I asked the Lord what I should read in the Bible this morning. He led me to the book of Judges. I read up through the story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael. Then I opened my email, and there was your article. Yes, Deborah was a great leader, called by God - maybe because she was in a relationship with Him closely enough to hear and know His voice.
Deborah has always been my favorite Bible characters, and not just because of the name similarity. She is my reminder that God has always intended to use both women and men in His service - and that we women can be heroes as well!
Thank you! I am so thankful for this study. I love that she tells Barak that the honor will not be his but Jael. Oh that we would be the women that answers YWHW's call. 💓🧂💡
Also curious, she was a wife! I think I must have assumed she was single and that is why she was given this special authority. So fascinating! Thanks for sharing this.
Deborah was bad ass! I wonder how she felt when the men wouldn't go out to battle unless she went. Imagine having that kind of respect in that day and age!
This is so good!! I never understood, but I never questioned because I knew that if God chose her He had good reason and I know many people are definitely uncomfortable about her but this explains so so well. You have really helped me see her in such a new and even more beautiful light! Thank you!
Hi! So I was asking my colleagues why Deborah isn't top of their amazing women in the Bible.
They mentioned that she's not a typical women (which i thought is what makes her amazing). They say due to the lack of feminine attributes being mentioned she gives off a woman who did things in a manly way, even how chapter 5 is primarily written by herself. They say it's even weird how when a man conquers, they sang about and with her it's not the same. I won't lie I was surprised to hear their views. They don't reject anything about them story but she's not seen as the ideal. Abigail came up a lot.
Do you have any comments on that? If you don't mind
Yeah, I’d push back on that a bit. A lot in fact. I actually think Deborah stands out precisely because the text doesn’t try to soften or minimize her authority.
Judges never presents her as “acting like a man.” It presents her as a prophet, judge, and a leader that Israel respected. Those are covenant roles, not masculine traits. The text also still clearly presents her as a woman, wife, mother in Israel, and prophetess all at once. People minimize her role by saying well, if she is a leader and a judge then she must have masculine traits... as though a feminine woman couldn't possibly do those things.
I laughed in your introduction because that introduction, that basement Sunday school classroom was exactly where and how I received this story of Deborah, and I've been aligning myself with her ever since. Even born a Presby, nurtured with the Conservative Baptists, and landing in Fundimentalism after college before breaking free. But, you know, even Charismaniacs and Evangelicals and (I believe) current Messianic faiths have to break this disparagement of women in leadership and marginalization of women who know God's law, God's heart, and are faithful to God's word in ministry.
I just had a pastor step into our women’s Bible study group to “say hi” and literally spent at least 15-20 minutes telling us why women lead because men won’t. I have to admit that I was irritated and had to choose love and forgiveness! 😳
This was a very good article! I grew up believing women can’t be in high roles in ministry. This shaped how I thought about the women in the Bible and their roles. I can’t really say what I thought about Deborah, but I do know how that Jesus loved women and many who had life changes encounters with him in the New Testament were women. Now in my forties I am wresting with the pull between women can and can’t be a part of ministry leadership.
This was a big help in giving me another perspective.
I get so frustrated with men who use Deborah (with the nonsense story that she was only chosen because there were no men to do it) to back up their interpretation of 2 Timothy and try to make it say that women aren't biblically allowed to lead or teach men.
I asked the Lord what I should read in the Bible this morning. He led me to the book of Judges. I read up through the story of Deborah, Barak, and Jael. Then I opened my email, and there was your article. Yes, Deborah was a great leader, called by God - maybe because she was in a relationship with Him closely enough to hear and know His voice.
Oh I love when those kinds of things happen!
Deborah has always been my favorite Bible characters, and not just because of the name similarity. She is my reminder that God has always intended to use both women and men in His service - and that we women can be heroes as well!
Amen!!!
Reflection question 5: Yes, I was told she usurped her husband by claiming to be a judge. That she was G-d’s last choice etc.
I was a newbie at the time and the sermon brought dismay. I felt like puking. It totally turned me off to the church.
Go for it, Diane ... and Deborah!!
Take a (back) seat, Miss Patty!
Ooh Don...don't go getting Miss Patty riled up now LOL
Thank you! I am so thankful for this study. I love that she tells Barak that the honor will not be his but Jael. Oh that we would be the women that answers YWHW's call. 💓🧂💡
I am so glad you enjoyed it!!
Also curious, she was a wife! I think I must have assumed she was single and that is why she was given this special authority. So fascinating! Thanks for sharing this.
Deborah was bad ass! I wonder how she felt when the men wouldn't go out to battle unless she went. Imagine having that kind of respect in that day and age!
It was pretty incredible!!
Core memory unlocked! Flannel Deborah. This is a great post, thank you!
LOL Thank you!!
This is so good!! I never understood, but I never questioned because I knew that if God chose her He had good reason and I know many people are definitely uncomfortable about her but this explains so so well. You have really helped me see her in such a new and even more beautiful light! Thank you!
Oh I am so glad!! Thank you!!
Hi! So I was asking my colleagues why Deborah isn't top of their amazing women in the Bible.
They mentioned that she's not a typical women (which i thought is what makes her amazing). They say due to the lack of feminine attributes being mentioned she gives off a woman who did things in a manly way, even how chapter 5 is primarily written by herself. They say it's even weird how when a man conquers, they sang about and with her it's not the same. I won't lie I was surprised to hear their views. They don't reject anything about them story but she's not seen as the ideal. Abigail came up a lot.
Do you have any comments on that? If you don't mind
Yeah, I’d push back on that a bit. A lot in fact. I actually think Deborah stands out precisely because the text doesn’t try to soften or minimize her authority.
Judges never presents her as “acting like a man.” It presents her as a prophet, judge, and a leader that Israel respected. Those are covenant roles, not masculine traits. The text also still clearly presents her as a woman, wife, mother in Israel, and prophetess all at once. People minimize her role by saying well, if she is a leader and a judge then she must have masculine traits... as though a feminine woman couldn't possibly do those things.
I was surprised to hear their views.
Thank you for your response.
I laughed in your introduction because that introduction, that basement Sunday school classroom was exactly where and how I received this story of Deborah, and I've been aligning myself with her ever since. Even born a Presby, nurtured with the Conservative Baptists, and landing in Fundimentalism after college before breaking free. But, you know, even Charismaniacs and Evangelicals and (I believe) current Messianic faiths have to break this disparagement of women in leadership and marginalization of women who know God's law, God's heart, and are faithful to God's word in ministry.
I love this! Thank you!
I just had a pastor step into our women’s Bible study group to “say hi” and literally spent at least 15-20 minutes telling us why women lead because men won’t. I have to admit that I was irritated and had to choose love and forgiveness! 😳
I would have been irritated as well!
EXCELLENT!!!
Thank you!!
This was a very good article! I grew up believing women can’t be in high roles in ministry. This shaped how I thought about the women in the Bible and their roles. I can’t really say what I thought about Deborah, but I do know how that Jesus loved women and many who had life changes encounters with him in the New Testament were women. Now in my forties I am wresting with the pull between women can and can’t be a part of ministry leadership.
This was a big help in giving me another perspective.
I am so happy to hear that! Many women were in leadership roles both in the OT and the NT and we don't hear about them enough.
Yes!
Thank you so much!
I get so frustrated with men who use Deborah (with the nonsense story that she was only chosen because there were no men to do it) to back up their interpretation of 2 Timothy and try to make it say that women aren't biblically allowed to lead or teach men.
Couldn't help noticing the Aqua-Net in the picture!