Women of Faith and Courage
Deborah
Prophetess and Judge of Israel
Description
The only female judge, Deborah led Israel with wisdom and faith. Her prophetic authority, demonstrated in summoning Barak and predicting victory over Sisera, shows God raises leaders according to His purposes, not human conventions.Deborah's leadership during the period of the judges demonstrates that God sometimes raises women to positions of authority, particularly when men fail to lead. Her song of victory (Judges 5) ranks among Scripture's finest poetry, celebrating God's deliverance of His people.
Key Verses
And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
And she said, I will surely go with thee: notwithstanding the journey that thou takest shall not be for thine honour; for the LORD shall sell Sisera into the hand of a woman. And Deborah arose, and went with Barak to Kedesh.
Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel.
The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that I arose a mother in Israel.
So let all thine enemies perish, O LORD: but let them that love him be as the sun when he goeth forth in his might. And the land had rest forty years.