Women in the Bible
Lesson Eight: by turtle

Today’s church world is really no different then Peter’s and Paul’s day. In fact we
are often reminded how hard it is to serve the Lord no matter what country we are in. Even in a
Christian nation we struggle with those who want to shut us up. The fact remains that
Christians and those who are opposed to Christianity are often seen at war. Some country it is a
fight for life literally, but in others it is only a spiritual battle. Today I want to talk about
spiritual warfare. Everyday men and women are in the frontlines serving God. whether it is the
street evangelist, to the preacher or teacher, gospel worker/layperson, missionary or even prayer
warrior, we are out to fight the battle for the Lord. Some are online tooting the trumpeting,
others are in market square, and some sit in idly by wondering what all the fuss is about.

Are war is not about combat fighting though many can fight physically as well as spiritually. It
is about fighting with the sword of the Spirit. The sword is the Holy Spirit and the weapon is the
Word of God. One can not fight without the word of God.

Ephesians 6:12-13 KJV
(12)  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers,
against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
(13)  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in
the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

Often women are not taught about warfare. Why because men do not see them as having the
same ability to fight as they do. Problem is women have been fighting battles for centuries.
Women often are more craftier then men, because they are behind the scenes encouraging their
men. Women are resolved if they can not fight on the frontline they will on the backline. I know
several prayer warriors that were women. People that continually prayed for their pastors as
well as their churches and families. But women can do a lot more if men will allow it. But we do
not need men like Barak. Today we are going to be looking at the story of Deborah. How a
warrior name Barak turned the battle over to a women.

Judges 4:1-5 KJV
(1)  And the children of Israel again did evil in the sight of the LORD, when Ehud was dead.
(2)  And the LORD sold them into the hand of Jabin king of Canaan, that reigned in Hazor; the
captain of whose host was Sisera, which dwelt in Harosheth of the Gentiles.
(3)  And the children of Israel cried unto the LORD: for he had nine hundred chariots of iron;
and twenty years he mightily oppressed the children of Israel.
(4)  And Deborah, a prophetess, the wife of Lapidoth, she judged Israel at that time.
(5)  And she dwelt under the palm tree of Deborah between Ramah and Bethel in mount
Ephraim: and the children of Israel came up to her for judgment.

The story begins at a time in Israel history where they were under captivity do to sin. Yet even
so they still had their leaders. Deborah was a Judge for Israel. She was their leader and also
made decisions for the people. Yet she was a women. This right here shows women could hold a
public office. She was one to be respected.

Judges 4:6-8 KJV
(6)  And she sent and called Barak the son of Abinoam out of Kedeshnaphtali, and said unto
him, Hath not the LORD God of Israel commanded, saying, Go and draw toward mount
Tabor, and take with thee ten thousand men of the children of Naphtali and of the children of
Zebulun?
(7)  And I will draw unto thee to the river Kishon Sisera, the captain of Jabin's army, with his
chariots and his multitude; and I will deliver him into thine hand.
(8)  And Barak said unto her, If thou wilt go with me, then I will go: but if thou wilt not go with
me, then I will not go.

Deborah called for a warrior to lead an army against those that oppressed them. Barak a whimp
to many said he could not go unless Deborah lead. How often we sell our own soul to our
spiritual leaders instead of standing on the word of God ourselves and looking to Jesus. Barak
was such a man. He felt intimidate by the enemy. Why should any of us be intimidate by our
enemy if we have the Lord before us.

Well I be truthful we often are intimidate by our enemy. That is human nature. As we grow
stronger in the Lord we realize we do not need our leaders in the since of leadership but as
comrades in arms. Barak was not there yet. He was still needing leadership. He was a man
selling out to whoever would lead. Deborah was not a bad choice for leadership, but what if
someone else had been there in leadership like a wolf in sheeps clothing. He would of landed up
in trouble. It is important for us to know who the enemy is as well as to know that Jesus is in
the lead and that are leaders are needing people to stand beside them.

Judges 4:9-13 KJV
(9)  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.
(10)  And Barak called Zebulun and Naphtali to Kedesh; and he went up with ten thousand men
at his feet: and Deborah went up with him.
(11)  Now Heber the Kenite, which was of the children of Hobab the father in law of Moses, had
severed himself from the Kenites, and pitched his tent unto the plain of Zaanaim, which is by
Kedesh.
(12)  And they shewed Sisera that Barak the son of Abinoam was gone up to mount Tabor.
(13)  And Sisera gathered together all his chariots, even nine hundred chariots of iron, and all
the people that were with him, from Harosheth of the Gentiles unto the river of Kishon.

