomb is an explosive device whose detonation is triggered by a timer.

Regrettably, early life experiences often set IEDs or time bombs in our spirits. These emotional triggers can lie dormant for years, only to explode unexpectedly later in life. Usually, we remain unaware of their existence until they detonate, leaving emotional wreckage in their wake.

Obedience without honor is hypocrisy. Hollow obedience is akin to planting a time bomb. External compliance without genuine, deep-seated love and devotion is merely a facade. Worst still, it isn’t very respectful to the Father. He desires obedience that flows from a human heart overflowing with love and respect, not superficial, meaningless displays of religious devotion.

Mark 7:6-7

 6 Jesus replied, “You hypocrites! Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you, for he wrote, ‘These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.

 7 Their worship is a farce, for they teach man-made ideas as commands from God.’”

Consider the old cliché about “standing up on the inside.” A 4-year-old little girl’s mom tells the story. Mom has come to the end of her rope regarding the little girl’s misbehavior. She says, “Sara, go sit in the corner right now! Don’t get up until I tell you to!” Sara goes to the corner and sits down. In a few minutes, Sara retorts, “Mom, I am sitting down on the outside, but I am standing up on the inside!” This behavior is a reflection of our fallen DNA. Sadly, many children of the King are in that mode: outward compliance but inward rebellion. A rebellious spirit is invisible and difficult to detect. Often only the Father and the person know it exists.

If we are rebelling on the inside, no matter how good it may appear on the outside, we are not really obeying at all.

Malachi 1:10 “How I wish one of you would shut the Temple doors so that these worthless sacrifices could not be offered! I am not pleased with you,” says the LORD of Heaven’s Armies, “and I will not accept your offerings.”

REFLECT & PRAY

Psalms 139:23-24

 23 Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.

 24 Point out anything in me that offends you, and lead me along the path of everlasting life.

Father You know the secrets of our hearts. Search my heart and reveal what You want me to see and how to respond.

INSIGHT

How do these time bombs get set? They are planted by insults to little children’s tender, vulnerable spirits.

Consider a little boy whose dad is seldom at home. He spends most of his time talking with his mom. He grows into his teenage years; his conversations often turn into arguments. An invisible IED is planted that it’s okay and normal to argue with a woman. Later in life, he marries a young lady, and the homemade bomb is triggered and goes off, and he begins to argue with her. Their relationship is marred.

Consider the little girl who obeys her parents purely out of fear of the consequences of not doing so. There is no love or respect. Later in life, she marries a young man. Her hidden IED goes off. She does not respect or value his wishes or opinions. She merely goes along to keep the peace, but she churns inside. Over time, they grow further and further apart and have no conscious awareness of why.

These time bombs are insidious and diabolical. Children of the King enter the kingdom with live time bombs ready to explode at any time. They have no idea that these incendiary devices lurk inside, primed and waiting to go off.

Why is it essential that we become aware of our triggers and explosive responses? We often go into denial, hide the truth from ourselves, and attempt to hide them from the Father as well. How foolish to try to get something by Him. The Father knows everything all the time.

Isaiah 29:15-16

 15 What sorrow awaits those who try to hide their plans from the LORD, who do their evil deeds in the dark! “The LORD can’t see us,” they say. “He doesn’t know what’s going on!”

 16 How foolish can you be? He is the Potter, and he is certainly greater than you, the clay! Should the created thing say of the one who made it, “He didn’t make me”? Does a jar ever say, “The potter who made me is stupid?”

Is there any way to uncover and safely remove our inner explosive devices? Yes, of course. The Father knows us thoroughly, and He searches every heart. He can reveal our weaponized wounds.

Jeremiah 17:9-10

 9 The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is?

 10 But I, the LORD, search all hearts and examine secret motives.

He will reveal them to each child of the King if they desire Him to do so. The process can be long and arduous. But will redemption and freedom are at the end of the tunnel.

Isaiah 1:18 Come now, let us reason together, says the LORD, though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red like crimson, they shall become like wool.

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© Dr. H 2024

Faithful feet ∙

Faithful feet ∙

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. – Psalm 119:105

Psalm 119:105-114

 105 Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.

