Read Through the Bible in a Year 2018 Day 78: Deborah

Good afternoon, everyone!

Today I read Judges 3-5.

And the Israelites are at it again. They've turned away from God, and are doing evil left and right.

Thus, God gives them into the hands of their enemies.

The only time they prosper and have peace is when they listen to the judges God appoints to them. But as soon as the judges die, the Israelites go right back to disobeying God. And they would have a time of war and slavery before finally crying out to God, who would then save them by appointing another judge.

This cycle goes on for a long time!

In chapter 4, we meet Deborah, a judge over Israel, who is...you guessed it, a woman! She was a priestess before God appointed her to be a judge.

And I want to talk about her for a minute.

Now, I don't know a lot about her story, though I'm sure I could find some material to research.

The Israelites are in trouble again, so God appoints Deborah to be a judge over Israel.

And she summons Barak, son of Abinoam, to go into battle against their enemies. And he asks Deborah to go with them.

She agrees, but says "I will surely go with you; nevertheless, the honor shall not be yours on the journey that you are about to take, for the LORD will sell Sisera into the hands of a woman" (Judges 4:9).

Now, this makes me laugh. Just a bit.

Historically speaking, most men did not like to be one-upped by a woman. Even today that can be true sometimes.

But Deborah was a judge, so this guy really wanted her to be with the army.

So, at first it made me laugh. But then we read further in the chapter that Sisera escapes and seeks refuge with Jael, the wife of Heber the Kenite, and there was peace between the house of Heber and Jabin the king of Hazor (Judges 4:17).

But she tricks him and kills him. Thus, Sisera is delivered into the hands of a woman, and Israel is safe once again.

I don't have a great insight today. But I found it important to mention Deborah. She was a priestess for God, and He appointed her to be a judge over all Israel.

Sometimes the women's stories can slip through the cracks when we focus on Moses, Joshua, Daniel, or even David.

But there are so many amazing women in the Bible. Esther. Ruth. Mary, the mother of Jesus. Elizabeth, Mary's cousin. Deborah. And many more.

I look forward to learning more about them with you.

Tomorrow I'll be reading Judges 6-7. I hope you'll join me.