Deborah seems to get an attitude here about leading the people. She however does recognize
who is in control. She admits that God would have the victory but it be given to a women. I
wonder at this point if Deborah thought she would be the one with the victory title. Let’s see
what happens.

Judges 4:14-24 KJV
(14)  And Deborah said unto Barak, Up; for this is the day in which the LORD hath delivered
Sisera into thine hand: is not the LORD gone out before thee? So Barak went down from
mount Tabor, and ten thousand men after him.
(15)  And the LORD discomfited Sisera, and all his chariots, and all his host, with the edge of
the sword before Barak; so that Sisera lighted down off his chariot, and fled away on his feet.
(16)  But Barak pursued after the chariots, and after the host, unto Harosheth of the Gentiles:
and all the host of Sisera fell upon the edge of the sword; and there was not a man left.
(17)  Howbeit Sisera fled away on his feet to the tent of Jael the wife of Heber the Kenite: for
there was peace between Jabin the king of Hazor and the house of Heber the Kenite.
(18)  And Jael went out to meet Sisera, and said unto him, Turn in, my lord, turn in to me; fear
not. And when he had turned in unto her into the tent, she covered him with a mantle.
(19)  And he said unto her, Give me, I pray thee, a little water to drink; for I am thirsty. And
she opened a bottle of milk, and gave him drink, and covered him.
(20)  Again he said unto her, Stand in the door of the tent, and it shall be, when any man doth
come and enquire of thee, and say, Is there any man here? that thou shalt say, No.
(21)  Then Jael Heber's wife took a nail of the tent, and took an hammer in her hand, and went
softly unto him, and smote the nail into his temples, and fastened it into the ground: for he was
fast asleep and weary. So he died.
(22)  And, behold, as Barak pursued Sisera, Jael came out to meet him, and said unto him,
Come, and I will shew thee the man whom thou seekest. And when he came into her tent,
behold, Sisera lay dead, and the nail was in his temples.
(23)  So God subdued on that day Jabin the king of Canaan before the children of Israel.
(24)  And the hand of the children of Israel prospered, and prevailed against Jabin the king of
Canaan, until they had destroyed Jabin king of Canaan.

The warriors were in hot pursuit of the enemy. And yet when all but one enemy was defeat God
handed the final victory to a Kenite not even an Israelite and not even to a man but to a
women. Jael put the final peg in the enemies head. By taking a tent nail and hammering it in.
Jael and her husband was on good terms with the Israelites. She would help protect the people.
I wonder how Deborah must of felt that the battle was not hers but a Kenite no less. It is when
we get a righteous attitude that God knocks us down a few notches. No doubt even though these
people were friends there was a bit of humiliation involved that the high rank official Deborah
would of had to swallow. Maybe in reality it really was not that bad. But one must wonder
about it. Needless to say the prophecy was true that battle was handed to a women someone
willing to do as the Lord directed her too. Deborah however did not let this bother her in the
victory celebration. Both Barak and Deborah in the proceeding chapter rejoices and takes credit
for the battle.

Judges 5:1-7 KJV
(1)  Then sang Deborah and Barak the son of Abinoam on that day, saying,
(2)  Praise ye the LORD for the avenging of Israel, when the people willingly offered themselves.
(3)  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.
(4)  LORD, when thou wentest out of Seir, when thou marchedst out of the field of Edom, the
earth trembled, and the heavens dropped, the clouds also dropped water.
(5)  The mountains melted from before the LORD, even that Sinai from before the LORD God
of Israel.
(6)  In the days of Shamgar the son of Anath, in the days of Jael, the highways were
unoccupied, and the travellers walked through byways.
(7)  The inhabitants of the villages ceased, they ceased in Israel, until that I Deborah arose, that
I arose a mother in Israel.

Deborah however was a might warrior for Israel, for when God called her up she obeyed. That
battle final blow might not of been hers, but the total effect of what had happened was that she
stood up when God called her. Then to beat all a man no less turned the battle over to her.

I have to wonder, really wonder do we as Christians allow women to take a stand in battle, or
do we knock them down. Many men knock women down. Often women make good leaders and
are able to stand as long as they got God before them. See with Christ someone the enemy will
not prevail. It not that they can not physically die, it is that they are able to triumph when God
is for the battle.

A false leader does not have Christ before them. The spiritual battle can not be won by them.

Matthew 24:24 KJV
(24)  For there shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and
wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they shall deceive the very elect.

If Christians are going to win the battle they need to know the enemy and know how to defeat
him. Only way is with Christ before you, and being prayed up and filled up by the Holy Spirit
and read up. Deborah was ready for she had experience at being a judge. She was ready for
battle that is why she was not worried. With God before who can be against us. Are you ready
for Spiritual battle?