 106 I’ve promised it once, and I’ll promise it again: I will obey your righteous regulations.

 107 I have suffered much, O LORD; restore my life again as you promised.

 108 LORD, accept my offering of praise and teach me your regulations.

 109 My life constantly hangs in the balance, but I will not stop obeying your instructions.

 111 Your laws are my treasure; they are my heart’s delight.

 112 I am determined to keep your decrees to the very end.

 113 I hate those with divided loyalties, but I love your instructions.

 114 You are my refuge and my shield; your word is my source of hope.

“Happy Feet,” a 2006 computer-animated musical comedy film, was directed, produced, and co-scripted by George Miller. The film features the vocal talents of Elijah Wood, Robin Williams, Brittany Murphy, and Hugh Jackman. The movie is about emperor penguins who find their soul mates through song. Every emperor penguin sings their unique song called a “Heartsong” to attract a mate. If the male penguin’s Heartsong matches the female’s Heartsong, the two penguins become mates. Norma Jean lays an egg that she entrusts to her mate, Memphis, while she joins the other females on a fishing expedition. Unfortunately, Memphis briefly misplaces the egg. The hatched chick, Mumble, is born with a terrible singing voice; he can barely sing at all. But worse yet, he doesn’t have a Heartsong. Without a Heartsong, Mumble may never make and find true love.

Surprisingly, Mumble possesses an ability none of the other penguins do – he can tap dance. None of the penguins had ever seen tap dancing before. Mumble’s dad, Memphis, says it “just ain’t penguin.” When Mumble becomes a young adult, his elders frequently ridicule him. Mumble is just too different – especially for Noah the Elder, the stern leader of the empire penguins. He banishes Mumble from the community.

Mumble finds companionship with a group of Adelie penguins known as “the Amigos,” who celebrate Mumble’s dance moves and warmly welcome him into their group.

When mating season arrives, Mumble falls for Gloria. Unable to express his feelings through a Heart Song, Mumble instead synchronizes his tap dancing with Gloria’s song. Touched by his unique expression of affection. She falls with him, and they join together, singing and dancing to “Boogie Wonderland.”

The naysayers voiced their opinions, asserting that Happy Feet “just ain’t penguin.” Happy Feet just don’t belong. But what about Faithful Feet?

What exactly are Faithful Feet? They are feet guided by the Word of God and follow the righteous path. As children of the King, having Faithful Feet should be one of our defining characteristics. But alas, Faithful Feet are almost as rare as Happy Feet among emperor penguins. Even though some of us might start life with certain challenges, it will never prevent us from developing Faithful Feet. It’s entirely up to us. We must desire Faithful Feet and actively seek them.

REFLECT & PRAY

“Left to ourselves, we often don’t know which way leads to life and which way ends in death; we remain in the dark. But God’s Word provides us with a searchlight to cut through the darkness and lead us to safety” (Stanley).

Father deep in my heart I long to follow You and live by Your Word. I made plenty of mistakes and failed; getting this right took me a long time. Guide me one “step” at a time.

INSIGHT

In the Old Testament, life is depicted as a journey along a path. How do the children of the King navigate the route the Father has laid out for them? The Father has given us His word as our compass.

Colossians 1:13 For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son.

We live in a fallen world that is engulfed in darkness (John 1:5; 3:19; 12:46). How can we see our way in the darkness? “Only God’s light can guide us aright. Obedience to the Word keeps us walking in the light” (Wiersbe).

Darkness is the absence of light. Darkness is simply darkness. It never varies. Darkness continues when there is no light present. Yet, even the slightest glimmer of light can dispel the darkness. The greater the light, the less the darkness.

The people of ancient times didn’t have the modern lighting we enjoy today. Instead, they relied on small oil lamps for illumination. The lamps were small clay dishes resembling squashed teapots with a tiny wick. Their light pierced the darkness, moving forward with each step taken. But the light illuminated the path only one step ahead. Because of the darkness, the route ahead in the distance could not be seen. As a result, those who ventured out at night did so with extreme caution. They walked very circumspectly and slowly in order not to venture off the path.

This is how the Father intends for us to walk through life by faith, taking one step at a time. Every step of obedience, carried out by Faithful Feet, sheds light on the subsequent step. Gradually yet steadily, the children of the King reach their intended destinations along the path the Father intended.

The word of God is a light that illuminates our life’s journey. It offers wisdom and guidance for the children of the King to know how to live.

Psalm 119:105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.

Psalm 119 is Hebrew poetry. Hebrew poetry rhymes thoughts, not sounds. Thus, my feet and path are synonymous or parallel thoughts. They refer to proper behavior, conduct, and a way of life for every child of the King. The word God provides the truth needed for good moral decisions.

Faithful Feet are illustrated in the following prayerful words:

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me.

I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself,

and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so.”

“But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you.

And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road,

though I may know nothing about it.”

“Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone” (Thomas Merton).

At times, the children of the King have Fearful Feet rather than Faithful Feet. But as we walk through life following the word of God, our fear diminishes, and our faith grows. First, we make a conscious choice to desire Faithful Feet. Subsequently, we take the next step and start walking in submission and obedience to the word of God.

Do you walk in faith or fear? Remember, they are mutually exclusive and cannot coexist.

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© Dr. H 2024