God Uses A Woman

God Uses a Woman

Q: Who was the only woman judge?

• a. Rebekah
• b. Esther
• c. Deborah

In the Disney movie Mulan, the main character, Mulan, disguises herself as a young man in order to take her father’s place in battle. Mulan is discovered to be female and is sent home in disgrace. But in the end, she saves her country. Unlike Mulan, Deborah, a female judge, was asked to go to war.

The Israelites had been in captivity to the Canaanites for 20 years. Jabin, the Canaanite king, had a commander in chief named Sisera. His army had 900 chariots of iron. The Israelites were afraid to go against him in battle.

During that time, a wise woman named Deborah often gave advice. One day Deborah sent for Barak, a military leader. She told him God wanted him to lead the battle against the Canaanites. What did Barak do? Did he courageously lead the fight? No. Barak said he’d only go into battle if Deborah went with him.

If Deborah went with Barak, that would mean she would be right in the middle of battle along with the soldiers. But Deborah wasn’t afraid. She knew that with God the victory belonged to the Israelites. She said, “Get ready! This is the day the LORD will give you victory over Sisera, for the LORD is marching ahead of you.”

Barak, with Deborah, led ten thousand men into battle. God threw the Canaanites into a panic. Sisera, their leader, fled on foot. Barak chased the other Canaanite warriors and killed them all.

God gave the Israelites the victory, just as Deborah knew he would.

For You

Sometimes when you’re trying to live for God, you may be outnumbered, but that’s not what really matters. Even if you stand alone, God is standing with you. Be sure to spend plenty of time reading his Word and talking to him so you’re ready when those times come.

Answer: c

Deborah, the wife of Lappidoth, was a prophet who was judging Israel at that time. She would sit under the Palm of Deborah, between Ramah and Bethel in the hill country of Ephraim, and the Israelites would go to her for judgment.   Judges 4:4-5

(The Whole Story: Judges 4:1-16)