Is Deborah The Foundation For Female Leadership In The Church?

The Bible proclaims that every male and female human being has intrinsic and equal worth and is a reflection of God because they are made in His image. Those who say that the Bible portrays women as subservient to men have never read the Bible or don't know anything about it; otherwise, they would have discovered that males and females were created equal in God's image, which set the foundation of equality and mutual respect.

The Bible uses the term "helper" for the first woman, Eve, which denotes strength and support and is used elsewhere to describe God Himself, suggesting a role of significant strength and partnership (Genesis 2:20).

The Bible is filled with examples of influential, solid women who played pivotal roles throughout history, such as Deborah (Judges) and Esther (Esther). Proverbs 31 describes a woman of noble character as someone diligent, wise, and capable, which is far from being merely subservient. In the New Testament, the interactions of Jesus with women were revolutionary.

There are many wonderful, godly women in the Bible. Deborah, whose name means 'honey bee,' served as a Judge during a very dark time in Israel. She is an example of positive female influence as a "mother of Israel" who encouraged people to follow the Lord (Judges 5:7).

Deborah is an example for every woman to follow. She clearly understood God's voice and used her relational influence to encourage men to lead and to give themselves willingly on behalf of others (Judges 5:2,7,18).

The primary rulers and commanders of Israel and their armies were Judges for almost 350 years that included some of Israel's worst times because there was an absence of male leadership. The lesson learned from the book of Judges is that it is a record of what NOT to do or follow.

"In those days there was no king in Israel. Everyone did what was right in his own eyes." (Judges 17:6 ESV, also 18:1, 19:1, 21:25)

Deborah serving as a Judge was actually a rebuke to Israel for the absence of male leadership. That is made clear by the Prophet Isaiah during another dark period in Israel's history, when he asserted that women ruling was a sign of God's judgment:

"My people-infants are their oppressors, and women rule over them. O my people, your guides mislead you and they have swallowed up the course of your paths." (Isaiah 3:12 ESV)

Deborah was "a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth" who was "judging Israel at that time" (Judges 4:4). She "would sit under the palm tree" and not in a public court, "And the children of Israel came up to her" privately "for judgment" (Judges 4:5). Other female prophets include Miriam (Ex 15:20), Huldah (2 Kings 22:14), Anna (Luke 2:36), and the four daughters of Philip (Acts 21:9).

Deborah did not publicly teach how the laws of God were to be applied and carried out for the people of Israel (Judges 4:5). Just as Huldah and other prophetesses, she is another example of a woman limited to private and individual instruction, unlike other Prophets (Judges 4:5; 2 Kings 22:14-20).

Deborah received a prophetic word from God for Barak and encouraged him to lead and summon the army because God had called him to command them and claim victory over Sisera. Unfortunately, Barak rejected God's call and said to Deborah, "If you will go with me, then I will go; but if you will not go with me, I will not go" (Judges 4:8 ESV).

Deborah reprimanded Barak for failing to lead and prophesied, "I will surely go with you; nevertheless there will be no glory for you in the journey you are taking, for the Lord will sell Sisera into the hand of a woman" (Judges 4:9 ESV).

The Bible presents Deborah's story as a criticism of Barak's failure to heed God's call to lead. She told Barak that God desired him to lead Israel and rebuked him when he would not take charge (Judges 4:6-9). Deborah did not take control when Barak refused to lead. Instead, she submitted to God directing Barak's steps to victory.

"…Has not the LORD, the God of Israel, commanded you, 'Go, gather your men at Mount Tabor, taking 10,000 from the people of Naphtali and the people of Zebulun'" (Judges 4:6b ESV)

Deborah prophesied that Sisera, who was a threat to Barak, would be killed by a woman.

The wife of a Kenite man, Jael, met Sisera and invited him into her tent, where she killed him with a tent peg and fulfilled the prophecy (Judges 4:21).

The story of Deborah demonstrates that God uses people without being bound by how they are ranked by human culture. Before Deborah's account, the story of Ehud, the left-handed deliverer, is told (Judges 3:12-30). In Eastern culture, the right hand was associated with strength, authority, and wisdom. The left hand was associated with weakness, foolishness, and waywardness (see Genesis 48:12-20; Exodus 15:6, 12; Isaiah 48:13; Psalm 110:1; Ecclesiastes 10:2; Matthew 25:33, 41). The story of Gideon follows after Deborah. He was the youngest member of the weakest clan (Judges 6:15). These stories reveal that God is not partial when He uses someone for His purposes.